• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
5 Secrets to Mexican Cooking

sign up to get my top 5 secrets to help you master mexican meals at home!

trending now: March Cooking Challenge!
  • About
  • Press/Advertise
  • Contact

Isabel Eats

Easy Mexican recipes for home cooks

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Dinner
      • Sides
      • Desserts
      • Appetizers
      • Drinks
      • Soups & Stews
      • Salads
      • Salsas
      • Sauces and Condiments
    • Diet
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Carb
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Meat
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Chorizo
      • Pork
      • Turkey
      • Seafood
    • Occasion
      • Christmas
      • Cinco De Mayo
      • Easter
      • Game Day
      • Summer
      • Thanksgiving
    • Type
      • 30 Minute Meals
      • Mexican Basics
      • Freezer Friendly
      • Grilling
      • Healthy
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Enchiladas
      • Tacos
  • Dinners
  • Kitchen Tips
  • Life
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe!

    sign up to get my top 5 secrets to help you master mexican meals at home!

Browse by Course/Type/Diet

  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Appetizers
    • Drinks
    • Soups & Stews
    • Salads
    • Salsas
    • Sauces & Condiments
  • by type
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Mexican Basics
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Grilling
    • Healthy
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Enchiladas
    • Tacos
  • by meat
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Chorizo
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
  • by diet
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • by occasion
    • Christmas
    • Cinco De Mayo
    • Easter
    • Game Day
    • Summer
    • Thanksgiving
Jump to latest Browse All Recipes
HomeRecipes

Easy Baked Mexican Chicken

rate recipe Shareshare
Share on:
769 shares
By: IsabelPosted: 5/17/17

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclaimer.

Jump to Recipe
This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

Let’s talk about real life today. When I’m not creating and photographing recipes for the blog (which usually happens on the weekends), the dinner situation in my house is either eating whatever leftovers are in the fridge or making something simple at the last minute.

And when I say last minute, I mean last minute. 99 percent of the time, John and I forget to take meat out of the freezer in the morning to thaw. We usually end up having to submerge the frozen protein in hot water for an hour as soon as we get home so we’re not cooking it frozen. Pain in the butt, and yet we never learn.

Once we’ve got our protein ready, we season it with whatever spices we have in the cupboard, serve it alongside some veggies and carbs and we’re good to go.

But just because a recipe is easy, simple and made last minute doesn’t mean it isn’t flavorful and delicious! I mean, just look at the tv show Chopped. Those guys have NO idea what they’re going to be cooking, and they only have 30 minutes to whip up a meal for a talented panel of judges!

Sure, most of the contestants are chefs, but that’s besides the point. We can totally make tasty meals in no time, too!

This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken recipe is totally one of those quick and easy recipes. Marinated in Mexican flavors like chili powder, cumin and lime juice, this one pan Mexican Chicken is ready in under an hour and pairs well with any veggies you have on hand.

This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

The trick to infusing a lot of flavor into chicken in a short amount of time is quickly marinating it in tons of spices and some acidic elements. The spices I used are really classic Mexican spices like chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder and a few others. I also used apple cider vinegar and lime juice to really to help all the flavors penetrate the protein as much as possible.

Just add everything into a large gallon-sized resealable plastic bag and mix together. You can marinate the chicken anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight, but the longer you can let it sit to soak up all the juices, the better.

Since we’re talking real life dinner situations today, I only marinated it for 20 minutes. #reallife

This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

Once it’s done marinating, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Then place your chicken thighs skin side down in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the skin begins to brown. Flip over the thighs, transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.

If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, you can transfer the chicken thighs onto a baking dish or baking sheet instead. It’s one extra plate to wash but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do.

This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

I served this Easy Baked Mexican Chicken with some leftover Cilantro Cauliflower Rice that I made last week. But you can also serve it with my Mom’s Authentic Mexican Rice or even just some frozen veggies that you’ve got on hand.

Whatever you choose, just know that an easy last minute dinner can be delicious and flavorful! Don’t settle for less.

Recipe

4.25 from 8 votes

Easy Baked Mexican Chicken

Serves: 8
Print
Rate
This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total : 50 minutes
This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 juice of 1 lime (about 3 tablespoon)
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
  • 8 chicken thighs, about 3 lbs
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, dried oregano, paprika, garlic powder, lime juice, olive oil, sea salt, apple cider vinegar, cilantro and sliced jalapenos.
  • Place chicken thighs in a gallon-sized ziplock bag and pour marinade over thighs. Close bag and mix together. Let the chicken marinade in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or overnight.
  • When ready to cook, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Heat coconut oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs skin side down and cook until skin begins to get crispy and slightly light brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Flip thighs over, transfer skillet to oven and bake for 10 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper to taste and garnish with more cilantro and jalapeño slices if desired.

Isabel’s Tips:

This chicken is delicious when served alongside some Cilantro Cauliflower Rice or Mom's Authentic Mexican Rice.

Nutrition Information

Author: Isabel Eats
Course:Main
Cuisine:Mexican
This Easy Baked Mexican Chicken is quickly marinated in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and lime juice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!
Did you Make my Easy Baked Mexican Chicken?Leave a comment below and tag @isabeleats on social media!
@isabeleats

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to know! Leave a comment below and tag @isabeleats on Instagram with the hashtag #isabeleatsfood.

You may also like…

  • Mexican chicken marinade grilled chicken
    Mexican Chicken Marinade
  • 16 Mexican Christmas Recipes to Make This Year
  • Chicken taquitos on a plate with shredded lettuce and pico de gallo.
    Chicken Taquitos
  • Topped with a green chile cilantro sauce, this Mexican Baked Salmon in Foil recipe is easy to make, takes 35 minutes from start to finish and is perfect for lunch and dinner. It's also super healthy and is gluten free, paleo, vegetarian and clean eating.
    Mexican Baked Salmon in Foil
free ebook!

download my top 10 recipes book

Subscribe and receive a free e-cookbook of our Top 10 Easy Mexican Recipes!

