Why You’ll Love these Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs
Why are these Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs about to become your new favorite weeknight dinner? Let me count the ways.
The vibrant marinade—packed with fresh cilantro, scallions, and citrus—transforms ordinary chicken into something extraordinary with minimal effort.
I’m obsessed with how the lime and orange juices tenderize the meat while infusing it with bright flavor. The soy sauce adds that perfect umami depth.
And that crispy skin? Heaven.
The best part? While it tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, this dish comes together quickly. Marinate, broil, done. Perfect for those nights when cooking feels like climbing Mount Everest.
What Ingredients are in Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs?
These Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs bring together the bright, fresh flavors of herbs and citrus with the rich, satisfying taste of perfectly cooked chicken. The marinade is where the magic happens, combining aromatic cilantro, zesty citrus, and savory soy sauce to create a flavor profile that’s both bold and balanced. I love how the ingredients work together to tenderize the meat while infusing it with layers of taste that make ordinary chicken thighs extraordinary.
- 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced (with 1/4 cup set aside for garnish)
- 1/2 bunch cilantro, leaves and tender stems only
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons kante avocado oil with basil
When shopping for these ingredients, quality matters. Fresh citrus will give you the most vibrant flavor, so grab whole limes and oranges rather than bottled juice. For the chicken thighs, the recipe specifically calls for skin-on, bone-in pieces, which helps keep the meat juicy while developing that irresistible crispy skin under the broiler. Don’t be tempted to substitute skinless or boneless thighs, as you’ll miss out on both texture and flavor. The kante avocado oil with basil adds another dimension of herbaceous notes, but if you can’t find this specialty oil, regular avocado oil with a few extra fresh basil leaves added to the marinade would work in a pinch.
How to Make these Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs
Making these zesty chicken thighs is all about creating that flavor-packed marinade first. Start by setting aside about 1/4 cup of your thinly sliced scallions for garnishing later. The rest of those scallions will join a vibrant mixture in your food processor or blender.
Add 1/2 bunch of cilantro (just the leaves and tender stems), 2 chopped garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon each of finely grated lime and orange zest, 1/4 cup each of fresh lime juice and orange juice, 1/4 cup of reduced-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of kante avocado oil with basil, and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Pulse everything together until you get a coarse purée with bits of herbs still visible. Trust me, this marinade smells absolutely heavenly—like summer in a bowl.
Before adding your 2 pounds of skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs to the marinade, be certain to reserve about 1/4 cup of this green gold for serving later. Place the remaining marinade in a large resealable plastic bag, add your chicken thighs, and seal it up.
Give everything a good massage to guarantee each piece is thoroughly coated. Pop this into the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes, though I find letting it marinate for a couple of hours really lets those flavors penetrate the meat.
When you’re ready to cook, preheat your broiler. Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard what’s left in the bag) and place the pieces skin side down on a foil-lined broiler-proof baking sheet.
Broil until the underside is lightly browned, which takes about 5 minutes, then flip them over and continue broiling until they’re completely cooked through. You’ll know they’re done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F and the skin has developed a beautiful, crispy char.
Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs Substitutions and Variations
While this cilantro-citrus marinade creates a flavor explosion as written, don’t feel locked into following the recipe exactly as presented.
I’ve made this dish countless times, swapping lime for lemon when my grocery store was mysteriously lime-less (a cooking emergency if there ever was one).
No cilantro? Try parsley or even mint. Not a fan of chicken thighs? This marinade works beautifully on chicken breasts, pork chops, or even firm fish.
For a spicy kick, add a jalapeño to the food processor.
Vegetarian? Marinate extra-firm tofu or cauliflower steaks instead.
The citrus-soy combo is remarkably versatile.
What to Serve with Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs
After you’ve pulled these flavor-packed chicken thighs from the broiler, you’ll need some equally impressive side dishes to round out your meal.
I love serving mine with coconut lime rice, which perfectly complements the citrus notes in the chicken.
A simple arugula salad with avocado and a squeeze of orange juice makes for an invigorating counterpoint to the savory meat.
Want something heartier? Try roasted sweet potatoes with a sprinkle of cumin.
For a complete flavor experience, don’t forget a crisp white wine—Sauvignon Blanc works beautifully with these zesty flavors. The acidity cuts through the richness of those juicy thighs.
Final Thoughts
These zesty chicken thighs have become my go-to recipe whenever I’m craving something bold yet straightforward for dinner. The bright citrus marinade, with that perfect balance of lime, orange, and soy sauce, transforms ordinary chicken into something spectacular without hours of fussing in the kitchen.
I love how versatile this dish is—perfect for busy weeknights or impressive enough for weekend dinner guests.
The leftovers, if you’re lucky enough to have any, make fantastic tacos the next day. Trust me, once you try this marinade, you’ll find yourself wanting to put it on everything.
Zesty Cilantro Citrus Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Set aside about 1/4 cup of the thinly sliced scallions for garnish.
- In a food processor or blender, combine the remaining scallions, cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped garlic, lime zest, orange zest, lime juice, orange juice, soy sauce, avocado oil, and kosher salt. Pulse until you have a coarse purée with visible herb bits.
- Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade for serving later.
- Place the remaining marinade in a large resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken thighs and seal the bag. Massage to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated.
- Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, though 2 hours will allow flavors to better penetrate the meat.
- When ready to cook, preheat your broiler.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard the remaining marinade in the bag) and place pieces skin side down on a foil-lined broiler-proof baking sheet.
- Broil until the underside is lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Flip the chicken pieces and continue broiling until completely cooked through and the skin has developed a crispy char, about 5 minutes more. The internal temperature should register 165°F on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part.
- Serve the chicken thighs drizzled with the reserved marinade and garnished with the reserved scallions.
