Craving a quick and delicious dinner that’s full of vibrant flavors? This creamy coconut lime chicken brings the best of Thai-inspired cuisine to your kitchen in just 30 minutes!
- 1 shallot, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- ⅓ cup lime juice (about 2 limes)
- 4 chicken breasts (or thighs, see notes)
- 2 tbsp avocado oil (or coconut oil)
- 1 ½ cups coconut milk (see notes)
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Lime slices, for garnish (optional)
Prep Ingredients:Dice the shallot.Mince the garlic.Grate the ginger.Chop the cilantro.Juice the limes and set aside. Prepare Chicken:Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment paper.Gently pound to an even thickness.Season both sides with salt and pepper. Cook Chicken:Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the avocado oil.Once hot, add the chicken breasts (you may need to cook in batches if your skillet is small).Sear without moving the chicken for 3-4 minutes to form a golden crust.Flip and cook the other side for 3-4 more minutes, until mostly cooked through.Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Make Sauce:Lower the heat to medium. Add more oil if necessary.Sauté the shallot and garlic for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.Add the chicken broth, coconut milk, lime juice, grated ginger, and cilantro to the pan.Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer:Return the chicken to the skillet, coating it in the sauce.Cover and reduce the heat to low.Let the chicken simmer for about 5 minutes, or until fully cooked. Serve:Serve the chicken with your choice of vegetables, rice, or cauliflower rice.Spoon the creamy sauce over everything and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime slices, if desired.
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts in this recipe. Thighs don’t need to be pounded in step 2, but adjust the cooking time to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
- For a richer coconut flavor, use Aroy-D full-fat coconut milk, which is thicker and creamier. If using another brand like Thai Kitchen or Native Forest, you may need to skip the chicken broth as the coconut milk will be thinner.