Change up your dinner routine with this healthy Grilled Turmeric-Lemon and Lime Chicken. This is a flavor-packed meal that is low on calories and perfect for grilling season.
Grilled Turmeric-Lemon and Lime Chicken
There is a well-known fast food chain in California that made some of my favorite grilled chicken. It was tangy, delicious and juicy and it had a nice yellow color, which made it a beautiful golden brown when grilled. Before you ate it you knew it was going to taste good. However, to achieve the appetizing color, food coloring was used.
There really is no need to go the food coloring route when you can use turmeric to get the same color result. Normally found in Indian cuisine, turmeric enhances the flavors of curry, citrus and cumin. And in this recipe, it gives a beautiful golden color and naturally brightens the lemon and lime flavor.
I prefer using thin-sliced chicken breasts when I grill chicken. They cook faster and you don’t have to worry about them burning on the grill.
A couple turns and a bit of oil in the marinade keep the chicken from sticking to the grates.
Even with the chicken in a marinade of lemon and lime, I like to grill a few lemon and lime halves. Squeezing the grilled citrus over the finished chicken adds a hint of smokiness to this delicious recipe.
Slice it up the finished chicken and serve over a bed of lettuce for the perfect salad. It’s a great dinner salad, but also makes the perfect leftover lunch.
Grilled Turmeric-Lemon and Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon turmeric
- 1 Tablespoon McCormick Montreal Chicken Seasoning - widely available
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 6-7 lbs thin-sliced chicken breasts*
- extra lemons and lime sliced and grilled
Directions
- In a large pan, combine lemon and lime juice, Montreal Chicken Seasoning, turmeric, pepper, salt and vegetable oil. Whisk together until fully incorporated. Add chicken and marinate for 2 hours. Make sure to turn the chicken often so all pieces are coated and have exposure to the liquid. The more exposure, the better color your chicken will have.
- Place chicken on a preheated grill (high temperature) and cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Squeeze grilled lemons and limes over the top of chicken before serving.
- *Note: If you want to make a smaller or larger amount of chicken, just increase or decrease the marinade ingredients to fit your needs. If you cannot find thin-sliced chicken chicken breasts, go ahead and slice them in half lengthwise yourself.
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
I just introduced my husband to turmeric and he is all about it! Adding it to chicken is perfect (and something he will surely enjoy!)
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
You must be referring to El Pollo Loco, right? LOVE their chicken.
Your looks utterly fantastic!
Matthew From Nomageddon says
MMM perfect and summery! It’s like the sprite of chicken! Is it weird to call chicken refreshing?
Serene @ House of Yumm says
Loving all the flavors in this dish!! It sounds like it would be fantastic in a salad!
Sheena says
This chicken sounds so fabulous on a salad! Love all those flavors!
Crystal says
Oh yes! This chicken looks phenomenal. Can’t wait to try it.
Meg @ With Salt and Wit says
So many possibilities with this chicken! It sounds so delish!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Holy Cannoli! Look at those divine grill marks! I just love the color tumeric introduces to dishes. . .it’s such a happy color and lends a nice contrast to greens and other veggies. Oh. . .and when you put lime in just about anything. . .well. . .I’m game.
riyabenson says
Great and healthy recipe.
Rachel @ Rachel Cooks says
Oh my gosh, we’re trying this this weekend….yum!
Amy Johnson says
This flavor combo sounds amazing!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
What a delicious chicken recipe- and it’s perfect as a salad addition!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
I am so with you on the thin-sliced chicken breasts, so much easier to cook. Now, I think I need to pick up some tumeric.
Sandy Coughlin says
The perfect weeknight meal. And we love turmeric!
Christine says
Ate this for dinner! Soooooo good!
Cathy says
Glad you enjoyed it.
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
I would love to have a big batch of these chicken breasts in my refrigerator – great lunches and dinner all week! Gorgeous color and I bet the flavor is fantastic.
Cathy says
Yes it’s wonderful to have the extras.