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Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings Recipe (+ Marinade)

This easy grilled cilantro lime chicken wings recipe makes a healthy, delicious appetizer or dinner. The cilantro lime chicken marinade has tons of flavor.

by Maya Last Updated on April 1, 2020 25 Comments

Cilantro lime wings with ranch dip
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Grilled cilantro lime chicken wings are so good, you’ll want to make a batch soon! There’s a little secret to this cilantro lime chicken recipe… and it gives the wings tons of flavor and keeps them really juicy! Okay, I’ll tell you because I really want you to go make these! It’s the cilantro lime chicken marinade made with cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeno. These wings are exploding with flavor!

Can we just talk about wings for a second? Do any of you eat wings on a normal non-game-day/sports bar night? It seems that when people think of wings, they just think of them as an appetizer type food.

But this cilantro lime chicken recipe will change all that thinking. Meet your new favorite snack. Or dinner. Or appetizer. Or game day. Or lunch. (Why not?!)

Serve these cilantro lime chicken wings with a squeeze of lime and jalapeño ranch dip, and you’ll have yourself a killer appetizer or entree!

How To Make Chicken Wings

You are two steps away from eating juicy, flavorful lime chicken wings. You won’t believe how simple it is to make this garlic lime chicken wings recipe!

  • Blend together the marinade ingredients: cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno, garlic, and coconut oil.
  • Toss marinade with chicken wings and marinate for at least 2 hours. Don’t skimp on this step, the marinade adds so much flavor.
  • Grill wings until they are crispy. I prefer to grill my wings, they get a little crunchy and a little smoky.

That’s it! Can you believe how easy it is to make this grilled chicken wings recipe?

grilled cilantro lime chicken wings on a plate with lime wedges

How Do You Know When Chicken Wings Are Done?

There are a few ways to tell when these grilled cilantro lime chicken wings are finished cooking. Here are the things you need to be looking for:

  • Check the grilled cilantro lime chicken wings to see if the juices run clear when they are punctured with a fork. You shouldn’t see any blood in the juice.
  • The chicken wings will be firm to the touch.
  • Check the internal temperature, and it should read 165 degrees F. You can also stop cooking them when they reach 160 degrees F and let this cilantro lime chicken rest, and it will continue to heat on its own.

What’s The Difference Between Chicken Wings And Buffalo Wings?

The difference between chicken wings and buffalo wings is how they are prepared.

Chicken wings can be grilled, baked, or fried and they have many different ingredients and flavors. My recipe has a cilantro lime chicken marinade, but all chicken wing recipes are different.

Buffalo wings are either fried or baked with that tangy buffalo sauce you are accustomed to. Both are delicious!

I love the variety of flavors and how versatile chicken wings are to make. This really is the best chicken wings recipe I have tried to date. Don’t take my word for it, make these yummy cilantro lime chicken wings to decide for yourself.

Can I Use Chicken Breast Instead Of Wings?

Yes, you can use chicken breast instead of wings when you make this grilled cilantro lime chicken. Whenever you go out to eat and order boneless wings, you are essentially getting wings made from cut up chicken breasts.

So, don’t worry if you don’t have wings on hand or you found a great deal on chicken breasts then go ahead and use them instead. The chicken breast doesn’t tend to be as juicy as wings, but this cilantro lime chicken recipe is good no matter what you use.

To grill the chicken breasts, cut them into 2-3 inch pieces. Place the pieces in the cilantro lime chicken marinade and marinate them just like you would the wings. Grill the pieces and enjoy!

cilantro lime chicken wings in ranch dip

Can You Make This Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe Ahead?

Yes, you can make this cilantro lime chicken recipe ahead. Make the grilled wings recipe as directed and allow them to completely cool, then you can store any leftover grilled chicken wings in the fridge.

To heat the grilled cilantro lime chicken up, place the wings on a baking dish and warm in the oven. Cook at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes until they are heated all the way through.

Another option is to microwave them on a microwave-safe plate covered with a paper towel. Just heat them for 30 seconds at a time or so because they will heat up fairly quickly.

You can always mix up the marinade a day or two before you need the wings, so that the day-of, just marinate and grill.

Can You Freeze Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken?

Yes, you can freeze grilled cilantro lime chicken wings. The easiest way to freeze is to lay the cooked wings on a baking dish and place it in the freezer for 1-2 hours until they are relatively solid. Then, place them in a freezer bag or airtight storage container. This will keep them from sticking together, and you can grab out what you need.

Place them in the fridge overnight if you can, then warm them in the oven or microwave. They will heat up a lot more evenly, and it will take less time if they aren’t frozen. If you don’t have time to set them out the night before, you can still warm them up.

wings cooked in cilantro lime chicken marinade

More Paleo Appetizer Recipes

  • Easy Baked Healthy Blooming Onion
  • Spicy Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
  • Easy Paleo Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

See my other paleo appetizer ideas here! And if you are not dairy-free, here are more chicken wings to try.

