Coconut Lime Chicken

Introduction

Coconut Lime Chicken is a vibrant, flavorful dish that brings together the tropical creaminess of coconut milk and the tangy punch of fresh lime. The result is tender, juicy chicken with a sauce so good you’ll want to drizzle it on everything! This recipe is a weeknight hero—ready in under 30 minutes and impressive enough to serve to guests or enjoy as an elevated family dinner.

Why Coconut Lime Chicken is a Weeknight Winner

With just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal prep, Coconut Lime Chicken packs a punch of exotic flavor without any fuss. The zesty lime cuts through the rich coconut milk, creating a sauce that’s perfectly balanced—bright, creamy, and savory. Serve it over rice, quinoa, or even cauliflower rice to soak up every last drop. This dish is a crowd pleaser that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and easily adjustable for different dietary needs.

Mastering the Coconut Lime Sauce

The key to this recipe is in the sauce, which starts by searing your seasoned chicken until golden brown. Next, coconut milk and lime juice are added, simmering gently to infuse the chicken with layers of flavor. You can customize the sauce’s intensity by adding more lime zest for extra zing or a little honey for sweetness. Fresh cilantro and a touch of chili flakes as garnish make this dish pop visually and add even more flavor.

Best Ways to Serve Coconut Lime Chicken

Coconut Lime Chicken pairs beautifully with steamed jasmine or basmati rice, but it’s equally delicious with sautéed veggies or a simple cucumber salad for a light, refreshing meal. For a complete dinner, add grilled corn or roasted sweet potatoes to complement the flavors. The sauce also works well drizzled on fish, tofu, or roasted vegetables—making it a versatile staple you’ll return to again and again.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields four servings. Each serving contains approximately 320–360 calories, depending on the cut of chicken and sides served. Coconut Lime Chicken is rich in protein, with healthy fats from coconut milk and a boost of vitamin C from the lime juice.

Coconut Lime Chicken (Recap)

Coconut Lime Chicken stands out for its irresistible flavor combination and easy, straightforward preparation. It’s a satisfying, delightfully fresh main that appeals to a wide range of tastes and is sure to become a staple in your dinner rotation.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning!

Instructions

1. Pat chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden and mostly cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate.
3. Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
4. Pour in coconut milk, lime juice, lime zest, and honey (if using). Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
5. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then return chicken to the skillet. Spoon sauce over chicken and simmer, uncovered, for 7–10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and sauce has slightly thickened.
6. Stir in red pepper flakes (if using) and half the cilantro.
7. Serve chicken with extra sauce spooned over top. Garnish with the remaining cilantro and lime wedges.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is a smart addition to your weekly meal prep and planning routine. Save and schedule this recipe to plan when you’ll enjoy it, and generate smart shopping lists that combine all ingredients needed from your weekly menu.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across multiple recipes
• Organizes shopping lists by grocery store sections
• Prevents duplicate purchases and missing ingredients
• Simplifies weekly meal prep and keeps grocery budgets on track

Pro tip: When planning several meals, schedule your recipes in CookifyAI to see how ingredients overlap. For example, if this dish and another planned meal both use lime or cilantro, your shopping list will calculate the exact total needed—making meal planning smarter and reducing food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes