Spicy garlic lime chicken recipe: a quick dinner in under 30 minutes. The chicken is tender and juicy, with the beautiful flavor of lime and garlic.
The internet has many baked and grilled chicken recipes like Tandoori chicken breast or grilled lemon pepper chicken. Is there any chicken recipe made just using the skillet? Yes, this spicy garlic lime chicken is made on the stovetop using the skillet without worrying about preheating the oven or the grill.

This spicy lime chicken recipe yields crispy outside and juicy and tender inside. And this an absolute heaven for the busy weekday nights?
Searching for the best recipe for weekday nights is tough. The dish has to be easy to make with minimal ingredients, yet it should taste like heaven.
Spicy garlic lime chicken is versatile and tastes excellent when correctly infused with flavors and in the right proportion.
The real secret of great food relies on selecting the proper ingredients that complement and balance well with each other.
Garlic, lime, and cayenne pepper are great companions that blend exceptionally well and provide a great dish without much effort.
Other chicken recipes
- Spicy Szechuan chicken
- Pan-fried Garlic chicken
- Chicken bok choy recipe
- Coriander chicken recipe
- Broccoli stuffed chicken breast
- Hot chicken recipes
Pro tips for Spicy garlic lime chicken recipe
- Fresh chicken from the store’s shelves tastes delicious. So check the best to-use by dates while picking up from the store’s shelves.
- A heavy, heavy-bottomed pan is excellent for making any chicken recipe. It would be great if it's a cast-iron skillet. I found that it retains the moisture of chicken inside, and at the same, it provides a crispier and tasty outside. This technique excellently worked the same as this cast iron chicken recipe.
- All-purpose flour gives a nice crispy texture to the chicken. To make it more crispy, add cornflour.
- Add the lime slices at the very final stages of the cooking process.
- If you are a spicy lover, add jalapeno and lime slices, which give more flavor and taste—worrying about the spicy level? Deseed jalapenos before adding to the recipe.
- In this lime chicken recipe, chili powder can be substituted with paprika.
- The idea for garnishing- Add fresh cilantro/coriander leaves for the most refreshing flavor. Fresh cilantro tastes aromatic and fresh. Good to substitute with mint or parsley.
How to make Spicy garlic lime chicken
The ingredients
Chicken. The chicken tenders are easy to work with. However, we can use chicken breast thigh portions for this recipe.
Lime. To bring up the delicate flavors of lime, we utilized the entire lime to the maximum extent, including its juice and zest. Please do not go overboard with the spice, as it may make the chicken slightly bitter. Do not cook longer, as the lime juice tastes bitter when overcooked.
Garlic. Fresh garlic brings an excellent fragrance to the sauce. Mince as finely as possible as it will not be seen as chunks and clash with the texture. We also need garlic powder for the spice rub.
Onion powder. It complements the garlic powder and enhances the overall dish.
Cilantro. It gives a fresh, robust flavor that stays in the mouth longer.
Cayenne pepper. It intensifies the heat and adjusts the quantity to suit your personal preference.
Paprika. It provides a rich golden color and mild heat.
White wine. Restaurant-style rich, spicy garlic lime chicken is also possible in the homemade version. Thanks to all these ingredients, a little is more in here. You may skip it if you do not have it handy.
All-purpose flour. Acts as the binding agent, making all the spices coat evenly to the chicken.
The recipe directions
To make the spicy lime chicken recipe, let's make the spice rub. In a mixing bowl, add black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, all-purpose flour, and salt.
Mix well until all the ingredients blend well with each other.
Rinse the chicken breasts and pat them dry with paper towels. Toss the chicken breast over the spice mixture and rub all over the chicken breasts.
Place a skillet over medium heat, and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and spice-coated chicken breast.
And sear them for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn a golden brown.
After both sides are seared, reduce the heat to medium-low.
Cover the skillet with a lid and let the chicken cook for another 7-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F.
Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Add one tablespoon of olive oil and minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute or until it's fragrant to the same skillet.
Add the lime juice, zest, butter, and white wine to the skillet. Stir to combine.
Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning some of the sauce over the top. Toss until the sauce coats the chicken evenly.
Transfer this spicy garlic lime chicken to the serving plate. And drizzle the leftover sauce(if any) from the skillet to the chicken. ENJOY!!
The recipe FAQ
Can I make it in advance? Although it is theoretically yes. But I strongly recommend making spicy garlic lime chicken whenever needed. Cooking fresh and enjoying them as they are still warm is more delicious than the stored ones. I would
How to store and how long does it last? Like any other food, it stays up to 5 days when refrigerated. And up to 2 months when frozen.
How do I adjust the spice level? And yes, this is the common question most of us have when we make something out of our comfort zone. If you feel the chicken is too hot to bear after cooking, add a blob of butter; this reduces the heat substantially. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice and coat the chicken pieces if it is still hot.
Printable recipe card
Spicy garlic lime chicken
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 4 chicken breasts
- 3 teaspoon olive oil divided
For spice rub
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 3 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoon lime zest
- 2 teaspoon white wine
- 6 lime slices garnishing
Instructions
Preparation
- In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the spice rub.
Prepare the chicken
- Rinse the chicken breasts and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken breasts.
Cook the Chicken
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and sear them for about 2-3 minutes per side, until they have a nice golden color.
Lower Heat and Continue Cooking
- After both sides are seared, reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Cover the skillet with a lid and let the chicken cook for another 7-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through reaching an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
Prepare the sauce
- In the same skillet, add one tablespoon olive oil and minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the lime juice, lime zest, butter, and white wine to the skillet. Stir to combine.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and toss until the sauce coats the chicken breasts evenly.
- Transfer the chicken to a serving plate.
Serve
- Drizzle the left over sauce from the skillet to the chicken before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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