Southwestern Grilled Chicken with Lime Butter
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
No more boring chicken dinners. This Southwestern Grilled Chicken Recipe with Lime Butter is an easy way to take an ordinary chicken and turn it into something everyone will request over and over again.
It’s been years ago—twenty to be exact—since we lived in our first apartment with a tiny porch, with an even tinier grill which could hold enough food for a young couple. Since then, many grills have come and gone, but our favorite thing to grill has remained the same: chicken. It’s such a versatile and forgiving meat to grill, and is always a favorite with our crowd.
Around here we grill a lot of chicken pretty much year-round, probably at least twice a week. We have a standard favorites, like our Sweet and Spicy Grilled Wings, We have our favorite easy go-to sauce, but it’s always fun to mix up a new marinade or sauce for basting. This recipe for Southwestern Grilled Chicken with Lime Butter was one of those times, and certainly one we’ll use again and again. The seasoning paste and butter can be made ahead a day or two, which makes dinnertime that much easier.
The flavor packed seasoning paste would also be fantastic used for pork as well, while the Lime Butter would be a great addition to all kinds of things. Grilled corn or potatoes come to mind. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
How to Make Southwestern Grilled Chicken with Lime Butter
Begin by making a paste by whisking together chili powder, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, cocoa powder, salt, black pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar in small bowl until well blended. Spread seasoning paste all over the chicken with a spoon or basting brush. Next, grill the chicken in a single layer over medium heat for a gas grill, or indirect heat for a charcoal grill. Close the lid and grill about 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked throughly.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the lime butter by mixing together fresh cilantro, melted butter, minced serrano chile, minced white onion, fresh lime juice and black pepper. (The lime butter can be made a day or two ahead of time and kept covered and refrigerated.) Drizzle butter over the cooked chicken just before serving or serve separately for dipping.
Other great grilling recipes you’ll enjoy:
Southwestern Grilled Chicken with Lime Butter Recipe
Southwestern Grilled Chicken Recipe with Lime Butter
Grilled chicken doesn't get any tastier than when it's coated with lovely spices and topped with lime butter.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 3 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken parts
For the Lime Butter:
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
- 1 serrano chile, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced white onion
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- pinch coarse black pepper
Instructions
- Mix first 8 ingredients in small bowl until well blended. Spread seasoning paste all over chicken with spoon or basting brush.
- Grill chicken using medium heat for a gas grill or indirect heat for a charcoal grill. Close the lid and grill about 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- For the Lime Butter, mix all ingredients in small bowl. Drizzle over chicken just before serving or serve separately for dipping.
Notes
For easy prep-ahead planning, seasoning paste, and Lime Butter may be made ahead, a refrigerated covered. The Lime Butter can be slowly rewarmed, or just brought to room temperature and let the warm chicken finish the melting.)
Originally published May 21, 2014.
yummmyyyyy
Smoked this recipe on a pellet smoker at 250….prolly the best chicken I ever had.
Can I come for dinner? This chicken looks fantastic. Love how McCormick spices up our meals! 🙂 Happy Wednesday!
Looks like Randy is pretty handy at the grill too. Or maybe that’s you. Either way, looks great! I have a similar recipe in my que, so good and buttery!
It’s Randy. 😉
Can’t wait to see your salmon recipe!
This looks so tasty! I wonder how well it would work with boneless skinless chicken!?
I’m going to assume it will be just as tasty using boneless, skinless breasts or any other part of the chicken!! In fact, I would stab the chicken all over first with a fork, to tenderize, then let it set in the marinade for a while before it’s bar-b-qued!! More flavorful that way!! 😉
This chicken looks amazing! Love the lime butter!
WOW!! This looks fantastic! I love the combination of flavors!
I literally can’t stop drooling – this sounds SO amazing and absolutely perfect for summer! And it reminds me of the yummy grilled chicken my mom used to make every summer – she’s the only one who makes chicken on the bone the way I like it!
I made this chicken tonight, and I loved it! Will definitely go into my regular dinner rotation!
How can I cook this in the oven???
Found your recipe on Pinterest, tried it tonight and it was amazing! LOVED the lime cilantro butter on top of the grilled chicken. I added cayenne to mine for a bit more of a kick. Will definitely be making this again!
Will totally be trying cayenne next time, Taryn! A little extra kick is always a good thing.
Mum, thanks for post. The foods look tasty but is very difficult to get some of the ingredients here(Ghana). Still I will try those available
My mouth is watering!!!! This chicken looks fabulous Amy!
This is a keeper. I was afraid the cocoa would be too strong, but it was just perfect–a lovely, subtle undertone. And the lime butter is also delicious on corn. So glad I came upon your site, Amy.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Kim. And yes, that lime butter … oh my!
Fabulous! I know its a few years old now, but just came across this in a google wandering and gave it a shot. I was a bit worried about the strength of the cinnamon – it was overpowering in the raw spice/oil blend – but once the chicken was grilled the flavours mellowed brilliantly. We will definitely have this again!
This was excellent. We used 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cut cinnamon about in half.