The Best Southwest Marinade For Chicken
This Southwest Marinade for chicken pairs bold flavors of typical of Southwest cuisine, with the acidity from the lime and apple cider vinegar to help tenderize the chicken, ensuring it’s juicy and flavorful. This marinade is perfect for grilling during the warmer months and baking when the weather is chilly.
Why You Need To Make This Southwest Chicken Marinade Recipe
This recipe is easy to whip together and makes a healthy delicious roast or grilled chicken. However, the fact that this recipe is super easy isn’t the only reason you need to make this recipe.
This recipe is also:
Versatile: Make this with roasted pork, grilled veggies, or grilled or baked tofu steaks.
Healthy: This recipe is a great addition to healthy flexitarian eating. A homemade marinade allows you to control the ingredients.
Cost-Effective: This recipe is economical to make and more cost-effective than buying pre-made marinades.
Totally Customizable: Making marinade from scratch allows you to adjust spices and ingredients to suit your taste preference and accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have.
Southwest Chicken Bowl – Sliced Chicken
Ingredients In Southwest Chicken Marinade
These simple marinade ingredients combined are perfect for your next southwest chicken dish.
- Olive Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Limes – I use fresh lime juice and lime zest
- Oregano
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Garlic Powder
Optional: onion powder (for more oniony flavors), smoked paprika (for a touch of smokiness), brown sugar (for a touch of sweetness), sea salt, and black pepper.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, oregano, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder, lime juice, and lime zest until well blended.
Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
If using to marinate chicken…
Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish, and pour the marinade over it. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated.
Refrigerate: Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours for deeper flavor.
Cook: Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook as desired, whether grilling, roasting, or pan-frying.
Serving Suggestions
Let’s review some ideas for serving this marinade! I can guide you to creating a complete and healthy meal.
Use this marinade on skinless chicken breasts for delicious grilled southwest chicken breasts. Marinate the raw chicken pieces in airtight containers or ziplock bag overnight or for 24hrs. Then grill your chicken until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Serve the grilled chicken in a delicious meal, such as :
- Plain along side some simple cooked and seasoned black beans and rice.
- The protein topper for burrito bowls with grilled green bell peppers and red onions, and fresh corn salsa.
- Served over a simple green salad with fresh herbs, such as fresh cilantro.
Try this recipe as meal prep for the week! Make enough for a week of lunches with burrito bowls, salads, and wraps.
Other Recipes to Try!
Quick Chopped Greek Salad: A Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Recipe
Black Bean Mango Salad Recipe: Ready In Minutes!
Southwest Marinade For Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Set measuring spoons
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 lime juiced and zested
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, lime zest, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and garlic powder until well blended.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!
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