Description
Peruvian Grilled Chicken brings zesty South American flavors straight to your backyard grill, where tender marinated chicken emerges with bold, spicy-tangy notes that make dinner feel like a festive celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Liquid Ingredients:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 cloves garlic
Garnish:
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Blend ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup fresh lime juice, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon cumin, paprika, and oregano with 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Whisk until your marinade looks smooth and well-combined.
- Transfer chicken breasts into a large resealable plastic bag. Pour entire marinade over the meat, ensuring each piece gets completely saturated. Seal the bag and massage thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Refrigerate your marinated chicken for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. This allows the acidic lime juice and spices to tenderize and infuse deep flavor into the meat.
- Remove chicken from refrigerator 15-20 minutes before grilling. Preheat your grill to 400F, creating medium-high heat zones with clean, lightly oiled grates.
- Arrange chicken breasts on the hot grill, spacing them to prevent overcrowding. Grill for 6-7 minutes on the first side without disturbing, creating beautiful caramelized grill marks.
- Carefully flip chicken and continue grilling 6-7 minutes until internal temperature precisely reaches 165F. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to confirm doneness.
- Transfer grilled chicken to a clean platter. Let the meat rest 5 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness.
- Slice chicken or serve whole. Garnish generously with fresh cilantro and provide lime wedges alongside for a bright, zesty finishing touch.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken overnight for maximum flavor absorption and tenderness.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches exactly 165F for perfect doneness without overcooking.
- If you don’t have a grill, this recipe works beautifully with a grill pan or broiler, maintaining similar cooking times.
- Experiment with adding a bit more cayenne if your palate enjoys extra heat, but start conservatively to balance the bright lime and herbal notes.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 13-14 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Peruvian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 284 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 576 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg