This margarita chicken marinates in citrus and garlic and turns out juicy, packed with flavor, and great with all your favorite summer BBQ side dishes! Simple, refined sugar free, naturally paleo friendly.
I absolutely LOVE the flavor of this margarita chicken!
Typically I go for dry seasonings over marinades with chicken, but I wanted to try a variation on this citrusy marinade.
You can cook it on a grill or pan fry in a skillet. Choose boneless skinless thighs (my choice!) or breasts – very versatile!
It’s super easy and I’ll know you’ll love it as much as I do – let’s get into the details.
What You Need to Make this Margarita Chicken
The tequila or wine is totally optional, the citrus and garlic is mandatory!
Here’s everything you’ll need to prepare this chicken:
- sea salt and black pepper
- limes
- oranges
- tequila or white wine (optional)
- raw honey
- garlic cloves
- olive oil
- boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Cilantro, for garnish
- Sliced avocado, for garnish
How to Make Paleo Margarita Chicken
Add the salt and pepper, lime and orange zest to a medium bowl and whisk in all the juice, alcohol (if using), honey, garlic and olive oil. Whisk well.
Place the chicken in a large bowl or ziplock back, then pour the marinade over the chicken, cover, refrigerate and marinate for at least one hour and up to 4.
Before grilling, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature, still marinating, for 15 minutes.
Remove chicken from the marinade, discard marinade, and grill over medium – medium-high heat, adjusting the heat as necessary so as not to burn the outside of the chicken.
Baste the chicken with the remaining 1/2 cup of marinade while grilling.
You can also cook the chicken in a skillet to pan fry. 1/2” thick breasts should need 4 minutes per side and thighs will need 5-6 minutes per side.
Serve garnished with more lime, avocado and cilantro over lightly sautéed cauliflower rice or with your favorite grilled veggies, or a green salad.
Then relax and enjoy! Maybe even with an actual margarita to really get into the vibe 🙂
Grab your ingredients because it’s time to cook – let’s go!
Margarita Chicken {Paleo}
Margarita Chicken {Paleo}
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- zest of 1 lime grated
- Fresh juice of 3 limes
- zest of 1 orange grated
- Juice of 2 oranges
- 1/4 cup tequila or dry white wine optional
- 1 tablespoon raw honey melted
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, pounded to 1/2” thickness
- Cilantro for garnish
- Sliced avocado for garnish
Instructions
-
Add the salt and pepper, lime and orange zest to a medium bowl and whisk in all the juice, alcohol (if using), honey, garlic and olive oil. Whisk well.
-
Place the chicken in a large bowl or ziplock back, reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade, then pour the remaining marinade over the chicken, cover, refrigerate and marinate for at least one hour and up to 4. Refrigerate the 1/2 cup of marinade separately to baste with while grilling.
-
Before grilling, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature, still marinating, for 15 minutes. Remove chicken from the marinade, discard marinade, and grill over medium - medium-high heat, adjusting the heat as necessary so as not to burn the outside of the chicken. Baste the chicken with the remaining 1/2 cup of marinade while grilling. You can also cook the chicken in a skillet to pan fry. 1/2” thick breasts should need 4 minutes per side and thighs will need 5-6 minutes per side.
-
Serve garnished with more lime, avocado and cilantro over lightly sautéed cauliflower rice or with your favorite grilled veggies, or a green salad. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Want More Paleo Friendly Chicken Recipes? Try One of These!
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad with Honey Dijon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our disclosure policy here.
Well, that’s a superb article! Thank you for this great information, you write very well which I like very much. I am really impressed by your post.
Are you always on the lookout for new recipes too? I recently made chicken with citrus and hints, tangerine and I saved the recipe because it turned out so delicious! The combination of flavors was fantastic and it gave the dish a refreshing twist.
https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/margarita-chicken-paleo/
I studied the research on the paleo diet for a working project and decided to try it myself. I stumbled upon your blog)And now I’m with you for a year)
Love your recipes! The combination of chicken and citrus is divine)It turns out that on a diet it is possible to eat tasty and nourishing))
I studied the research on the paleo diet for a working project and decided to try it myself. I stumbled upon your blog)And now I’m with you for a year)
Love your recipes! The combination of chicken and citrus is divine)It turns out that on a diet it is possible to eat tasty and nourishing))
10/10 This recipe was SO good. And SO fresh! Love it! Just in time for summer!
Sounds amazing & I’m making this now! The instructions say salt but how much? Salt isn’t on the ingredient list.
I made this recipe tonight and it was AMAZING – even my 2 year old, who is typically picky with meat, gobbled it up! It is definitely going in our meal rotation! Please create more recipes with chicken marinades! I am such a fan of your recipes 🙂
Absolutley YUMMY!!!! Huge hit at pool party!!!
Hi!
Salt is missing from the ingredients list. How much? Thank you.
This sounds fantastic, and I’m cooking it right now! The recipe calls for salt, but how much? Salt is not listed as an ingredient.
Are the proportions correct in this? I want to make it with 8 lb of boneless chicken thighs (about 20 thighs), but that would increase it to 10 oranges, 20 garlic cloves, 1.25 cups of tequila, etc, and that just seems so drastic. Also, how much salt??
Typically I go for dry seasonings how to get fiberglass out of skin
over marinades with chicken, but I wanted to try a variation on this citrusy marinade.
Great instruction! In particular, your video helps me a lot in following the steps
The combination of citrus and garlic marinade sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it with some grilled veggies on the side. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
nice post
The one thing I would add is a little salt!! The salt makes the tequila pop! But otherwise it was amazing!!!
Great job! This post was very informative and engaging.
This article features a mouthwatering recipe for blueberry muffins that are grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.