Fresh Margarita Chicken Recipe
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- zest of 1 lime + juice of 4 limes
- zest of 1 orange + juice of 2 oranges
- 1/4 cup tequila (optional)
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon agave nectar (could use honey)
- 3 crushed garlic cloves
- salt and pepper (lots)
- 4 small chicken breasts
View Full Recipe at Iowa Girl Eats
Adding to Planner
Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per Serving | %DV |
|---|---|
| Serving Size 161g | |
| Recipe makes 4 servings | |
| Calories 334 | |
| Calories from Fat 176 | 53% |
| Total Fat 19.64g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat 4.64g | 19% |
| Trans Fat 0.17g | |
| Cholesterol 89mg | 30% |
| Sodium 88mg | 4% |
| Potassium 314mg | 9% |
| Total Carbs 0.65g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.0g | 0% |
| Sugars 0.02g | 0% |
| Protein 29.15g | 47% |
%20patio%20season%20is%20still%20practically%20knocking%20at%20our%20door.%20Bright%20umbrellas,%20bouncy%20deck%20chairs,%20and%20ice-cold%20drinks%20like%20Sangria,%20Beergaritas,%20and%20Strawberry%20Mojitos%20are%20my%20favorite%20spring%20and%20summertime%20staples,%20but%20this%20year%20le%20bebe%20dictates%20we%20hold%20off%20on%20the%20tipsy%20bevs%20(until%20August,%20anyway!)%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThat%20being%20said,%20I%20decided%20to%20turn%20one%20of%20my%20favorite%20warm-weather%20cocktails%20into%20a%20bright%20and%20zingy%20dish%20that%20anyone,%20preggo%20or%20not,%20can%20enjoy%20hot%20off%20the%20grill%20this%20season%20%E2%80%93%20Fresh%20Margarita%20Chicken.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20got%20the%20idea%20for%20the%20dish%20after%20stumbling%20upon%20a%20TO%20DIE%20FOR%20looking%20recipe%20for%20Fresh%20Margaritas%20from%20Cookie%20+%20Kate,%20which%20got%20me%20thinking%20about%20other%20ways%20I%20could%20enjoy%20the%20signature%20citrusy%20flavors%20besides%20on%20the%20rocks.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESo,%20I%20took%20its%20ingredients%20of%20tequila,%20agave%20nectar,%20and%20fresh%20lime%20and%20orange%20juices,%20then%20added%20in%20a%20few%20savory%20ingredients%20like%20crushed%20garlic,%20salt,%20and%20pepper,%20and%20then%20marinated%20lean%20chicken%20breasts%20in%20the%20mixture%20for%20a%20couple%20hours.%20After%20tossing%20%E2%80%98em%20on%20the%20grill%20I%20paired%20%E2%80%98em%20with%20margarita%20must-haves%20like%20fresh%20guacamole,%20and%20cilantro-lime%20rice.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20could%20NOT%20be%20more%20pleased%20with%20how%20this%20chicken%20turned%20out!%20Not%20only%20was%20it%20super%20juicy%20with%20a%20slightly%20charred%20and%20sweet%20crust,%20but%20did%20you%20know%20that%20marinating%20chicken%20and%20other%20meat%20can%20reduce%20carcinogens%20created%20from%20the%20grilling%20process%20by%20up%20to%2050%25?%20Fresh%20Margarita%20Chicken,%20FTW!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EStart%20the%20Fresh%20Margarita%20Chicken%20by%20creating%20the%20margarita%20marinade.%20First%20zest%201%20lime%20and%201%20orange%20then%20add%20the%20zest%20to%20a%20big%20bowl%20or%20ziplock%20bag.%20If%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20have%20a%20citrus%20zester%20(here%E2%80%99s%20the%20one%20I%20have%20%3E%3E)%20use%20a%20sharp%20knife%20to%20slice%20just%20the%20green%20and%20orange%20parts%20off%20the%20citrus%20fruit,%20or%20just%20leave%20it%20out%20%E2%80%93%20it%20won%E2%80%99t%20be%20the%20end%20of%20the%20world.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ENext%20add%20the%20juice%20of%204%20limes%20and%202%20oranges,%20as%20well%20as%203%20big%20crushed%20garlic%20cloves%20and%20LOTS%20of%20salt%20and%20pepper.%20Afterall,%20what%20is%20a%20good%20margarita%20without%20its%20signature,%20salty%20bite?!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAdd%201/4%20cup%20tequila%20next%20(optional%20%E2%80%93%20but%20the%20alcohol%20will%20cook%20off,)%20plus%202%20Tablespoons%20extra%20virgin%20olive%20oil,%20and%201%20Tablespoon%20+%201%20teaspoon%20agave%20nectar%20(could%20use%20honey.)%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThen%20add%204%20small%20chicken%20breasts%20and%20place%20in%20the%20fridge%20to%20marinate%20for%201-4%20hours.%20I%20can%E2%80%99t%20tell%20you%20how%20fab%20this%20marinade%20smells%20by%20the%20way%20%E2%80%93%20just%20like%20a%20fresh%20margarita!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ELet%20the%20chicken%20breasts%20rest%20out%20of%20the%20fridge%20for%2010-15%20minutes%20after%20marinating,%20then%20grill%20%E2%80%98em%20over%20high%20heat%20for%204-5%20minutes%20a%20side,%20or%20until%20cooked%20through.