Lime Chicken Recipe
on May 10, 2022, Updated Apr 15, 2025
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My Lime Chicken Recipe is made with a “secret” ingredient called Tajín. Tajín is a Mexican chili-lime seasoning that is absolutely incredible on pretty much anything and everything. It takes this chicken recipe to a whole new level, and I hope you give it a try. You can find Tajín online or at most local 🛒 grocery stores. It’s a staple in my house and I love it sprinkled on my Mango Lime Salsa, dusted on Watermelon Fries, coating Mexican Street Corn (Elote), and so much more. Here, it adds tang, zestiness, and a little bit of fiery 🌶️ heat to this crispy chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Lime Chicken Recipe
This 🍋🟩 Lime Chicken Recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare, making it perfect for weeknight meals or meal prep. PLUS, it can be made in the oven or in an air fryer, the option is yours. The magic happens by cooking the chicken under the oven’s 🔥 broiler for just a few minutes at the end. You’ll get an incredible crispy, crackly crust on the chicken, while it stays super moist inside.
How to Prepare
🌡️ Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
🍗 Add the chicken to a baking dish making sure the chicken does not overlap.
🧂 Add a generous drizzle of oil and then season with salt, pepper, Tajin, and paprika.
🫱 With clean hands, massage the chicken to evenly distribute the seasoning.
⏲️ Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a piece of chicken registers 165F (74C).
🔥 With 1 to 2 minutes left to cook, put the oven on broil to crisp up the chicken skin. Please keep an eye on the chicken as it can burn quickly.
🥕 Enjoy the chicken with lime wedges and serve with rice, salad, or veggies, or pull apart the meat and serve in tacos.
Nonna’s Tip 🍋🟩
You can find Tajín online or at most local grocery stores. If you don’t have Tajín I recommend adding chili seasoning instead with some fresh lime juice and zest.
Variations and Substitutions for this Lime Chicken Recipe
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, but they will not get as crispy without the skin, and they will cook a bit faster than 🍗 bone-in cuts of chicken. I prefer bone-in and skin-on, as it stays juicier throughout cooking.
- If you are using chicken breast please make sure you bake it for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the size, as chicken breast cooks faster than thighs and should not be overcooked. I prefer bone-in, skin-on chicken, as it has more flavor.
- If you don’t have Tajín I recommend adding chili seasoning instead with some fresh 🍋🟩 lime juice and zest.
Similar Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
25 mins
Lemon Pepper Chicken
25 mins
Easy Baked Chicken
55 mins
Lemon Yogurt Chicken
50 mins
Herb Marinated Chicken
35 mins
Ajvar Chicken Recipe
45 mins
Best Served With
- This recipe pairs perfectly with any of my green 🥗 salads, like my Bulgarian Yogurt Salad or Simple Green Salad.
- Serve this Lime Chicken Recipe with a side of vegetables such as my Crispy Parmesan Potatoes, Green Beans, Grilled Zucchini Recipe, or 🫑 Roasted Bell Peppers.
Common Questions
You can absolutely make this recipe in an air fryer, but make sure to check your air fryer settings and the temperature suggestions in the owner’s manual.
If you don’t have Tajín I recommend adding chili seasoning instead with some fresh lime juice and zest.
Yes, you can grill the chicken thighs instead. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and cook the thighs for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Lime Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt , to taste
- pepper, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Tajín seasoning , to taste
- lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
- Add the chicken to a baking dish large enough so that the chicken does not overlap. Add a generous drizzle of oil, season with salt, pepper, Tajin, and paprika. With clean hands, massage the chicken to evenly distribute the seasoning.
- Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a piece of chicken registers 165F (74C).
- I like to put the top broiler on for 1 to 2 minutes at the very end of cooking, to crisp up the chicken skin. Please keep an eye on the chicken as it cooks, as it can burn quickly.
- Enjoy the chicken with lime wedges and serve with rice, salad, or veggies, or pull apart the meat and serve in tacos.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. We loved it. Used boneless skinless thighs and cooked on our Blackstone.
Aw my pleasure Jen! So happy you loved it
Super easy, quick and so tasty!
Yay, I love to hear this! Thanks Dianne 💕
It’s our new family favourite! Easy, flavourful and fast!!!
Love it, Lily! I’m so glad the fam is enjoying this one!
Omg I recently discovered Tajin, which I’m hooked. Then I found your recipe and it takes chicken to a whole new level of yum! Absolutely love this and I make it all the time. Family and friends are hooked now too. And so easy!!! Thanks!
Tajin is truly the best! So glad you enjoyed Holli 🙂
What a great recipe and was a hit with the entire family!
So happy to hear this James!
Excited to try it!! It’s in the oven now. When is the lime added though??
The lime taste comes from the Tajin which is a lime seasoning. You CAN however add lime juice too though 🙂
Omg! I remembered this recipe when I saw chicken thighs at home and decided to try it. It was bomb! I never thought of baking chicken with tajin, loved the zesty and savoury flavour it gave. Thank you 😀
SO thrilled, this review means so much to me
About to make this tonight. Can you do this in the air fryer?
You absolutely can but take a look at the air fryer manual that you have because every air fryer is a little bit different so check for chicken thighs or the cut of chicken you are using for the time and temperature