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Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice with Avocado and Tomatoes

Citrus, fresh cilantro and a little garlic make an amazing marinade for Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice with Avocado and Tomatoes.

Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice

“You haven’t planned a dinner in a while,” my husband said recently as I stirred a bolognese sauce on the stove.

Though I’d planned on making bolognese for dinner that day, I recognized the truth in the statement. Even though I’ve never been big on meal planning, I have always been a plan-ahead girl when it comes to dinner — ready with an answer for the ubiquitous question: “What’s for dinner?”

Until I wasn’t.

Suddenly, I never seemed to know what we’d be eating. And it kind of drove me a little batty since every evening I ended up in a mad dash to figure it out at the last minute. Not fun.

Oddly enough, Shawn commented it on that just as I re-found my ability to plan ahead for meals. (I say that with great relief — this was a part of me that I needed to reclaim.)

Moreover, I’ve been making some creative dinners that the kids are really into. Like Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice with Avocado and Tomatoes. The kids loved this — and so did my cousins, who were the happy recipients of a dinner delivery recently.

Cilantro Lime Marinade

Cilantro and lime are one of those flavor combinations that just works. The combination of the citrus, the fresh cilantro and a little garlic makes an amazing marinade for the chicken here. Then the rice is tossed with lime zest (flavor without the acid!) and more cilantro.

Once the chicken is broiled to juicy perfection, it’s all served with creamy avocado slices and sweet tomatoes.

Perfect. Easy. Ready.

Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice

 You just have to try this. Trust me.

Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice with Avocado and Tomatoes

Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice with Avocado and Tomatoes

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lime, zested and juiced (divided)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2/3 cup minced fresh cilantro, divided
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 1/2 lb chicken, 4 breast halves
  • 1 cup rice, prepared
  • 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, 1/3 cup cilantro, salt, pepper and garlic. Add the chicken, cover and chill for about 1 hour to marinate.
  2. Once the chicken is all marinated, place on a broiling rack set over a pan. Broil on high for 8 minutes, then flip and broil for an additional 8-10 minutes, until cooked through. Let sit for 10 minutes.
  3. While the chicken is resting, stir together the rice, lime zest and remaining 1/3 cup of cilantro. Season well with salt and pepper.
  4. Divide the rice evenly among four plates. Place one chicken breast on each plate with 1/4 of the avocado slices and 1/4 of the tomatoes.

Robin

Saturday 3rd of October 2015

This is one of my favorite recipes of all time. I have made it several times. I love how everything tastes so good together. I always marinate the chicken over night and it has such good flavor. I make the cilantro rice with other dishes too because it has such good flavor. I am making this recipe again tomorrow. Can't wait to eat it!

Sarah Walker Caron

Sunday 4th of October 2015

Robin, I am so glad you liked it! This is one of my all-time favorite recipes as well.

Robin

Wednesday 14th of May 2014

I made this a couple of months ago. This is one of my favorite dishes ever. The chicken was so moist and had such good flavor and the rice was so good with it. I have been into avocados lately and those and the grape tomatoes really set this dinner. I am writing my grocery list for tomorrow and picking up the stuff to make this again. I can't wait to have it again!

Karen

Wednesday 8th of May 2013

Made this last night and added a couple of boneless pork chops with the chicken. Cooked on the George Forman grill. Wonderful flavor. The rice was so good I could have made a meal of it. My favorite recipes are one that use just a few good ingredients and let those shine. This delivers it all. Thanks Sarah.

Sarah W. Caron

Wednesday 8th of May 2013

Karen, thank you!! I am so glad you liked it -- I hadn't thought of using pork chops too. Great idea!

Randi - Dukes and Duchesses

Saturday 13th of April 2013

Oh yum ... that sounds like a flavor combination we all would love! It would be so delicious grilled as well. Can't wait to try it, Sarah!

kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts

Wednesday 10th of April 2013

Sarah, This looks delicious, and I think it's great that the whole family enjoyed it. I always say I never plan dinners ahead of time during the CSA season because I never know what will show up in Wednesday's crate, but apparently in the winter, off season for my CSA, I stayed out of the habit of planning meals. I probably should think about getting back into the habit, though the season will start back up next month . . . so I'll probably wing it as usual.

Thanks for sharing a pretty and healthy meal!

Sarah W. Caron

Wednesday 10th of April 2013

Thanks, Kirsten!! During CSA season, I do a lot of playing it by ear too -- but I have to admit it almost always starts with a loose plan. For instance, maybe I will plan on shrimp and veggie pasta but the veggies will depend on what we get in the basket. Or things like that. But I also work closely with the farm we go to, so I have the unfair advantage of always having a good idea of what we're getting. It was a lot harder to plan back when the CSA share was a constant surprise :)

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