Get My Copy!

Download my top 10 easy Mexican recipes!

This Slow Cooker Mexican Lasagna is made with layers of black beans, corn tortillas and red enchilada sauce for a delicious gluten free weeknight meal!
Previous Post
Slow Cooker Mexican Lasagna
Quick and easy Jalapeno Corn Cakes that are gluten free and vegetarian. The perfect Mexican side dish!
Next Post
Jalapeno Corn Cakes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!
Recipe Rating:




  1. Gail says

    Posted on 3/9 at 9:40 am

    What changes should be made using breasts instead of thighs?

    Reply
    • Morgan @ Isabel Eats says

      Posted on 3/20 at 7:18 am

      Hi! No changes need to be made for this substitution. I would just make sure that the breasts are all about the same thickness so that they all cook evenly.

      Reply
  2. Alli says

    Posted on 7/28 at 8:56 am

    5 stars
    I don’t usually save recipes, but I’ve had to email this one to myself because I use it way too often to keep searching for it! This is the easiest and my favorite baked chicken recipe. It has such a great flavor- and I sometimes marinate it and forget to cook it even the next day, so I’ve left it marinating 1-2 days. The ingredients are all stuff you’d have in the pantry anyway, and I’ve used jarred pickled jalapeños too (turns out great) which also gives it acidity if you don’t have lime juice. This chicken is soooo good cold, too, and perfect for bringing on a picnic the next day. Love it! Thank you for posting!

    Reply
    • Isabel says

      Posted on 7/29 at 9:55 am

      I love that you used pickled jalapenos! That’s such a great little substitution. So happy you love it!

      Reply
  3. Dulce Diaz says

    Posted on 7/10 at 5:45 pm

    Hi! Can i/ how long should i leave in the oven for? If i don’t have a cast iron. If si at what temperature

    Reply
    • Morgan @ Isabel Eats says

      Posted on 5/10 at 12:43 pm

      If you don’t have a cast iron, I’d recommend baking for about 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees or until the chicken is fully cooked.

      Reply
  4. Bethany says

    Posted on 4/30 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    Made this finally for the first time and my boyfriend and I LOVED it. Also, thanks for sharing the struggle of poor meal planning.. I, too, thawed my protein in warm water and cheated and marinated it while thawing!. It was still delicious and will become a go-to recipe for me!

    Reply
    • Isabel says

      Posted on 5/16 at 11:44 am

      Bethany! Thank you so so much for all your comments! So happy to hear that you’re loving the recipes 🙂

      Reply
  5. Maggie Unzueta says

    Posted on 8/27 at 9:29 am

    This looks incredibly delicious. Yum!

    Reply
    • Isabel says

      Posted on 8/29 at 10:16 am

      Thanks, Maggie!

      Reply
  6. Terri says

    Posted on 5/9 at 8:48 am

    5 stars
    My husband and I were amazed with the tasteful combination. We love Authentic mexican and this recipe fits the criteria,,, only difference is we cooked on the grill. Definitely doing again,,, thumbs up ,,,

    Reply
    • Isabel says

      Posted on 5/12 at 10:33 pm

      Thank you so much, Terri!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Isabel Orozco-Moore, Founder of Isabel Eats
¡Hola!

i’m isabel

A first-generation Mexican American who loves to cook! Here at Isabel Eats, you’ll find a mix of all your favorite authentic Mexican recipes with a twist!

Read More

Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.

free email series!

5 Secrets to Mexican Cooking

My top 5 secrets to help you master Mexican meals at home in no time!

Sign me up!

Sign up to get My top 5 secrets to help you master Mexican meals at home in no time!

Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.

Authentic Recipes

This Mexican Pork Chile Verde is made of tender pieces of pork simmered in a flavorful tomatillo and chile broth. Serve in a bowl or with a side of rice for an authentic Mexican meal! (low carb, gluten free, paleo)

Chile Verde Recipe

Masa for Tamales

Masa for Tamales

Six bolillo breads on a baking sheet ready to eat.

Bolillo Bread (Mexican Rolls)

Pozole verde in a bowl topped with shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, cilantro, and lime juice.

Chicken Pozole Verde

Pozole Rojo (Red Posole) recipe

Pozole Rojo Recipe

Cooked Mexican rice in a pot with peas mixed in.

Authentic Mexican Rice

Reader Favorites

Beef empanadas on a plate served with a side of guacamole.

Beef Empanadas

Chile relleno on a plate with red salsa.

Chile Relleno Recipe

Cooked canned black beans with tomatoes, onions and garlic in a bowl.

How to Cook Canned Black Beans

Chicken enchiladas in a baking dish topped with cilantro.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Juicy pork carnitas in warm corn tortillas topped with cilantro, onions and limes.

Easy Carnitas Recipe

Conchas in a bowl ready to be eaten.

Conchas (Mexican Sweet Bread)

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

5-star faves

Frozen margaritas in glasses topped with lime wedges.

Frozen Margaritas

These were absolutely delicious. So fresh and the perfect amount of sweetness.

A bowl of borracho beans

Borracho Beans

These beans are delicious! Garlic, onion, beer and bacon…you can’t go wrong, lol! I loved these!

Chile Colorado

This recipe is so perfect and delicious. My entire family loved it! Big kudos to you for such an authentic masterpiece!

follow along @isabeleats

Favorites

  • Tacos
  • Sides
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Salsas

Browse By Meat

  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Seafood
  • Turkey
  • Chorizo
Back to Top
  • About
  • Press
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
© 2023 Isabel Eats Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled