Mexican Chicken Breasts
User Reviews
4.5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
8 mins
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Marinade time
20 mins
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Total Time
38 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
212 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Mexican
Mexican Chicken Breasts
Description
This recipe starts by slicing chicken breasts horizontally into fillets for even cooking and better marinade absorption. The marinade combines olive oil with taco seasoning, salt, sugar to aid caramelization and juiciness, along with freshly crushed garlic and the zest and juice of lime and orange. This combination brings bright citrus notes and savory spice to the chicken.
The marinated chicken is then cooked, allowing the citrus acids and seasonings to tenderize and flavor the meat deeply. The sugar helps a nice caramelized surface while maintaining moisture inside.
This chicken works well served as a main dish paired with rice, beans, or in tacos. The marinade’s fresh and slightly tangy character gives it a distinct Mexican-inspired flavor profile.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast skinless and boneless, large
Marinade
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 teaspoon taco seasoning - see note 1
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar - see note 2
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 lime
- 1 orange
Instructions
Start by Filleting the Chicken
- Pat the chicken breast dry to stop it sliding about the board.2 large chicken breasts
- Lay the chicken breast flat on a chopping board.
- Use a large sharp knife to cut sideways through the breast.
- Continue to cut through the chicken breast, keeping the blade of the knife flat and parallel to the chopping board.
- Carefully cut through until you have two plump fillets.
- If you find they are not an even thickness, you can use a meat mallet (or a heavy pan) to bash the plumper end down.
- Repeat with the second chicken breast.
To marinate the chicken
- Pour the olive oil into a non-metallic dish, and add in the taco seasoning, salt, and sugar.¼ cup olive oil4 tsp taco seasoning1 tsp salt1 tsp sugar
- Crush or grate the garlic and add it to the marinade.3 cloves garlic
- Grate the zest of the lime and orange and add them to the marinade.1 lime1 orange
- Cut the zested citrus fruits in half and add 2 tablespoon of orange juice (usually about half the orange) and 2 tablespoon of lime juice (usually the whole lime) - See note 3
- Add the chicken fillets and turn to coat.
- Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
To cook the chicken
- Place a heavy-based frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook on one side without moving for 4 minutes.
- Flip the chicken and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until cooked through.
Notes
- Use either store-bought taco seasoning or prepare a homemade blend for the marinade.
- Sugar in the marinade helps caramelize the chicken while keeping it moist; it can be omitted if desired.
- Citrus fruit juiciness varies; use the juice available from one lime if yield is low rather than adding a second.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 212 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 212kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 36mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 656mg | 27% |
| Potassium | 295mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 109IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 24mg | 27% |
| Calcium | 26mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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