Description
This One Pan Coconut Lime Chicken is a bright and flavorful dinner featuring tender chicken simmered in a creamy coconut-lime sauce. It’s an easy weeknight meal packed with tropical flavors, all cooked in a single skillet for minimal cleanup and maximum taste.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1½ lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
- Zest of 1 lime
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 tsp honey
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, season the chicken thighs or breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to enhance their flavor.
- Heat the skillet: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Allow the oil to heat until shimmering.
- Cook the chicken: Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make the sauce: Pour in the coconut milk, then stir in lime zest, lime juice, honey, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix well to combine.
- Simmer chicken in sauce: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then return the chicken to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken to coat evenly.
- Finish cooking: Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for 12–15 minutes until fully cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh cilantro over the chicken and serve warm, optionally over jasmine rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa.
Notes
- Serve over jasmine rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa for a complete meal.
- Add fresh spinach during the last few minutes of cooking for extra vegetables and nutrients.
- Full-fat coconut milk provides the creamiest and richest sauce texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tropical Fusion
