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    Cilantro Lime Chicken Rice Skillet

    Updated July 28, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    Fresh, herby and bursting with flavor, this garlicky cilantro lime chicken and rice recipe is the kind of company-worthy weeknight fare we want every dinner to be.
    A Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice Skillet served with corn salad and a creamy lime sauce
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    A Yummy, Easy One Pan Chicken & Rice Recipe

    We’ve created another company worthy weeknight winner with this flavorful, Mexican food-inspired cilantro-lime chicken and rice recipe. Topped with a fresh corn salad and creamy lime sauce, it’s totally irresistible. If you love our Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs and our goes-with-everything Cilantro Lime Rice, don’t miss this dinner wonder which marries the two into one sumptuous, seamless supper. And for even more chicken thigh dinner goodness, check out our list of the 30 Best Chicken Thigh Recipes.

    Chicken thighs, cilantro, limes, spices, honey, rice, mayo, sour cream, corn, red onion and jalapeno in prep bowls

    Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice Ingredients

    For the chicken & rice

    • Chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)

    • Limes

    • Cilantro

    • Chili powder

    • Salt & pepper

    • Garlic

    • Honey

    • Extra-virgin olive oil

    • White rice

    For the creamy sauce

    • Mayonnaise

    • Sour cream

    • Limes

    • Honey

    • Cilantro

    • Garlic powder

    For the corn salad

    • Corn

    • Cilantro

    • Lime

    • Red onion

    • Jalapeño

    • Salt & pepper

    olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt, and pepper being combined in a glass bowl
    chicken thighs being tossed with olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt, and pepper
    chicken thighs marinated in olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest & juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt & pepper in a skillet
    rice, vegetable oil, salt, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, and water cooking in a skillet

    How To Make Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

    1. Marinate the chicken thighs for at least 15 minutes (or up to 2 hours) in a large bowl, with olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt, and pepper.

    2. Brown the chicken thighs. Use a large nonstick skillet, give them about 3 minutes per side.

    3. Get the rice going. If you don’t mind dishes, you could do this in a second skillet while the chicken browns. Or, if dishes make you crazy, just wipe out the skillet you browned the chicken in and use that. Whichever skillet you use, make sure it has a lid. Bring the rice, oil, salt, lime zest and juice, cilantro, and water to a boil.

    4. Add the browned chicken thighs and turn the heat down. Cover, and cook for about 20 minutes. Use your trusty meat thermometer to confirm doneness.

    5. Make the corn salad and sauce while the chicken and rice simmer.

    6. Cook the corn and toss it with cilantro, onion, jalapeño, and lime juice. Voila, you made a corn salad.

    7. For the creamy sauce (which is optional, but so yummy) use a food processor or immersion blender to whiz together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, honey, cilantro leaves, garlic powder, and salt.

    8. Serve! With the corn salad heaped on each serving, and a drizzle of sauce to finish.

    cilantro lime chicken and rice cooking in a skillet
    cilantro lime chicken and rice cooking in a skillet
    corn on the cob being boiled in a pot of hot water
    cooked corn, cilantro, onion, jalapeño, lime juice, salt and pepper being combined in a bowl

    How To Store Leftovers + Tips

    • Leftover homemade chicken & rice will keep (and be delicious) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    • Chicken thighs rule, right? So much more flavorful than chicken breast, chicken thighs are an unsung hero of weeknight meals. Check out our 30 Best Chicken Thigh recipes for even more dinner inspiration.

    mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, honey, cilantro leaves, garlic powder, and salt being combined in a food processor
    A Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice Skillet served with corn salad and a creamy lime sauce

    More Easy, Delicious Chicken & Rice Recipes

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    A Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice Skillet served with corn salad and a creamy lime sauce

    Cilantro Lime Chicken Rice Skillet Recipe

    Updated July 28, 2025

    By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  20 min
    • Cook Time:  35 min
    • Calories:  860

