Description
Coconut lime chicken brings together juicy chicken breasts with a tangy, creamy sauce that you make right in one pan. Fresh lime juice and coconut milk create a bright flavor that pairs perfectly with rice or vegetables on your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
Aromatics and seasonings:
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Sauce and cooking base:
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Pat your 4 chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels, then coat both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet to medium-high heat (around 375°F) and place your chicken in the pan.
- Sear each side for 4 to 5 minutes until you see a golden-brown crust form on the surface.
- Push your chicken to the side and add 3 minced garlic cloves directly to the hot oil, stirring for 30 seconds until the aroma becomes strong.
- Pour 1 cup coconut milk into your skillet around the chicken, then add 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp lime zest, and 1 tbsp honey.
- Stir everything together so your sauce blends evenly, then lower the heat to medium (around 350°F).
- Let your chicken simmer in the sauce for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping it over halfway through cooking.
- Check that your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F at the thickest part before removing it from heat.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped cilantro over your finished dish and serve it with fresh lime slices on the side.
Notes
- Patting your chicken dry before seasoning helps the meat brown properly and develop that golden crust that makes this dish taste better.
- Fresh lime juice makes a real difference here, so avoid bottled versions if possible since they taste quite different and can make the sauce taste flat.
- If your sauce seems too thin after cooking, remove the chicken and let the liquid simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes on its own to reduce and thicken.
- For a dairy-free version, this recipe works naturally as written, but if you prefer less richness, swap half the coconut milk with chicken broth to lighten the sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Simmered Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg