Chicken Tacos seeping with a rainbow of chili lime spices, topped with oozing Jack cheese, sweet and smoky Grilled Pineapple Salsa and drizzled with silky Avocado Crema. Memorial Day worthy. Every day easy.
This Chili Lime Chicken Tacos recipe is an explosion of YUM in every bite and might just become your new favorite chicken taco recipe EVER! You can prep the chicken, salsa and crema ahead of time so your Chili Lime Chicken Tacos can come together in a flash at dinner time!
Chicken Tacos Recipe Video
Easy Lime Chicken Tacos Recipe
I made these Chili Lime Chicken Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa last week and I was so in love that I sweet talked Ms. Strawberry Soup into letting us take her spot in this weeks line up so you could have them for Memorial Day along with Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Honey Lime Butter, homemade salsa and either Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice.
Because you need them for Memorial Day. Because nothing says “Hello Summer” like firing up the grill on Memorial Day and grilling your new favorite ever Mexican chicken.
Happy Memorial Day! May God bless all those who have died fighting for our freedoms and all who continue to fight for our freedoms every single day. They allow us to to take much for granted. May we strive to always honor their sacrifice and thank them for it.
Ingredients for Chili Lime Tacos
These pineapple chicken tacos come together with few ingredients but taste so flavorful! Here’s what you’ll need to make the BEST chicken tacos:
- Chili Lime Chicken: You can find my recipe here. The ingredient list looks long, but it’s 95% spices!
- Pineapple Salsa: Enjoy it fresh or grilled (recipe here).
- Flour tortillas: May sub corn tortillas if you’re gluten-free.
- Shredded cheese: Use your favorite.
- Avocado crema: A delicious blend of avocado, sour cream, mayo, lime, cumin, and garlic powder. Do not leave this stuff off of your tacos!!
How to Make Lime Chicken Tacos
For these Chili Lime Chicken Tacos, the chicken is marinated either overnight or just 30 minutes in my easy All Purpose Chili Lime Chicken Rub bursting with fiestalicious spices all brightened by fresh lime juice and lime zest. SO EASY! You can either grill your chicken or cook it on the stovetop:
STOVETOP DIRECTIONS:
- If chicken has been refrigerated, let sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes (time permitting).
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Once very hot, add chicken and cook, undisturbed for 3-5 minutes, or until nicely browned (or blackened if you prefer) on one side.
- Turn chicken over, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for approximately 5-7 more minutes (depending on thickness of chicken), or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
GRILLING DIRECTIONS:
- If chicken has been refrigerated, let sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes (time permitting).
- Meanwhile, grease and preheat the grill to medium heat, 375-450°F.
- Grill chicken undisturbed for for 5-7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through. (An inserted thermometer should read 165 degrees F.)
- Remove chicken from grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
So tender, so flavorful, so ready to be stuffed in a tortilla and then stuffed into your mouth.
What Toppings for Lime Chili Tacos?
As much as we all want to start eating these lime chili chicken tacos NOW, let me first sing the praises of Grilled Pineapple Salsa. I could have topped these Chicken Tacos with Homemade Salsa, Salsa Verde or Pico de Gallo but their rich smokiness was begging for vibrant, sweet, juicy Grilled Pineapple Salsa, much Tacos Al Pastor.
The Pineapple Salsa is made with grilled sweet and smoky caramelized pineapple, and GRILLED red bell peppers, red onions and jalapeno tossed with lime and cilantro and a hint of cumin and ginger. This pineapple salsa is insanely delicious all on its own and the refreshing companion to our Chili Lime Chicken Tacos. They make each other better even when you didn’t think it was possible.
Finally, the crowning adornment of this Chicken Tacos that brings everything together is the silky Avocado Crema. Both Patrick and I are obsessed with this Crema. Made with sour cream, a little mayo and just the right kick of garlic, cumin, salt and fresh lime juice. It is so creamy that we prefer it hands down – way down – to guacamole. I think you will too. Just try and resist its silky siren calls.
Tips for the Best Chicken Tacos
- Quality tortillas. Try and use QUALITY flour tortillas – you can taste the difference!
- Spice it up. The spice level as written is not very spicy, just flavorful. If your chicken feels like it’s missing something, it is probably a depth of heat.
- Use fresh pineapple. For the pineapple salsa, fresh pineapple is a must. It’s just not the same with canned pineapple.
Recipe Variations to Try
- Add beans. Add your favorite beans – some refried beans, black, pinto, etc. are all fabulous. You can add them directly to the chicken or warm in a separate pan and add them to individual tortillas.
- Add veggies. You can add any veggies your heart desires from corn, bell peppers, zucchini, sweet potatoes, spinach etc. You can sauté the veggies separately or cook them with the chicken.
