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Mexican Chicken Marinade

Mexican marinade for grilled chicken that coats meat in a vibrant citrus-chili blend with Mexican spices. Bright lime and orange juice plus garlic and chili powder make taco chicken juicy and flavorful with a simple grill finish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinating 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2 lb chicken Use breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.
Citrus-chili marinade
  • 1 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic Minced.
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1 salt To taste.
  • 1 pepper To taste.
Serving
  • 1 fresh cilantro
  • 1 lime wedges For serving.

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the marinade
  1. Whisk together lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper until evenly combined and glossy.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Place chicken in a large zip-top bag and pour the marinade over it, pressing out excess air so the chicken is coated.
  2. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2-8 hours, turning occasionally, until the chicken looks evenly seasoned.
Grill
  1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat until hot, then oil the grates lightly to prevent sticking.
  2. Grill chicken until internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 6-8 minutes per side for breasts, with visible spice rub on the surface.
  3. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes so juices redistribute, then serve hot with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

Notes

Pro tip: For extra flavor, turn the bag halfway through marinating so the citrus and spices coat both sides evenly. Refrigerate marinated chicken up to 8 hours (best within 2-4 hours for best texture); cook within 24 hours of marinating. Freezing: you can freeze the marinated raw chicken up to 2 months; thaw in the refrigerator overnight and grill to 165°F. Dietary swap: use a salt-free or low-sodium chili powder blend if you want reduced sodium while keeping the citrus-chili flavor profile.