Description
Fiesta Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa is a bright, zesty chicken dish marinated with Mexican spices, lime juice, and olive oil, then cooked to juicy perfection and topped with a fresh, creamy avocado salsa.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
- Lime zest from 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4–1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 medium avocados, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered (or 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped)
- Fresh corn from 1 ear
- 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, diced (seeds separated)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, chili powder, brown sugar, salt, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chipotle chili powder, and pepper in a small bowl.
2. Rub the mixture evenly over the chicken breasts and let marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours in the refrigerator.
3. If refrigerated, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature for 15–30 minutes before cooking.
4. Heat a greased grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.
5. Cook chicken undisturbed for 3–5 minutes until nicely browned, then flip.
6. Cover and cook for another 5–7 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches 165°F internally.
7. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
8. For the avocado salsa, combine tomatoes, corn, red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
9. Chill the mixture for at least 30 minutes if possible.
10. Just before serving, gently fold in the chopped avocados and adjust seasoning to taste, then serve over the sliced chicken.
Notes
The chicken develops deeper flavor the longer it marinates, but it can still be cooked immediately if short on time.
If chicken breasts are very large, slice them horizontally to create thinner fillets for even cooking.
For grilling, cook chicken over medium heat (375–450°F) for about 5–7 minutes per side until fully cooked.
Prepare the salsa ahead of time without the avocados and stir them in just before serving to prevent browning.
Store leftover avocado salsa in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface to slow oxidation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg