I first made this Spicy Chicken with Grilled Lime recipe for a Sunday night dinner when my in-laws were visiting. They were delighted by this easy chicken recipe and impressed with how quickly I was able to throw it together after we arrived home with them from a weekend in the mountains. The best thing about grilled chicken? The grill! As in no messy pans or baking dishes to clean up.
While I generally love being in the kitchen and cooking dinner (it’s fantastic family time) one thing I don’t love is meal planning. That’s why I make myself meal plans and share them with you all. My favorite meal plan is posted on my Facebook page and includes the Paleo Bagel recipe from my latest cookbook, Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry. I have a second, equally fun, yet different weekly paleo meal plan here on this site for those that do not use Facebook.
While many of you come here for my easy Paleo and grain-free dessert recipes, I also know that each and every one of us face the “what to make for dinner” quandary every night of the week! So I hope these free meal plans will help you solve that ongoing dilemma.
My dinner tip for today? Serve this Mexican flavored grilled lime chicken with my Paleo Dirty Rice, Roasted Butternut Squash, and a huge salad, and you’re good to go!
Spicy Chicken with Grilled Lime
Ingredients
- 3 pounds bone-in chicken pieces
- 6 limes, halved
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or Swerve
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
Instructions
- Place chicken pieces and limes in a large bowl
- In a small bowl, combine coconut sugar, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, allspice, and salt
- Pour spice mixture over chicken and mix thoroughly
- Cook chicken and limes (face down) on barbecue over medium heat for 15-20 minutes per side
- Chicken is done when an instant read thermometer stuck into chicken reads 165°F
- Squeeze grilled limes over grilled chicken
- Serve
This healthy chicken recipe is based on one called Poussin with Spicy Rub and Grilled Lime by Katie Quinn Davies in the book What Katie Ate
. I was introduced to this book my my friend Kelly. The book is a fantastic survey of avant-garde food styling techniques and fabulous photography.
Katie has tons of healthy recipes in this book and I have only begun to make my way through it. Although it is not gluten-free, it certainly is a lot of fun.
Cindy Campbell says
Love this recipe!! I have made it 2x in the past 8 days and everyone loves it. Thank you
Elana says
Cindy, thanks for letting me know you love this recipe!
Dorothy Scherr says
Hey Elana. Your Texas lady lawyer friend here.
Have you made this recipe with Monk fruit? Swerve makes my stomach hurt! thanks in advance- Dorothy Scherr
Elana says
Dorothy! So great to hear from you! I haven’t tried that, if you do I hope you’ll let me know if it works :-)
Ken says
I’m a complete newbie to cooking, I’m confused on the grilled limes…I assume you squeeze the grilled limes over the chicken before you serve the chicken or serve them both and let people squeeze the grilled lime….or do you eat the grilled lime.
Elana says
Ken, thanks for your question, I appreciate it. Squeeze the grilled limes over the grilled chicken. I have updated the recipe to reflect this as it should have been in there. Thanks again!
Laura says
Just wondering if I can use pink Himalayan salt rather than celtic salt??
Elana says
Laura, I haven’t tried that so not sure :-)
Jason says
Hey Elana, are you feeling strong on this super sweet Fall day? So excited about finding your recipe today!! Had no clue what to cook this weekend and now after reading high praises from your devoted readers, the plan is to prepare it for company this weekend. Thanks lovely lady for making life a big easier, you’re the best!!! Really you are! I don’t own a barbecue, so wondering would any of your devoted readers be able to let me know if using a Electric Grill would work? Do own the electric type yet, never even touched the thing, don’t know what to do with it..
Elana says
Jason, thanks for your super sweet comment! I don’t own an electric grill so not sure. If you do experiment please let us know how it goes :-)
Treva says
I am giving this recipe 5 stars! Fantastic! This is a favorite recipe of my boyfriends and mine. I prepare the chicken and limes, and he is in charge of grilling! We make this often, and have made for friends who loved it just as much!
Elana says
Treva, so glad to hear this is favorite!
netania says
For someone on a sugar controlled diet even staying away from healthy sugar for a time, would this recipe still work without the coconut sugar? Thanks! :)
Jessica says
Hi… This recipe looks wonderful… I’m wondering what you think of coconut sugar – is it less of a problem than regular sugar? Ok to mix with protein?
Nichole says
Hi Elana! Can’t wait to give this recipe a whirl but had a quick question….have read quite a bit about carcinogens and the dangers of grilling. How do you grill your meats? We love grilled meats veggies and fruits but have given it up after reading how dangerous it can be for long term health.
Rachael says
What a wonderful recipe – I look forward to trying it!