- Add fajita peppers. Stir fried bell peppers are always tasty. You can follow the instructions for the peppers in my Pork Fajitas recipe.
Can I Prep Chili Lime Chicken Tacos in Advance?
You can make the chicken ahead of time and just reheat when ready to serve. You can also prep all of your toppings ahead of time. The avocado crema will keep for up to a day without changing color very much – just make sure to press a piece of plastic wrap directly against the surface of the guac/crema to prevent oxidation.
How to Reheat Chili Lime Chicken Tacos
Reheat the chicken in the microwave or in a skillet over medium-low heat. The tortillas can also be gently warmed in a skillet to make them more pliable.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Soft Tacos
The chicken, tortillas, salsa, crema, and other toppings should be stored in separate containers in the fridge. The chicken will last up to 5 days, and the crema will last up to 2 days (it may oxidize, but that’s okay!).
Can I Freeze Lime Chicken Tacos?
The tortillas and cooked chicken can be frozen individually. The toppings must be eaten fresh.
- Prepare the chili lime chicken according to directions.
- Cool to room temperature.
- Add chicken to a freezer size plastic bag OR portion into smaller size sandwich bags.
- Press bag flat, squeeze out excess air to prevent freezer burn.
- Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months.
- When ready to use, defrost chicken in the refrigerator overnight.
- Remove chicken and reheat in a skillet or in a microwave-safe container in the microwave.
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Tacos
- Rice: is a must-have-side in my book for almost every taco recipe. We love serving these chicken soft tacos with cilantro lime rice, Mexican rice, or avocado rice. You can also serve with quinoa, or low carb cauliflower rice.
- Salads: salad is always a win and a great way to stretch your easy chicken tacos if you’re serving a crowd. These pineapple chicken tacos pair well with a big green salad, southwest salad, corn salad, or southwest orzo salad.
- Veggies: I HIGHLY encourage you to go with authentic elote (Mexican Grilled Street Corn) – you will not regret it! Other alternatives include grilled corn on the cob, baked asparagus, roasted broccoli, roasted potatoes, roasted cauliflower.
- Fruit: you can keep it simple and serve these chicken tacos with cantaloupe, or grapes or any of these fabulous options: pina colada fruit salad, fruit salad with honey lime vinaigrette, grape salad, winter fruit salad, or caramelized grilled pineapple.
- Carbs: add some green chiles and or/ jalapenos to my sweet cornbread recipe and watch it disappear (one of my all-time favorite recipes I bring to everything!). Mexican Street Fries are also a favorite that disappear in a flash.
Looking for More Easy Taco Recipes?
If you love everything Tacos, be sure to check out some of my favorite:
- Turkey Tacos
- Korean Tacos
- Baja Fish Tacos
- Blackened Fish Tacos
- Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos
- Baked Fiesta Ranch Chicken Tacos
- Buffalo Chicken Tacos
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos
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Chili Lime Chicken Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa
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Ingredients
- 1 Recipe All Purpose Chili Lime Chicken
- 1 Recipe Grilled Pineapple Salsa
- 4 flour tortillas or 6-8 corn tortillas
- 1/2 cup favorite cheese, more or less
Avocado Crema
- 1 medium avocado
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Prepare Chili Lime Chicken And Grilled Pineapple Salsa according to directions.
- To make the Avocado Crema, add all the Crema ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth, scraping sides down as needed. May make 4 hours ahead of time and refrigerate in an airtight container.
- To assemble, melt cheese on tortillas in the microwave or stovetop then top with Chili Lime Chicken, Pineapple Salsa followed by Avocado Crema.
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Melissa says
Made these for dinner tonight and got the thumbs up from everyone. One little tip of like to throw out there for marinading the chicken. I always cut deep hash marks in any chicken breast that I’m going to end up chopping up to serve. It allows for more surface area to absorb the tasty marinade and cooks faster. It may not look pretty, but it works flavor wise. Also, I threw in a jalapeño with the avocado cream. It wasn’t too hot at all and gave it just a nice amount of kick. We were dipping chips in to before dinner. That’s some tasty stuff! It will be on the menu often. I’m making baked empenadas with the left over chicken we have. Can’t wait.
Jen says
Hi Melissa, so happy these were a hit with everyone – always so nice to find a recipe that gets everyone’s approval! Thank you so much for the tip on the has marks in the chicken- I will definitely try that next time! And I love your addition of jalapeno to the avocado crema – I can almost taste how delicious that must be! I need to make a separate recipe post just for that crema – it seems to be everyone’s fav! Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Hugh says
Made these for the first time last night. Did them on a griddle pan inside instead but even still they were so so good! Everyone loved them, especially the pineapple salsa. Will keep that up my sleeve to use with lots of other recipes. Thanks a lot for the recipe, I’ll definitely be making some more of yours now!
