Recipe Review

Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa Is a Healthy Weeknight Winner

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Chicken breasts have a bad reputation for being boring or basic, but people only say that if they haven’t had them on the grill. With the right marinade, grilled chicken breasts are a perfectly delicious, healthful, and high-protein lunch or dinner that’s simple enough to make any day of the week. 

Chicken breasts cook more evenly when they’re the same size all the way down, so start by pounding the chicken breasts until they’re an even thickness. You can also slice the chicken breasts horizontally so you have two thin chicken cutlets instead of one pounded-flat chicken breast. As long as the chicken is the same thickness, it will be easier to cook. 

A cilantro and lime marinade gives these chicken breasts a bold, citrusy kick that is far from plain or boring. Mix together finely minced garlic, fresh lime juice, cumin, paprika, and a bit of olive oil, then stir in a handful of chopped cilantro. Put the pounded chicken into the bowl and stir so the meat is fully coated. Let it sit for half an hour to let the marinade flavor the chicken. If you have the time, you can even do this part in advance and let the chicken marinate for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. 

While the chicken marinates, make the avocado salsa by combining diced avocado, chopped tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro in a bowl with a bit of fresh lime juice and salt and pepper. Stir it carefully so the ingredients combine, but without smashing the avocado and tomatoes. (Or smash it if you like; it’ll still be good.) 

Grill the chicken until it’s cooked through. This chicken would be great on an outdoor grill if you have one, but it’s also a fantastic option for an easy weeknight dinner all year long. Just use a heavy cast-iron grill pan on your stove, and you’ll get the same results. 

As soon as it’s ready, serve the chicken topped with the salsa for an easy, healthy dinner with a ton of flavor. 

Get the recipe: Grilled Avocado Chicken from Gimme Delicious

Credit: Joe Lingeman

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