Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken – Easy Tropical Dinner

Escape to a tropical paradise with this incredibly easy and flavorful Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken! Tender chicken is bathed in a luscious, fragrant sauce bursting with the bright zest of lime and the rich creaminess of coconut milk. This quick weeknight meal brings exotic flavors right to your dinner table, perfect for an effortless tropical dinner experience.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated (about 1 tsp)
• 1 (13.5 oz) can full-fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, plus more to taste
• 1 tsp lime zest
• 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
• Cooked rice or noodles, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and black pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 3-5 minutes. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
4. Pour in the full-fat coconut milk, chicken broth, 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice, and lime zest. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
5. Return the browned chicken to the skillet. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has slightly thickened to your desired consistency.
6. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or lime juice if desired for extra tang.
7. Garnish generously with fresh chopped cilantro just before serving. Serve hot over cooked rice or noodles for a complete tropical meal.