Four grilled lime chicken breasts with cilantro and lime wedges on a platter beside black beans, tortillas, and roasted peppers.

Summer Lime Chicken Breasts

Lime gives these grilled chicken breasts their unmistakable brightness even once the edges begin to char. A short marinade keeps the garlic and cilantro fresh-tasting rather than letting the acidity take over.

By Betty Lou Gardner1 hr 30 minUpdated 2026-08-25

This Summer Lime Chicken is bright, juicy, and full of fresh flavor from lime, garlic, olive oil, and cilantro! Quick to prepare and easy to grill, it develops a lightly charred exterior while staying tender inside, making it a perfect warm-weather meal alongside rice, grilled vegetables, or a simple salad.

Betty Lou Gardner in a family archival photograph

Granny’s Kitchen Notes

From Betty Lou Gardner

Three limes usually give me just the right amount of juice. I don’t let the chicken sit in the marinade all day. I like a little char around the edges, but not enough to hide the lime flavor. Leftover pieces make a good sandwich the next afternoon.

How to Make Summer Lime Chicken Breasts

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Boneless chicken breasts being pounded between plastic wrap with a meat mallet until evenly thick.

01

Prepare the Chicken

Pound the thicker ends lightly until the chicken breasts are even in thickness.

Olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, salt, and black pepper being whisked into a chicken marinade.

02

Make the Marinade

Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, salt, and pepper.

03

Marinate the Chicken

Coat the chicken and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.

Four lime-cilantro chicken breasts cooking on a large grill pan with dark grill marks.

04

Grill Until Juicy

Discard the marinade and cook until lightly charred and the thickest part reaches 165°F.

05

Serve Fresh

Rest for 5 minutes, sprinkle with the remaining cilantro, and serve with summer side dishes.

Four grilled lime chicken breasts with cilantro and lime wedges on a platter beside black beans, tortillas, and roasted peppers.

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Betty Lou Gardner

Betty Lou Gardner

Betty Lou Gardner’s family recipes are preserved in Granny’s Recipe Box.

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