Ginger-Lime Chicken

By Ali Slagle

Published March 19, 2023

Ginger-Lime Chicken
Linda Xiao for The New York Times
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(11,369)
Comments
Read comments

Though this may look like regular old chicken, don’t be fooled: It’s buzzing with the bright flavors of ginger and lime. Mayonnaise is the secret ingredient in this recipe, which is a trick J. Kenji López-Alt has written about. When slathered on boneless chicken and cooked, the beloved condiment carries flavor, sticks to the meat well, encourages browning and prevents the pieces of lime zest and ginger — or whatever seasonings you choose — from burning. Try this technique first with ginger and lime zest, then experiment with grated garlic, jalapeño, lemon, Parmesan and whatever else you can imagine. Serve with a pile of white rice and a fresh green salad topped with thinly sliced avocado.

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1½ to 2pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
  • ⅓cup mayonnaise
  • 1tablespoon lime zest (from about 2 limes), plus lime wedges, for serving
  • 1tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger (from a 3-inch piece of peeled ginger)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

378 calories; 23 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 11 grams polyunsaturated fat; 1 gram carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 39 grams protein; 520 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pat the chicken dry and season all over with 1½ teaspoons salt. In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, lime zest and ginger; season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the mayonnaise mixture and stir to coat. (The chicken can sit in the marinade for up to 8 hours in the fridge. Let come to room temperature before cooking.)

  2. Step 2

    To grill: Heat a grill to medium-high. Grill the chicken over direct heat until cooked through and juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side for thighs and about 4 minutes per side for breasts, turning as necessary to avoid burning.

  3. Step 3

    To cook in a skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Cook the chicken until juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side for thighs and about 4 minutes per side for breasts.

  4. Step 4

    Serve chicken with lime wedges, for squeezing on top.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

4 out of 5
11,369 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Anne

Can this be cooked in oven?

kat bom

On the plus side, it's a simple dish to make & definitely tasted good, but I would make a couple changes next time. I marinated the chicken for 90 min but should have left it for 3+ hrs. The lime came through just fine, but the ginger was a little anemic. It needs 25-50% more. I should have grilled. Too much of the marinade stuck to the pan, & the chicken steamed rather than searing bc of all the marinade that went in the pan. Directions didn't make clear if I should scrape off before cooking.

Lucy Gooserton

Doubled ginger per suggestions, added 1T lemon juice, marinated boneless skinless thighs for a little over an hour. Baked in the oven on a rack at 425 for 45-50 minutes. Truly delicious!

Diane

Freeze the pieces of ginger and grate on microplane as needed. Super easy!

M.

Delicious. No notes.

JRGirard

Doubled the ginger and lime, marinated 3 hours, cooked the boneless breasts on a griddle on the grill. Tender, tasty, and good looking!

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.