This margarita chicken marinates in citrus and garlic and turns out juicy, packed with flavor, and great with all your favorite summer BBQ side dishes! Simple, refined sugar free, naturally paleo friendly.
I absolutely LOVE the flavor of this margarita chicken!
Typically I go for dry seasonings over marinades with chicken, but I wanted to try a variation on this citrusy marinade.
You can cook it on a grill or pan fry in a skillet. Choose boneless skinless thighs (my choice!) or breasts – very versatile!
It’s super easy and I’ll know you’ll love it as much as I do – let’s get into the details.
What You Need to Make this Margarita Chicken
The tequila or wine is totally optional, the citrus and garlic is mandatory!
Here’s everything you’ll need to prepare this chicken:
- sea salt and black pepper
- limes
- oranges
- tequila or white wine (optional)
- raw honey
- garlic cloves
- olive oil
- boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Cilantro, for garnish
- Sliced avocado, for garnish
How to Make Paleo Margarita Chicken
Add the salt and pepper, lime and orange zest to a medium bowl and whisk in all the juice, alcohol (if using), honey, garlic and olive oil. Whisk well.
Place the chicken in a large bowl or ziplock back, then pour the marinade over the chicken, cover, refrigerate and marinate for at least one hour and up to 4.
Before grilling, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature, still marinating, for 15 minutes.
Remove chicken from the marinade, discard marinade, and grill over medium – medium-high heat, adjusting the heat as necessary so as not to burn the outside of the chicken.
Baste the chicken with the remaining 1/2 cup of marinade while grilling.
You can also cook the chicken in a skillet to pan fry. 1/2” thick breasts should need 4 minutes per side and thighs will need 5-6 minutes per side.
Serve garnished with more lime, avocado and cilantro over lightly sautéed cauliflower rice or with your favorite grilled veggies, or a green salad.
Then relax and enjoy! Maybe even with an actual margarita to really get into the vibe 🙂
Grab your ingredients because it’s time to cook – let’s go!
Margarita Chicken {Paleo}
Margarita Chicken {Paleo}
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- zest of 1 lime grated
- Fresh juice of 3 limes
- zest of 1 orange grated
- Juice of 2 oranges
- 1/4 cup tequila or dry white wine optional
- 1 tablespoon raw honey melted
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, pounded to 1/2” thickness
- Cilantro for garnish
- Sliced avocado for garnish
Instructions
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Add the salt and pepper, lime and orange zest to a medium bowl and whisk in all the juice, alcohol (if using), honey, garlic and olive oil. Whisk well.
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Place the chicken in a large bowl or ziplock back, reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade, then pour the remaining marinade over the chicken, cover, refrigerate and marinate for at least one hour and up to 4. Refrigerate the 1/2 cup of marinade separately to baste with while grilling.
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Before grilling, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature, still marinating, for 15 minutes. Remove chicken from the marinade, discard marinade, and grill over medium - medium-high heat, adjusting the heat as necessary so as not to burn the outside of the chicken. Baste the chicken with the remaining 1/2 cup of marinade while grilling. You can also cook the chicken in a skillet to pan fry. 1/2” thick breasts should need 4 minutes per side and thighs will need 5-6 minutes per side.
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Serve garnished with more lime, avocado and cilantro over lightly sautéed cauliflower rice or with your favorite grilled veggies, or a green salad. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Want More Paleo Friendly Chicken Recipes? Try One of These!
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad with Honey Dijon
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This looks fantastic! Love that it’s a true one-pan meal ready in about 30 minutes – perfect for busy weeknights. The flavor combo of lime, cilantro, and tequila (or sub!) sounds incredibly fresh and vibrant. Really appreciate that it’s Paleo, Whole30, and gluten-free friendly too. Can’t wait to try this recipe soon – thanks for sharing!
Absolutely love this recipe! The flavors are incredibly bright and fresh—perfect for summer nights. I followed your tip about searing the chicken first, and it made all the difference. So simple, yet tastes like restaurant-quality. Can’t wait to make this again!
The tequila-lime marinade makes the chicken incredibly juicy and flavorful. Loved how simple it was to throw together on a busy weeknight—definitely restaurant-worthy. Will be adding this to our regular rotation. Thanks for another amazing Paleo-friendly meal!
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I love this recipe! I will make today.
Thank you so much
This margarita chicken sounds absolutely delicious! I love the idea of using a citrus and garlic marinade, especially since you mentioned it makes the chicken so juicy and packed with flavor. It’s great that it’s versatile enough to grill or pan-fry too – perfect for any night.
This Margarita Chicken sounds incredible! I really appreciate how you highlighted the citrus and garlic marinade as mandatory, while making the tequila optional – super versatile. Your choice of boneless, skinless thighs for juiciness sounds perfect. I’m excited to try this paleo-friendly recipe for my next summer BBQ!