Easy Pan Fried Chipotle Lime Chicken Breast Recipe

This chipotle lime chicken recipe is out of this world delicious. Flavors of chipotle pepper, sweet honey, and zesty fresh lime juice engulf every bite of chicken. Plus, it's made with simple ingredients everyday ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen, so you could even have it for dinner tonight!

I Can't Stop Making This Chipotle Lime Chicken

I've been on a chicken breast kick lately. I've been trying to eat a bit healthier since the start of the new year and this chipotle lime chicken breast recipe has quickly become one of my go-to's.

Not only do I love making it for dinner, but it's also great for meal prep too. It stores really well and reheats to perfection, too.

My family loves this stuff, too. My wife and three-year-old daughter have practically been begging me to make it every week. So it's a household favorite, too. Even the pickiest of eaters will love it.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Chicken Breasts- the main event of this meal. You can also use skinless chicken thighs, although I suggest using chicken with the skin on.
• Honey- an unsuspecting ingredient that balances out all the savory seasonings.
• Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce- I always say the adobo sauce is my secret weapon in cooking. It's sweet and tangy and adds a balanced spice flavor to every dish.
• Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper- these seasonings are key to making this mouth-watering chipotle lime chicken marinade.
• Lime- used for the zest and lime juice
• Olive oil- used for the marinade. You can also use a small amount while cooking the chicken.

How To Make Chipotle Lime Chicken

Step 1: Prepare the chicken

 Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise to create 2 thinner fillets. You'll want to make sure they're even in thickness, so beat them with a meat mallet if your cut isn't right down the middle.

Step 2: Make the marinade

Empty the contents of the chipotle pepper can into a bowl. Then, add the honey, garlic powder, onion powder, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Now using a whisk, mash the chipotle peppers down so they are broken up into smaller pieces, add the olive oil to the marinade, and whisk until combined.

Step 3: Marinate the chicken

Add the chicken breast fillets and toss them well to cover them in the marinade. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes, or marinate in the fridge for 12-24 hours.

Step 4: Cook the chicken

 Preheat a non-stick pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 of the marinated chicken fillets and cook for 4 minutes per side until slightly charred. Keep flipping every 4 minutes until all the pieces are cooked through. Wipe the pan/skillet and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Step 5: Serve

Set the cooked chicken aside and let it rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve with your choice of sides. I love to serve it with beans, cilantro lime rice, salsa, and avocado.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• I highly recommend letting the chicken marinate in the fridge overnight. This helps seal in all those delicious marinade ingredients.
• When cooking the chicken, make sure they're laid across the pan in a single layer. This way, they all get an even sear and can cook thoroughly. I like to cook the chicken to 158-60°F and let it rest up to 165°F.
• Try making grilled chicken with this chipotle lime marinade. Use the same cooking method as in the pan except on the grill instead.
• Chicken thighs work really well in this recipe, too! They turn out super tender and juicy and
• Add a little smoked paprika and chili powder to the marinade ingredients to enhance the spicy, smokey flavor.

How To Store Chipotle Lime Chicken Leftovers

In the fridge: Store any leftover chipotle lime chicken you end up with in an airtight container in the fridge. Stored this way, it'll stay good for up to 4 days. 

In the freezer: The best way to store this chicken for a longer time is in the freezer. Either add all of your leftovers into one big airtight container or divide them into smaller serving-size freezer bags and freeze 'em like that.

Reheating: To reheat the chicken, heat it in a pan with a little bit of oil over medium heat until hot.

Items You'll Use In This Recipe

Below, I've listed some of my go-to supplies that helped me make this chicken recipe! I stand by everything I recommend, and I know these pieces will be something that you're going to love and that lasts in your kitchen for years.

• Cast Iron Skillet- Yes, this is an investment piece, but trust me, having a quality piece of cookware like this cast iron pan is crucial to the perfect dinner.
• Mixing Bowls- Pyrex has always been my go-to brand for most things in the kitchen. Don't go without a durable and beautiful set like this one.
• Whisk- This whisk has the most comfortable grip, and it's the one I use.
• Meat thermometer- To get the most accurate internal chicken temperature possible, I use the Meater.

More Chicken Recipes

• Chipotle's Chicken Al Pastor
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Chicken risotto
• Chicken cobbler
• Crock pot chicken spaghetti