These Cilantro Lime Hen Tacos are certainly one of our summer season favorites! There’s simply one thing about grilled rooster tacos that hits completely throughout the hotter months. Barely blackened rooster flavored in a vibrant and zippy citrus marinade and piled into heat tortillas, then piled with recent toppings … it actually doesn’t get any higher than that.
Whether or not it’s summer season (otherwise you simply actually actually need it to be summer season), these grilled rooster tacos are calling your identify. Tremendous fast marinade, huge, vibrant taste, grill marks!? Sure, please!
We love these cilantro and lime rooster tacos for therefore many causes, not the least of which is that the marinating time is tremendous quick–simply half-hour! However because of the lime and ideal combo of seasonings, the flavour is vibrant and vibrant. This rooster tastes prefer it marinated all day.
We like to make cilantro lime rooster tacos as certainly one of our campfire meals once we’re out tenting, however we make them simply as typically at house, too.
They’re additionally tremendous straightforward to scale up for while you’re feeding a gaggle. However whether or not you’re making them for 2 or 20, these grilled rooster tacos are a kind of super-simple, low-stress dinners that everybody loves.
Elements
- Hen: We like to make use of boneless, skinless rooster thighs for these tacos—the additional fats makes such tender, juicy items of grilled rooster. However you should utilize rooster breasts should you choose.
- Cilantro: Only a small handful, chopped, is all you’ll want for the marinade.
- Limes: You’ll use each the zest and juice from two limes. When zesting your limes, remember to keep away from the pith, or white half, which might be bitter. Stick with solely the inexperienced outer layer of the rind.
- Salt: A teaspoon for the marinade, and one other pinch or two for sprinkling over the grilled rooster when you’ve sliced it.
- Chili powder: Use delicate or spicy chili powder, relying in your warmth desire.
- Cumin: Floor cumin provides smoky, earthy taste.
- Garlic powder: A simple manner so as to add garlic taste with out having to peel and cube recent garlic.
- Floor coriander: Coriander seeds are a part of the cilantro plant. We love the increase of vibrant taste it provides.
- Olive oil: Oil within the marinade each makes the rooster juicy and helps the flavors higher permeate the rooster.
- Tortillas: Use both street-taco-size flour tortillas or corn tortillas, whichever you favor.
- Toppings: Pico de gallo, salsa, cilantro, crumbled Cotija cheese, and an additional squeeze of lime are all nice! However seize no matter taco toppings you’re keen on—the sky’s the restrict.
How you can Make Cilantro Lime Hen Tacos — Step by Step
First, you’ll need to marinate the rooster. Juice and zest your limes right into a small bowl, then add the olive oil, spices/seasonings, and salt. Combine it collectively.
Place the rooster into an hermetic container or sealable bag, pour the marinade excessive, and blend/shake to verify the rooster is nicely coated. Marinate the rooster for at the very least half-hour, however not more than two hours (place the rooster within the fridge or your cooler should you’ll marinate for longer than an hour).
Subsequent, put together your campfire or grill. Place the marinated rooster on the grill grate over direct warmth. Resist turning the rooster too quickly; you need to depart it in place till a light-weight char varieties. Ensuring it has cooked sufficient earlier than trying to show it would additionally assist it to launch simpler from the grill.
As soon as one facet is blackened to your liking, flip, repeat, after which transfer the rooster to oblique warmth to complete cooking.
When the meat is finished cooking, pull it from the grill and let it relaxation for five minutes.
Whereas the rooster rests, heat your tortillas by grilling them for one or two minutes on either side till warmed by way of.
Subsequent, it’s time to thinly slice your rooster. For those who can establish the grain, slice towards it. If not, don’t fear about it! Then sprinkle just a little little bit of salt over the slices for a lift of taste.
Now, it’s time to assemble your tacos! Lay a few rooster items in every warmed tortilla and pile in your favourite toppings.
Ideas for Making
- Don’t marinate the rooster for longer than two hours. After the 2 hour level, the acid within the lime juice can begin to have an effect on the feel of your rooster.
- For those who’re cooking over wooden, you need it to be burnt right down to embers. This implies you must begin the fireplace an hour earlier than cooking. To be trustworthy, we generally have a tough time remembering to do that, so we convey hardwood lump charcoal as insurance coverage.
- Put together your toppings whereas the rooster marinates. Then, as soon as the rooster is finished cooking and resting and your tortillas are heat, you get proper to having fun with your tacos!
- Ideas for with the ability to inform when the rooster is finished: For those who occur to have a meat thermometer with you, insert the probe into the thickest a part of the meat. If it reads 165°F (74°C), it’s carried out. Different methods to inform when the rooster is finished is to press the rooster along with your tongs. If it’s not cooked all the way in which, it would really feel squishy. Then, as soon as the meat companies up, take it off the grill and slice it in half to make sure it’s cooked by way of (the rooster will now not be pink).
- Resting is vital. Don’t skip it! After you pull the rooster off the grill, let it relaxation for 5 minutes. This helps the rooster reabsorb the juices for probably the most moist and juicy items.
Make-Forward Tip
- Combine the marinade forward of time. However don’t add the rooster but! Preserve the marinade in your fridge or your cooler, then wait till you’re inside two hours of cooking your tacos earlier than including the rooster.
Serve it with…
- With vibrant veggies and spicy jalapeño, this grilled corn salad recipe is a recent facet that pairs completely with these grilled rooster tacos.
- Spoon some home made fire-roasted salsa excessive for much more taste!
Cilantro Lime Marinade:
- 4 boneless skinless rooster thighs, about 1 lb
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 2 limes, juice + zest
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon floor coriander
- 1 tablespoon oil
Taco Meeting:
- tortillas
- pico de gallo
- cheese
- cilantro
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Put together the marinade: Combine the oil, lime juice + zest, cilantro, and spices collectively in a small bowl (this may be carried out at house). Place the rooster into an hermetic container or sealable bag and pour the marinade over, shaking to make sure that the rooster is coated evenly. Marinate for at the very least half-hour (an hour is healthier), or as much as two hours.
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Put together a grill or campfire for grilling.
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Take away the rooster from the marinade and place it on the grill. Cook dinner till the inner temperature reaches 165F, turning as wanted to make sure even cooking (approx 5-8 minutes on either side). Take away from the warmth and chop into bite-sized items.
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To assemble the tacos, layer rooster, pico de gallo, cheese, and recent cilantro into tortillas (warmed over the grill should you’d choose!) and revel in.
Serving Dimension: This may serve 4 with a facet. For hungrier campers plan on this recipe feeding 2.
This put up was first printed 2/2020 and refreshed 11/2024. The recipe as written stays the identical!