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This cilantro lime grilled chicken recipe has an insanely delicious Thai-inspired coconut red curry marinade with just five ingredients! It’s bright, zesty, so simple to make, and grilled to perfection.

Love grilling? Try these Honey Mustard Chicken Skewers.

grilled cilantro lime chicken thighs on a plate with lime wedges and fresh cilantro

Why you’ll love it

It’s hard to believe this easy grilled chicken has so few ingredients since it tastes just so dang good. It’s no secret that I adore Thai flavors, and they work so well when grilling! This fun twist is tasty and vibrant, yet it’s still a family-friendly meal that I bet the kids will enjoy as well since it’s not spicy.

The marinade takes only 10 minutes to prepare, making this chicken recipe a no-brainer for a quick summer meal or easy entertaining. Just pop it in the fridge and forget it until it’s time to fire up the grill.

Just a few ingredients

  • Chicken thighs – I used boneless/skinless
  • Coconut milk – my usual brand is Thai Kitchen full-fat coconut milk. I wouldn’t recommend using anything with a lower fat content.
  • Lime juice – freshly squeezed lime juice adds brightness and acidity
  • Red curry paste – the star ingredient that sets this recipe apart from all the other cilantro lime chicken recipes out there. I find that Thai Kitchen brand has rich, deep flavor.
  • Brown sugar – a little sugar ties the marinade all together and balances it with a hint of sweetness
  • Cilantro – fresh cilantro is a staple in Thai cooking, and it goes perfectly here
cilantro lime chicken marinade in a glass bowl

How to make cilantro lime chicken

This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

  • Make the Thai marinade by adding the coconut milk, red curry paste, brown sugar, lime, and cilantro to a bowl. Whisk together.
  • Add chicken thighs to a large ZipLoc and pour the marinade in. Massage to ensure it’s saturated with marinade, and then refrigerate for at least 8 hours up to 24 hours. Overnight is best.
  • Preheat your grill to high heat, then grill over medium-high heat for 7 minutes/side or until it’s cooked through and has nice grill marks!

Tips for success

  • I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. If you use bone-in/skin-on ones, cooking time may increase, and it may be best to cook them slower over a lower heat so the skin doesn’t burn.
  • Chicken thighs tend to be more moist and forgiving than chicken breasts. If you want to swap for chicken breasts, adjust cooking time as needed, and be careful not to overcook them.
  • I recommend marinating the thighs for 8+ hours (up to 24 hours) so they get the most flavor and become more tender!
a ziploc bag marinating cilantro lime chicken

Do I need to use a grill?

  • I used a gas BBQ to grill the chicken thighs since the charred bits are amazing, but you could try using a grill pan or even browning them in a cast iron skillet and finishing in the oven.
  • Keep in mind that cooking time may need to be adjusted as needed. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165F.

Substitutions and variations

  • This marinade is meant to be quick, easy, and accessible, but you can definitely jazz it up a bit more. Try adding a couple teaspoons of grated ginger, some minced garlic, lime zest, a few chopped Thai chilis for heat, or even a splash of fish sauce!
  • Keep in mind that Thai red curry paste generally already includes ginger and garlic, but you’re welcome to add as much extra as you crave.
  • Don’t like cilantro? Just use parsley.

What to serve with these chicken thighs

Leftovers and storage

  • Leftovers of this chicken will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days as long as it’s in an airtight container.
  • You could freeze leftovers if you like for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat, I’d recommend microwaving until warmed through. You could also toss in the oven at 350F in a baking dish.
close-up of grilled cilantro lime chicken thighs

Questions about this grilled chicken recipe? Made it? Talk to me in the comments below!

grilled cilantro lime chicken thighs on a plate with lime wedges and fresh cilantro
5 from 1 vote

Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs

This cilantro lime grilled chicken recipe has an insanely delicious Thai-inspired coconut red curry marinade with just five ingredients! It's bright, zesty, so simple to make, and grilled to perfection.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Marinating time: 8 hours
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds chicken thighs boneless skinless
  • 1 (8.5 ounce) can coconut milk full-fat
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup Thai Red Curry Paste
  • 1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
  • 1 cup (loosely packed) fresh cilantro chopped

Instructions 

  • Add the marinade ingredients to a bowl and whisk together until smooth.
  • Place the chicken thighs in a large ZipLoc (or add them to the same bowl as you made the marinade in), and then pour the marinade over and toss until coated. Place the chicken in the fridge and marinate for 8 hours (up to 24 hours).
  • Preheat BBQ to high heat (you may want to oil the grate but I find the coconut milk is oily enough to skip that step).
  • Place chicken on grill and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Cook for 7 minutes then flip and cook for another 7 minutes or until it's cooked though.
  • Let chicken rest for a few minutes prior to serving. Season with extra salt & pepper if needed (Thai red curry paste usually contains salt).

Notes

  • Serves 4-6 depending on how much people eat.
  • I used Thai Kitchen brand coconut milk and red curry paste.
  • I recommend marinating overnight (or even longer) if possible. The longer marinating time really helps infuse more flavor.
  • All BBQs/grills/grill pans vary as does the size of each chicken piece, so timing may need to be adjusted to ensure chicken is safely cooked.
  • Chicken thighs are quite forgiving and won’t dry out as easily as chicken breasts, so I recommend using those if possible for this recipe.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
     

Nutrition

Calories: 669kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 53g, Saturated Fat: 23g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 222mg, Sodium: 187mg, Potassium: 666mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 2817IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 56mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

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14 Comments

  1. Can I cook these Cilantro Lime Chicken thighs in a gas oven? If so, what temperature and time do you recommend?

    1. Hi! I didn’t find it particularly spicy, no. The coconut milk really mellows it out, and Thai Kitchen red curry paste isn’t particularly spicy IMO. I think some brands are spicier than others.

    1. Hi! I do mention this in the blog post… basically yes you can, but you’ll need to adjust cooking time, and be careful they don’t dry out when cooking as they’re a whole lot less forgiving than chicken thighs. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

    1. Hi Katy! I think making them into lettuce wraps would be delicious! There’s actually a section in the blog post where I answer the question of what to serve with this recipe. 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    Love this recipe! I was a little hesitant at first but took the plunge. While the Thai Red Curry Paste can be a bold flavor the combination of the coconut milk and other seasonings made it such a light but flavorful dish. I marinated the chicken thighs overnight and it was perfect.

    I would recommend using foil on your grill because chicken thighs are naturally fatty and they tend to flair up.

    I paired it up with the rice, bean and corn salad suggested here and that was fabulous too!

    Thanks Natasha, keep your innovative recipes coming!

    Patty