Jen says
Hi Hugh, I am so happy this was such a hit, thank you! I agree, the pineapple salsa really makes this dish – I want to put it on everything! I hope you have fun trying more of my recipes!
Kirsten says
The spice rub and the salsa have become my go-to taco recipe. They are absurdly good!
I’ve taken to making multiple batches of the rub (minus the olive oil, lime zest, juice and water), and storing the excess in the freezer until I need it. In the winter, when I can’t get outside to grill, I boil 2 chicken breasts until cooked, shred the meat, then toss with about 3 1/2 tablespoons of the rub, the zest & juice, and 1/3 to 1/2 cup of water in a skillet until heated through. The boiling is an extra step, but because the meat is shredded, the spice covers more surface area.
Anytime I hear of someone looking for a taco recipe, I point them here. Thank you for sharing your recipes!
Jen says
Awesome Kristen, I’m so glad you love the spice rub and salsa so much! Your method of making multiple batches and freezing/boiling the chicken is a genius way to eat this chicken all year long ad so nice to have dinner at your fingertips! Thanks for sharing!
Siobhan says
These were so, so good! The rub is amazing; it is slightly spicy but not overpoweringly so. We all enjoyed it! I served these tacos with some grilled achiote shrimp and homemade guacamole and chips. So yummy!
Jen says
Your entire meal sounds SO delicious! Can’t beat homemade guacamole and grilled achiote shrimp – mmmm! So happy these were a winner! Thank you!
Heidi says
Loved this! I took a chance and made it for the first time when our pastor and his wife’s came over for dinner. It was a hit with everyone!
Jen says
Awesome Heidi, I’m so happy it was a hit escpecially with important company 🙂 Thank you!
Nicole says
OMG!!! These were absolutely mouth watering!! My family devoured them!! Have you ever tried this chicken recipe in the crockpot?
Jen says
YAY! I’m so pleased they were a hit with your whole family! I haven’t tried them in the crockpot but it should work great!
Anne Lachney says
I have made these several times and they are always a hit! Lately, I have doubled the recipe so my son (who hates leftovers) can have leftovers per his request. Great recipe! Thanks so much!
Jen says
You are so welcome Anne, I LOVE hearing they are such a hit and “double recipe” worthy! Thank you!
ANNE N LACHNEY says
Your chili lime chicken recipe is awesome! It has definitely become a family favorite! Thanks so much!
Jen says
That is awesome, thank you so much Anne!
Liz says
Jen! You are the GREATEST! I discovered your website two months ago and have been literally making your recipes at least 4 times a week with a couple family favorites thrown in there. There is SO MUCH FLAVOR and deliciousness to everything I have made! And the best part, you are literally teaching me how to be a cook. I have been afraid of the grill forever. I have now made two of your chicken marinades and learned from your blog essential grilling tips I never knew. My four teenage boys are LOVING it. I can’t wait until we can host large gatherings again so I can show off my new found skills and your incredible recipes. Thank you!
Jen says
Thank you for making my day Liz! I’m so happy you discovered my site and you’re loving my recipes! I am honored you’re learning new cooking techniques as well, thank you! I hope continue to have exploring and hopefully find some new favorites!
Vicki says
The chicken was so, so good! And the Avocado Crema, as well. Although the Pineapple Salsa was good, my people didn’t love it so it didn’t get eaten. That chicken though!!!!
Jen says
Thanks Vicki, I’m so pleased the chicken was a hit!
Laura says
These tacos are amazing, I made sure to make too much so that I had leftovers so I can put it on salads for the next couple days! Absolutely worth it! The salsa is next level and together, a mind blowing combo! I love making fruit salsas and this one was excellent! I love your recipes, your carne asada blows my mind! Thank you for the depths of flavor! It really is what food now a days has been missing!
Jen says
Thank you so much for making my day Laura! I’m honored you’re loving my recipes and these tacos were no exception. Thank you!
Liberty says
Found this recipe in 2017 and took a screen shot. Years later I’ve made this rub and the Avocado crema ….. at least a dozen times! There are not enough good things to say here folks. The rub and chicken are incredible and a great add on to sooooo many recipes and the crema is a treat that is so versatile I add it to everything from salads to using it as dip with spicy takis or chips. This is in my arsenal of amazing flavors forever. Thank you for such powerful and balanced flavors.
Jen says
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Liberty! I love hearing the rub and crema have become versatile household favorites!
Lynne Brokaw says
My husband and I had the chili lime chicken tacos yesterday and they were SO GOOD! I had never grilled pineapple before so the sweetness that I encountered was AMAZING! These will be in my recipe arsenal forever.
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Jen says
You’re so welcome Lynne, I’m so pleased you loved them so much! Grilled pineapple is a game changer!