Name: Quick Mexican Chicken Marinade
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 lime, juiced; 1/2 cup neutral oil; 1/2 cup cilantro, optional

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When you're short on time and looking for an easy recipe, this quick Mexican chicken marinade using simple ingredients is your ticket to a delicious meal in no time.

This chicken recipe bursting with flavor and perfect for those busy days when you need dinner on the table fast. This chicken is also great recipe for meal prep. Some different ways to use it would be for chicken fajitas, tacos, burrito bowls, enchilada stuffing or for a chicken quesadilla!

Marinade Ingredients

Mexican chicken marinade ingredient on a marble counter

Chicken - You can use any cut of chicken for this marinade including the boneless skinless chicken breasts, skinless chicken thighs, wings or even the whole chicken. Note that the cook time is going to to be different for white meat verse dark meat and the thickness of the chicken pieces, but the marinading time will be the same.

Chili Powder - Chili powder is an essential spice for this marinade and provides warmth, depth and a subtle kick to your chicken.

Cumin - Cumin is an essential spice in Mexican cuisine and provides a warm, earthy richness to this marinade.

Sweet, Hot or Smoked Paprika - Made from dried red peppers, paprika can range from sweet to spicy or even smokey depending on the variety you like. This spice is optional and feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

Garlic Powder - Garlic powder is an easy way to add garlic flavor without the mess. It's a great quick recipe hack. Feel free to use fresh garlic if you have it on hand.

Onion Powder - Onion powder is also a great time saver if you want that complex onion flavor without the work of chopping an onion.

Dried Oregano or Dried Mexican Oregano - A staple herb in many Mexican dishes, dried oregano provides a unique flavor and aroma to this marinade.

Kosher Salt - I always use coarse Kosher salt in my recipes, but use whatever salt you have on hand.

Fresh Lime Juice - Acid is essential to this marinade and lime juice brings so much brightness and freshness to this dish. It's important not to marinade chicken longer than about 30 minutes when using citrus juice, as the acid starts cooking the meat and gives it a strange texture.

Oil - Any neutral oil such as avocado oil or vegetable oil will work. You can use olive oil too if you don't have any other options.

Fresh Cilantro - Totally optional, cilantro adds a nice fresh flavor to this chicken.

Instructions

Mix together all the ingredients including your chicken pieces and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cook the chicken using your preferred method and note the thickness of the chicken will determine the cooking time.

ingredients and chicken mixed together and spread evenly on a sheet pan

It's best to use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees for safe eating. I think the best way to cook this chicken would be on the grill to get those nice grill marks and smokey flavor, but roasting or pan frying would be delicious too (and more convenient). Check out Thinly Sliced Chicken Breasts if you need more info on how to cook chicken breasts.

With this speedy easy Mexican chicken marinade recipe, you can enjoy the bold and vibrant flavors of Mexican food without spending hours in the kitchen. In just a few simple steps, you'll have tender and juicy chicken infused with zesty lime, aromatic spices, and a hint of smokiness from the paprika.

Whether you're cooking for a busy weeknight dinner or hosting a last-minute gathering, this quick and flavorful Mexican marinade is sure to impress. Serve this delicious chicken with pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. Any leftover chicken would be delicious on top of fresh salads, a taco salad or Mexican rice and black beans. These Mexican Vegetables would make this healthy chicken dinner complete!

If you love this simple recipe, I would love to know! You can rate it, leave a comment, or both. I love hearing from you. Also, you could tag a photo on Instagram @hungrywaitress and I'll be sure to share it.