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings Recipe (+ Marinade):
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RECIPE CARD

Cilantro lime wings with ranch dip
4.88 from 8 votes

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings Recipe (+ Marinade)

This grilled cilantro lime chicken wings recipe makes a healthy, delicious appetizer or dinner. The cilantro lime chicken marinade has tons of flavor. So easy!

Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword cilantro lime chicken marinade, cilantro lime chicken recipe, cilantro lime chicken wings, grilled cilantro lime chicken
Calories 370 kcal
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinating Time 2 hours
Total Time 15 minutes
Author Maya Krampf from WickedSpatula.com
Servings 4 servings
★ Review Print

Ingredients

Please ensure Safari reader mode is OFF to view ingredients.

  • 2 lbs Chicken wings (about 20)
  • 1 handful Fresh cilantro
  • 1 medium Lime (juiced)
  • 1 medium Jalapeño
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 3 tablespoons Coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon Sea salt
  • Lime wedges for serving
  • 1 batch Jalapeño Ranch Dip
Click to convert between US & metric measurements:
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!

  1. Blend together cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno, garlic, and coconut oil.

  2. Toss the cilantro lime marinade with chicken. Marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

  3. Heat your grill to high and grill wings 5-7 minutes per side, or until crisp and no longer pink in the middle.

  4. Serve with a squeeze of lime and jalapeño ranch dip.

Recipe Notes

Serving Size: 1/4 entire recipe, about 5 wings

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.
Calories 370
Fat 30g
Protein 22g
Total Carbs 2g
Net Carbs 2g
Fiber 0g
Sugar 0g

Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols (though the latter are rarely seen on this site), because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.

© Copyright Wicked Spatula. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

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cilantro lime chicken marinade - pinterest image

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    4.88 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




    25 Comments

  1. Neyssa

    ReplyOctober 3, 2016

    5 stars
    These were amazing!!! Wow. Can’t wait to check out the rest of your site. 🙂

  2. Nicole

    ReplyJanuary 30, 2015

    Am I missing something? I don’t see the recipe for the jalapeño ranch dip- the best part! Please advise:))

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 30, 2015

      Hey Nicole! The Ranch is a separate post. There’s a link for it on this post above the recipe and in the recipe card. Let me know if you can’t find it. Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Chandra

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    5 stars
    Oh My! These were amazing and it has been such a long time since I have had wings.

  4. Nutmeg Nanny

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    5 stars
    These wings were fantastic! I wish I could get wings for .25 a piece…yum!

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      I know right! I wish they were that much at the grocery store.

  5. Jill Silverman Hough

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    5 stars
    Grilled. Cilantro. Lime. Jalapeno. These wings have all the best adjectives! Nice.

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      Thanks Jill!

  6. Kimberly Ann

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    5 stars
    These were insanely delicious! They would be perfect for the big game, but I can also see us using this marinade for chicken breasts as well.

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      Thanks kimberly!

  7. Ashley

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    5 stars
    I love that the spicy bit is in the sauce, rather than on the wing. Very neat switch-up! 🙂

  8. Dee Dee

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    You may have just provided the winning recipe for which way to make our wings for Super Bowl Sunday! These sound ah-mazing!!

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      Yay, so glad I could contribute! Let me know how they turn out if you do decide to try them!

  9. Jerry

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    I’m not waiting for the Super Bowl to try these! (I’ll be working that night anyway.) This sounds fabulous all the way around.

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      Thanks Jerry! Let me know how they turn out if you try them!

  10. Jameson Fink

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    5 stars
    Even if you’re not a wing-eater, that jalapeno ranch dip sounds like something I’d like to dunk some french fries in! Also like that you have some limes on the size. A little squeeze of citrus would be the perfect way to cut through the rich ranch.

  11. Marjory @ Dinner-Mom

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    Yep! I was in at cilantro and lime too! I bet these are fantastic on the grill…and would be a tasty way to grill chicken breasts too!

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      It would be great on chicken breasts! I’ll have to remember that! Thanks Marjory!

  12. kristy @ the wicked noodle

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    I am so in love with these chicken wings! MUST try them for the Super Bowl. The dip is what clinched the deal for me 🙂

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      The dip is the best part!

  13. Barbara @Spirited Cook

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    LOVE wings! Any time, but yes, game day is a definite! I will definitely give this a try for Sunday! Go PATS!!!

  14. Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    We LOVE wings at our house and eat them way more often than just game day! Love the addition of cilantro and jalapeno to these! Perfection!

  15. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life

    ReplyJanuary 28, 2015

    Oh my goodness, you’ve got my two of my favorite flavors…cilantro and lime! This looks absolutely fantastic and I definitely want to try them! I bet they are the hit of the party! If you have a moment, I would love to invite you over to our Foodie Friday and DIY party which goes live at 9 pm EST Thursday night…I know these would be a big hit!

    • Lauren

      ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

      Thanks Michelle! I would love to join to Foodie Friday party! Do you have a link? Is it on your blog?

      • Michelle

        ReplyJanuary 29, 2015

        Sorry I am just seeing this now! But I see you already found your way there! I’m pinning it to our Features and Faves board now…I just love this recipe! Sending some foodie love your way!

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