Description
This One Pan Coconut Lime Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken thighs simmered in a creamy, flavorful coconut milk sauce infused with lime, garlic, ginger, and a touch of spice. It’s an easy, fuss-free dinner packed with vibrant tropical flavors, perfect for a weeknight meal or casual dinner party. The addition of crushed peanuts, fresh coriander, and spring onions adds texture and freshness to the dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 8 chicken thighs, skinless and boneless
- 2 tsp sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 tbsp flour (can use gluten-free flour)
- 1 tsp sweet paprika (optional)
Oils
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp light olive oil or rapeseed oil
Sauce and Flavorings
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 green jalapeno, finely diced
- 2 shallots, finely diced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (purée)
- 1 tsp Sriracha (or more to taste)
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 400 g (14 oz) full-fat coconut milk
- 3 tbsp coconut cream (optional)
- 1 lime, zest only
Garnishes
- 2 tbsp salted peanuts, roughly chopped
- 5 spring onions, finely diced
- red pepper flakes (to taste)
- fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped
- lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs and pat them dry with paper towels. Season both sides with sea salt flakes, ground pepper, and sweet paprika if using. Lightly dust with flour on both sides to create a slight coating that will help with browning.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the coconut oil and a splash of your chosen light olive or rapeseed oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs in the pan and sear them for a few minutes on each side until they develop a golden-brown crust. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour the lime juice into the hot pan to deglaze, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious browned bits stuck to the pan’s bottom. These bits are packed with flavor and will enrich the sauce.
- Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the minced garlic, ginger, and diced jalapeno to the pan. Stir together and cook briefly until fragrant. Next, add the finely diced shallots and cook for another couple of minutes until softened. Then stir in the tomato paste, Sriracha, and soy sauce to build the sauce layers.
- Add Coconut Milk and Simmer: Pour in the full-fat coconut milk and add the optional coconut cream if using. Stir to combine everything evenly. Nestle the chicken thighs back into the pan and sprinkle over the lime zest. Cover the pan with a lid and let the chicken gently simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until fully cooked through and tender.
- Garnish and Serve: Once cooked, garnish the dish generously with the finely chopped spring onions, roughly chopped salted peanuts, fresh coriander leaves, and a pinch of red pepper flakes or chopped chili for some heat. Serve hot with lime wedges on the side for an extra splash of citrus.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts if preferred, but thighs remain juicier and more flavorful.
- Using gluten-free flour makes this recipe suitable for gluten-sensitive diets.
- Adjust the amount of Sriracha and jalapeno to control the spiciness to your taste.
- For a richer sauce, add the optional coconut cream; otherwise, just coconut milk works well.
- This recipe is perfect served with steamed rice or warm flatbread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- To make it vegan, substitute chicken with firm tofu or chickpeas and use a vegan-friendly soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan Cooking, Searing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Fusion (Tropical/Asian-inspired)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce (approx. 250g)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: One Pan Chicken, Coconut Lime Chicken, Easy Chicken Dinner, Coconut Milk Chicken, Lime Chicken Recipe, Spicy Chicken Thighs, Gluten-free Chicken Recipe, Low Lactose Dinner
