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–+ servings
above image of four chicken breasts on a grill.
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5 from 1 vote

Southwest Chicken Marinade

This Southwest Chicken Marinade is the perfect way to spice up your chicken dinner! Chicken breast is infused with a spicy, tangy, salty marinade, then grilled until juicy, tender, and incredibly flavorful.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Marinating time20 minutes
Total Time38 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 328kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast thin or butterflied
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt pressed
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice about 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

  • To make southwest seasoning, stir together the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, ground pepper, and cayenne pepper (optional).
  • Poke chicken all over with a fork. Place the chicken in a dish or zip top bag and pour the seasoning over the chicken on both sides. Add the lime juice and oil and mix to combine. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours, with a minimum of 20 minutes.
  • Heat the grill to medium heat and brush with oil to prevent sticking. Place chicken on the grill and cook for 4-6 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Cook to an internal temperature of 165˚F.
  • Once done, remove chicken from grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Then serve warm. Enjoy!

Notes

Cooking variations

Baked BBQ Chicken

  1. Let the chicken marinate for 2 hours.
  2. Place chicken breast on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
  3. Spread an additional layer of BBQ sauce over chicken breast
  4. Continue to cook for 10+ more minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temp)

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

  1. Place the chicken with marinade in a slow cooker
  2. Cook on low for 2 hours
  3. Remove chicken breast and shred
  4. Mix shredded chicken back into juices and cook 30 more minutes
  5. Add more BBQ sauce if desired.

Skillet BBQ Chicken

  1. Chop chicken into 1 in pieces or cut into thin fillets.
  2. Marinate for 2 hours.
  3. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil over medium high heat.
  4. Add chicken pieces (without extra marinade)
  5. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side
Substitutions: You can use any cut of chicken including chicken thighs, wings, legs, and even whole chickens with this marinade. Cook times will vary. 
How to Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 1-2 months.
  • You can give those leftovers a makeover to use later in the week, or month if frozen for a completely new and exciting dinner. *See original post for some suggestions!*
How to Scale: You can easily double the recipe and use the chicken throughout the week to meal prep.

Nutrition

Serving: 7oz | Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 862mg | Potassium: 887mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 426IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg