Mexican Grilled Chicken Marinade–Perfect for Tacos, Fajitas, Burritos, and More!

A white and blue enamel bowl filled with sliced, grilled chicken topped with minced cilantro.

5 from 21 votes

Mexican Grilled Chicken Marinade–Perfect for Tacos, Fajitas, Burritos, and More!

This Mexican chicken marinade makes a flavorful juicy chicken for tacos, fajitas, burritos, and any other dish you need to add a zesty, spicy spin to.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Marinating Time3

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

Calories: 410kcal

Author: Leigh Anderson

Ingredients

Chicken:

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast
1 juicy lime

Marinade:

¼ c neutral oil
4 large cloves garlic
2 tablespoons chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems
1 tablespoon kosher salt

Instructions

Place all of the marinade ingredients into a blender and pulse until evenly combined. (Alternatively, you can finely chop the ingredients by hand and whisk the marinade together in a bowl.) Pour the marinade into a Zip Lock bag or large bowl and then add in the chicken–toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1-hr or up to 24-hrs.
Take the chicken out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
Place the chicken on the grill, and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the underside is caramelized and the chicken releases from the grill, then flip and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should reach at least 160F.
Transfer the chicken to a large plate or platter, squeeze the juice from ½ a lime overtop. Serve warm!

Notes

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are perfect for tender juicy chicken slathered in this marinade. But, you can use this marinade on chicken breasts or any cut of bone-in chicken if that’s what you have or prefer.

Chipotle in adobo: These canned peppers add a lot of spice and smoky flavor to this marinade. If you want to make it milder, use less, but if you love some spicy action- feel free to add a small amount more!

Storing and Re-heating Leftovers:

To store cooked Mexican marinated grilled chicken, place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to five days.
To reheat the chicken, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 3-5 minutes or until warmed through.

Special Equipment:

My favorite Lodge Grill Pan | Shop all Kitchen Essentials

Nutrition