This cilantro lime hen simmers in a creamy flavor-packed sauce and comes collectively in only one pan and in round 40 minutes from begin to end. This straightforward hen dinner recipe is a favourite in my dwelling—and lots of readers’ properties too—all 12 months spherical!
I initially revealed this recipe in 2015 and have since added new images and extra useful success suggestions. And based mostly on reader suggestions, elevated the quantity of creamy sauce! 😉
Whereas I take pleasure in baking desserts probably the most, dinner is an on a regular basis journey. And in case you’re like me, you’re consistently looking for fast and simple dinner recipes. Effectively, you’ve come to the correct place! That is my one-pan creamy cilantro lime hen, a constant crowd favourite.
One reader, Marci, commented: “Thanks for this recipe. My household has been obsessed for months; we now have it a minimum of as soon as every week and I like to recommend it to everybody. ★★★★★“
One other reader, Rose, commented: “Omg what a taste bomb!!! This was completely scrumptious!! … Want I made a double batch, however will probably be making many times!! ★★★★★“
And one other reader, Allison, commented: “STAPLE DINNER in our home and a GREAT factor to serve to company! Everybody LOVES this ★★★★★“
At the moment I’m going to point out you that one skillet is all it takes to remodel hen into one thing you and your loved ones will love. The method is rather a lot like my skillet apple cider hen and this creamy lemon thyme hen. Pan-sear the hen on the range, make a flavorful cilantro lime pan sauce, then bake the hen within the sauce to complete.
Right here’s Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Hen
- Fast and simple 1-pan meal
- Further tender, juicy hen
- Creamy, buttery, zesty sauce tastes wonderful on rice and greens, too!
- Undeniably eye-catching, so that you’ll wish to make it many times
Seize These Substances
- Hen: I take advantage of boneless, skinless hen breasts. Pound them all the way down to even thickness. You possibly can use boneless, skinless hen thighs as a substitute if desired.
- Salt & Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Hen Broth
- Contemporary Lime Juice
- Onion: Yellow, white, or pink—chef’s selection!
- Cilantro
- Pink Pepper Flakes: Provides a bit of warmth, however be happy to cut back or improve the quantity to your liking.
- Heavy Cream: Simply sufficient to make the sauce style creamy and wealthy. See under for a dairy-free different.
- Butter: Provides a lot scrumptious taste!
Begin the Hen, Then Make the Pan Sauce
The method is identical as my lemon thyme hen and creamy garlic hen and greens, so in case you’ve made both of these earlier than you know the way straightforward it’s!
Cook dinner the hen in a big oven-proof skillet till each side are browned—the hen will prepare dinner once more within the oven so if the facilities aren’t cooked right through but, that’s fantastic. Take away the hen briefly and set it apart.
If you happen to’re out there for a brand new skillet, I personal and love this one.
Now, utilizing the identical skillet, make the pan sauce. The juices left behind by the hen are key for taste, so don’t clear the skillet earlier than making the sauce!
Simmer the pan sauce till it has decreased and thickened.
Add the hen again to the skillet:
Bake within the oven till the hen is cooked via. Garnish the saucy hen with additional cilantro (taste! taste!) and a squeeze of lime. Serve with rice and veggies, and smother them with the sauce, too!
Sure! Use full-fat canned coconut cream as a substitute of heavy cream and coconut oil as a substitute of butter for a dairy-free model with a scrumptious coconut-y twist.
No drawback! After you prepare dinner the hen and sauce on the range, you possibly can switch each to a baking dish.
Sure, you should utilize hen thighs as a substitute in case you favor. No adjustments mandatory!
Sure! The recipe under displays an almost-doubled portion of the sauce. Earlier than 2025, it made solely about half as a lot, however now there’s a lot to generously coat the hen and spoon over any sides you’re serving.
What to Serve With Cilantro Lime Hen
We take pleasure in this hen with a facet of rice and a inexperienced vegetable like roasted broccoli (and the cilantro lime sauce poured over all the things, in fact!), however listed here are a couple of extra ideas for tasty pairings:
Description
This cilantro lime hen simmers in a creamy flavor-packed sauce and comes collectively in just one pan!
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- If the hen breasts are uneven in thickness, pound them down in order that they’re all even. This fashion all of the breasts will prepare dinner via concurrently. Sprinkle each side with salt and pepper.
- In a big ovenproof skillet, warmth the oil over medium-high warmth. Add the hen and prepare dinner for six–7 minutes, turning as soon as. You need the hen good and browned on the skin. (It doesn’t must be cooked right through but.) Switch hen to a plate and canopy with foil till step 5.
- Take away skillet from warmth and add the broth, lime juice, onion, cilantro, and pink pepper flakes. Return to warmth. Cook dinner and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the underside of the skillet. Deliver to a boil. Permit to boil, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes or till the liquid is decreased to 1/2 cup. Cut back warmth to medium-low, then add the cream and butter. Stir till butter has melted, then take away from warmth.
- Add the hen again to the skillet, turning as soon as to coat each side within the sauce. Switch the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake uncovered till the hen is totally cooked via, about 5–10 minutes (inside temperature needs to be a minimum of 165°F (74°C)).
- Serve hen with sauce spooned on high, and garnish with lime wedges and cilantro, if desired.
- Leftovers hold nicely within the fridge for a couple of days. You’ll be able to reheat on the range over medium warmth, within the microwave, or within the oven.
Notes
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Meat Tenderizer | Giant Oven-Proof Skillet (I personal and love this one) | Tongs | Citrus Juicer | On the spot-Learn Thermometer
- Pink Pepper Flakes: Regulate the quantity of pink pepper flakes to your liking. This quantity made the hen mildly spicy. The cream within the sauce mellows out the spice.
- Heavy Cream: You should utilize entire milk or half-and-half as a substitute, however for the thickest, richest sauce I extremely advocate heavy cream. If utilizing entire milk, ensure it’s at room temperature to assist forestall curdling.
- Dairy-Free: Use coconut cream as a substitute of heavy cream and coconut oil as a substitute of butter.
Diet
- Serving Measurement: 1 hen breast + 1/4 of the sauce
- Energy: 396
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 254.4 mg
- Fats: 23.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.3 g
- Protein: 40.8 g
- Ldl cholesterol: 165.9 mg