    Description

    Fresh, herby and bursting with flavor, this garlicky cilantro lime chicken and rice recipe is the kind of company-worthy weeknight fare we want every dinner to be.
    Print Recipe

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      Ingredients

      Cilantro Lime Chicken

      • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
      • 4 garlic cloves, minced
      • 2 teaspoons honey
      • 1 teaspoon lime zest
      • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
      • ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro
      • 1 teaspoon chili powder
      • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
      • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
      • 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)

      Corn Salad

      • 4 ears corn (or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed)
      • ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro
      • ¼ red onion, finely chopped
      • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
      • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
      • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

      Cilantro Lime Rice

      • 1½ cups long-grain white or jasmine rice, rinsed
      • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
      • 1 teaspoon sea salt
      • 1 teaspoon lime zest
      • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
      • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

      Sauce

      • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
      • ⅓ cup sour cream
      • 1 tablespoon lime juice (from 1 lime)
      • ½ teaspoon honey
      • ¼ cup fresh cilantro
      • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
      • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

      Method

      1. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt, and pepper.

        olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt, and pepper being combined in a glass bowl

      2. Add the chicken, and turn to coat. Let marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes or refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 hours.

        chicken thighs being tossed with olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt, and pepper

      3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the chicken in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

        chicken thighs marinated in olive oil, garlic, honey, lime zest & juice, cilantro, chili powder, salt & pepper in a skillet

      4. Meanwhile, make the corn salad. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the corn and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water until cool enough to handle. Slice the kernels off the cobs and place them in a large bowl. Add the cilantro, onion, jalapeño, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then toss to combine.

        cooked corn, cilantro, onion, jalapeño, lime juice, salt and pepper being combined in a bowl

      5. Make the rice. In a second large skillet, combine the rice, vegetable oil, salt, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, and 2½ cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low. Transfer the chicken to the skillet, cover, and cook until the liquid has been absorbed, and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 20 minutes.

        rice, vegetable oil, salt, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, and water cooking in a skillet

      6. While the chicken and rice cook, make the sauce. In the base of a food processor, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, honey, cilantro leaves, garlic powder, and salt. Blend until smooth.

        mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, honey, cilantro leaves, garlic powder, and salt being combined in a food processor

      7. Divide the chicken and rice among 4 plates. Serve topped with the corn salad and sauce.

        A Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice Skillet served with corn salad and a creamy lime sauce

      Related Recipes

      Nutrition Info

      • Per Serving
      • Amount
      • Calories 860
      • Protein 53 g
      • Carbohydrates 40 g
      • Total Fat 55 g
      • Dietary Fiber 3 g
      • Cholesterol 168 mg
      • Sodium 1198 mg
      • Total Sugars 10 g

      Cilantro Lime Chicken Rice Skillet

      Questions & Reviews

      Rated 5 stars by 17 readers

      or
      • Wendie

        We don't like chicken thighs!! Do you think I could make this recipe with boneless chicken breasts? If so, any changes you'd make? Thank you.

        Should work fine, hope you enjoy!

      • Olivia

        I made this tonight but the rice was still all crunchy and half-cooked after 20 min :( I can never get rice on the stove right. How do you cook it so its soft and fluffy every time?

        Not sure what went wrong. Was it covered and simmering?

      • Jacqueline

        Can I substitute yogurt for the mayo? My son has an egg allergy.

        We don't normally use yogurt in place of mayo so not sure the flavor would turn out as well.

      • Sam

        How by any stretch of the imagination can this be called a one-pot meal? Not only do you have multiple pans and bowls, but the food processor has to come down from the back of the top shelf? lol

        But looks good (-;

        You're absolutely right. Not sure how we made that mistake while writing. Thanks for brining it to our attention, we have updated that!

      • Alondra

        I thought I had chicken thighs but I only have chicken breast, can I substitute?

        Yes breasts should work fine. You might want to cut them in half so that they cook all the way through in the same amount of time.

