Marinate Chicken: In a small food processor, add 1 cup fresh cilantro, ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, ⅓ cup fresh lime juice, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Blend until smooth. Place 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a large plastic bag or storage container and pour marinade over top. Use your hands and gently massage the marinade into the chicken so it is fully coated. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes.
Prep Grill: Clean grill grates and preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400℉).
Grill Chicken: Remove chicken from the marinade (allowing excess to drip off) and season with some additional salt and pepper. Grill chicken on direct heat (directly over flame) for 3-4 minutes per side (the bigger the thigh, the longer you will need to cook it), flipping once. Remove from grill once the internal temp has reached 160-165℉ (use a meat thermometer). See Notes for grilling bone-in thighs, chicken breasts (or cutlets).
Rest: Remove from grill and let rest at least 5 minutes; internal temperature will continue to rise as it rests (up to 10℉). Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temp of 165℉ at its thickest part.
Serve: Enjoy with some fresh homemade guacamole and diced red onions!
Notes
Bone-In Chicken Thighs or Breasts: option to use bone-in chicken thighs or breasts, just adjust your cooking time accordingly & keep an eye on the internal temp - they will take longer due to the bone.
Grilling Chicken Breasts: Place chicken breasts on direct heat (directly over flame) and cook at medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side. Move chicken away from direct heat, so that it is cooking on indirect heat (maintaining the same grill temp) and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes (you don’t need to flip at this point because the chicken will cook as if it is in an oven) or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reads 160 degrees F.
Chicken Cutlets: if you are using chicken breasts, I highly recommend cutting them in half lengthwise to make chicken cutlets. They will be thinner and therefore cook faster and stay more juicy on the inside. Simply cut them, marinate as directed above, and follow our grilled chicken cutlets instructions.
Serving Suggestion: we highly recommend serving with fresh homemade guacamole for best results! Or cut the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and serve as cilantro lime chicken tacos.