Honey Lime Chicken Avocado (Printable Version)
Tender spiced chicken with fresh avocado, cherry tomatoes, and zesty honey-lime dressing. Ready in 30 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (about 1.1 pounds)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
04 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Honey Lime Marinade
07 - 2 tablespoons honey
08 - Zest and juice of 2 limes
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Salad Components
11 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1/2 red onion, finely diced
14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
→ Garnish
16 - Lime wedges
17 - Extra chopped cilantro (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together honey, lime zest and juice, minced garlic, and olive oil in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Place chicken breasts in a shallow dish or ziplock bag. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken, turning to ensure even coating. Reserve remaining marinade for dressing. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature.
03 - Combine cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the marinated chicken breasts.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook seasoned chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
05 - While chicken rests, combine diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño in a large salad bowl.
06 - Slice rested chicken and arrange over the salad. Drizzle with reserved honey-lime marinade and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately with fresh lime wedges and additional cilantro if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The honey-lime marinade creates this incredible balance of sweet and tangy that makes everything taste like summer
- It comes together so quickly you can make it on busy weeknights but impressive enough for company
02 -
- Reserving half the marinade for the final salad is what ties everything together, don't skip it
- Letting the chicken rest keeps it juicy, cutting into it immediately makes all those good juices run out
03 -
- Pat your chicken really dry before adding the spice rub, it helps create a better crust
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly, so let it sit out while you prep the vegetables