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Delicious family favorite Mexican dinner plate with colorful dishes

Mexican Chicken Marinade

This easy recipe for a Mexican chicken marinade transforms simple chicken into a flavorful dish that ignites feelings of comfort and togetherness.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Marinade
  • ½ Tablespoon Chili powder Opt for mild variety if serving kids.
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Fresh cumin seeds offer a more intense flavor.
  • ½ Tablespoon Smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh cilantro (finely chopped) Can substitute with parsley.
  • 2 Tablespoons Lime juice Use fresh for best flavor.
  • ½ teaspoon Brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
  • to taste Salt and black pepper
For the Chicken
  • 500 g Boneless chicken breast Can also use thighs.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Make the marinade: Into a bowl, add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, brown sugar, cilantro leaves, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Mix all to combine.
  2. Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken breast or thighs in a shallow dish or a Ziploc bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Mix it to combine. Cover the chicken with clingfilm and let it sit for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in the fridge.
Cooking
  1. Cook: You can bake, grill, air fry, or pan-fry the marinated chicken as desired. Ensure the internal temperature of cooked chicken registers at least 165F/74C with an instant-read thermometer.

Notes

Allowing your chicken to rest post-cooking will keep it juicier. This marinade can also be used for tofu, tempeh, and various meats.