      • Holly

        I just don’t like chicken thighs. Would this work with chicken breasts?

        Sure!

      • Nancy

        Is 3 minutes a side long enough to completely cook the chicken thighs?

        It browns them. Then they finish cooking in with the rice.

      • Mary

        Could you substitute chicken breasts instead of thighs?

        Sure!

      • Christina

        If you use the thawed frozen corn, do you cook it first?

        Nope, just thaw it and then use it in the steps as directed same as if you were using fresh. Hope you enjoy!

      • Liz

        How do you adjust your recipes if subbing brown rice?

        Ohhh. That can be tricky. We haven't tested this recipe for brown rice and it will for sure need some more water and time, but I'm not exactly sure without testing it first.

      • Marcy

        5-star rating

        This was delicious! We really enjoyed it - it was moist and flavorful. I thought 6 limes sounded like a lot, but it was spot on. Next time I might add some of the chili powder to the rice or sauce, because we really couldn't detect any zing from it being in the marinade. Here's a tip for the corn salad - use a bundt pan to hold the tip of the corn, which makes it easier to slice off the corn - then just use the bundt pan as your bowl for the salad. My thighs were done at 15 minutes. Delish - will definitely make again!

        Thanks, so glad you loved it!

      • malena

        5-star rating

        Fam favorite - requested often - soooo good!!!

        YAY! Glad your family loves it! Thank you.

      • Dave

        5-star rating

        This was exceptional! Lime and cilantro are my favourites. So full of flavours and the chicken was incredibly moist and delicious. Thank you for this recipe! This is going into the rotation.

        YAY! Awesome to hear, thanks Dave! We are glad you loved it.

      • Barb

        5-star rating

        Have made this several times and its fantastic. I marinate the chicken as directed but cook it in the air fryer. Cook the rice in the rice cooker and add everything at the end minus the oil. Used Herdez guacamole salsa in place of the sauce to save time (hey, its good stuff haha).

        So glad you love this, thanks Barb!

      • Olivia

        5-star rating

        Second time making this and plan to add it to the weekly rotation. I love that it uses an entire bunch of cilantro so I'm not buying it just for minimal use to throw away once it goes bad in the fridge.

        Thanks Olivia, so glad you loved it!

      • Mary

        5-star rating

        So good!!! Great flavors and that sauce is yum-o! I love chicken thighs and this recipe is 🔥.

        Thanks Mary, so glad you loved it!

      • M

        5-star rating

        Super in all ways!! Easy to follow directions and lot's of flavor. Family requested it added to our rotation - great weeknight dinner! Thanks for sharing.

        YAY! SO great to hear. Thank you, we are so glad your family loved it!

      • Elizabeth

        5-star rating

        Made this recipe and was pleased with the outcome. It was labor intensive and I’d use frozen corn next down to cut back on time and cleaning! I’d also write out how much of each ingredient I would need for the entire recipe - ie: you are going to need lots of limes and cilantro to complete this recipe!

        FYI - I used plain Greek yogurt as sub for sour cream with no issues. I also used 8 chick thighs for better leftovers and it worked well.

        Thanks for the recipe - another modern proper hit at our house!

        Hi Elizabeth, we are so glad you loved it! Were you looking at the ingredient list? it has all the exact measurements listed.

      • Stephanie

        5-star rating

        This was a hit! The corn salad really brightened the dish and I will be keeping that recipe to make with other meals for sure. I realized after I had the chicken marinating that i only had brown rice - I used 1.5c rice and 3 c water, let the rice simmer 20 min (while I browned the chicken), then added the chicken and cooked for another 25 min. It turned out great.

        Thanks Stephanie, we are so glad you loved it!

      • Megan

        5-star rating

        So, this meal was a hit! My husband loves lime & this meal definitely was one of his favorites. I also love lime and cilantro so I enjoyed the flavors…the sweetness of the honey with lime and cilantro is a combination I never would have thought of. I can’t wait to try more recipes

        Thank you, we are so glad you loved it!

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