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20placed%20my%20Fresh%20Margarita%20Chicken%20over%20a%20bed%20of%20fluffy%20Cilantro-Lime%20Rice,%20then%20dolloped%20fresh,%20Lazy-Girl%E2%80%99s%20Guacamole%20on%20top%20to%20dip%20into%20with%20each%20bite.%20Perfection!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFresh%20Margarita%20Chicken%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EServes%204%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EInspired%20by%20Cookie%20+%20Kate%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIngredients:%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EDirections:%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ECombine%20ingredients%20from%20lime%20zest%20to%20salt%20and%20pepper%20in%20a%20large%20bowl%20or%20ziplock%20bag%20then%20mix%20well.%20Add%20chicken%20breasts%20then%20cover%20and%20marinate%20in%20the%20refrigerator%20for%201-4%20hours.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhen%20ready%20to%20grill%20or%20cook,%20let%20chicken%20breasts%20rest%20out%20of%20the%20fridge%20for%2010-15%20minutes%20then%20grill%20or%20saute%20over%20medium-high%20heat%20for%204-5%20minutes%20a%20side,%20or%20until%20cooked%20through.%20Serve%20with%20Cilantro-Lime%20Rice%20and%20Guacamole.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20promise%20you%20will%20fall%20in%20love%20with%20this%20chicken%20after%20the%20very%20first%20bite.%20If%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20have%20a%20grill,%20or%20if%20it%E2%80%99s%20not%20warm%20enough%20to%20grill%20where%20you%20live,%20just%20saute%20the%20marinated%20chicken%20in%20a%20hot%20skillet%20until%20cooked%20through.%20You%E2%80%99ll%20still%20get%20that%20fabulous%20margarita%20flavah.%20:%20)%20Ooo%20oo%20oo,%20this%20would%20also%20be%20a%20great%20dish%20to%20serve%20this%20weekend%20for%20Cinco%20de%20Mayo!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20other%20news%E2%80%A6%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ENew%20Blog%20Job!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EBelieve%20or%20not,%20despite%20living%20in%20the%20Midwest%20for%20nearly%20my%20entire%20life,%20I%20have%20never%20stepped%20foot%20on%20a%20farm.%20I%20know!%20Up%20until%20now,%20my%20interactions%20with%20local%20farmers%20have%20been%20limited%20to%20weekly%20trips%20to%20the%20summer%20market,%20seeing%20them%20tirelessly%20harvest%20from%20my%20car%20window%20each%20fall,%20and%20visiting%20Ben%E2%80%99s%20and%20my%20favorite%20berry%20farm,%20apple%20orchard,%20and%20pumpkin%20patch%20each%20season.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThat%20being%20said,%20I%20have%20recently%20partnered%20with%20the%20Iowa%20Food%20&%20Family%20Project%20on%20their%20Join%20my%20Journey%20campaign%20to%20learn%20more%20about%20Iowa%E2%80%99s%20farms%20and%20foods%20systems.%20The%20Iowa%20Food%20&%20Family%20Project%20(to%20be%20called%20IFFP%20from%20here%20on%20out%20because,%20well,%20you%20get%20it)%20aims%20to%20connect%20consumers%20with%20Iowa%E2%80%99s%20farmers%20who%20are%20responding%20to%20the%20increasing%20interest%20we%20have%20in%20learning%20how%20our%20food%20is%20grown%20and%20raised.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOver%20the%20next%20several%20months%20I%E2%80%99ll%20be%20touring%20farms%20both%20large%20and%20small%20across%20the%20state,%20and%20blogging%20about%20my%20experiences%20on%20the%20IFFP%20website.%20As%20a%20blogger%20who%20works%20with%20food%20every%20single%20day,%20I%20am%20interested%20to%20learn,%20for%20example,%20what%20the%20term%20%E2%80%9Call%20natural%E2%80%9D%20really%20means.%20How%20the%20color%20of%20an%20egg%20is%20determined%20(I%20just%20learned%20this%20week%20%E2%80%93%20you%E2%80%99ll%20be%20blown%20away.)%20How%20our%20farmers%20are%20continuously%20improving%20their%20operations%20to%20make%20sure%20they%E2%80%99re%20producing%20quality%20food%20in%20a%20sustainable%20way,%20and%20get%20to%20know%20the%20people%20who%20support%201/4%20of%20our%20state%E2%80%99s%20economy.%20Iowans%20are%20extremely%20proud%20of%20their%20farmers,%20so%20I%E2%80%99m%20excited%20to%20hear%20and%20share%20their%20stories!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20addition%20to%20my%20blog%20posts%20on%20the%20IFFP%20website,%20there%20will%20also%20be%20awesome%20giveaways%20(Kitchen%20Aids,%20anyone?)%20new%20recipes,%20and%20opportunities%20to%20ask%20your%20own%20questions%20of%20Iowa%E2%80%99s%20farmers.%20(You%20do%20not%20have%20to%20be%20an%20Iowan%20to%20enter%20or%20ask!)%20I%20hope%20you%E2%80%99ll%20pop%20over%20every%20now%20and%20again%20and%20join%20me%20on%20my%20journey%20at%20IowaFoodandFamily.com!%3C/p%3E){kind=link}