Creamy Coconut Cilantro-Lime Chicken

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This recipe first appeared in A Life Delicious. 

Creamy Coconut Cilantro-Lime Chicken! This is an easy and super flavorful dish that is ready in under an hour. It’s family-friendly and is perfect for any night of the week. The best part is the creamy, dairy-free sauce that is made with coconut milk, and lots of fresh cilantro and lime juice. It is divine!

To keep with the dairy-free theme, you need two important ingredients: coconut milk and vegan butter. I have provided the specific brands I use below. They are fantastic products, and I guarantee you will love the flavors of this dish.

Ingredients Needed That You May Not Already Have In Your Fridge:

  • Chicken
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Chicken broth
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Lime
  • Vegan butter or butter of choice
  • Coconut milk

Important Things You Need To Know About This Creamy Coconut Cilantro-Lime Chicken:

  • Coconut Milk – This alternative is one of the stars of the show! It is creamy, slightly sweet, and a bit nutty. Also, it naturally thickens the sauce so you will not need to add any additional thickening agents.
    • Canned – There are many different varieties of coconut milk. My favorite is canned. Just a heads up though, shake it well before opening to fully combine the liquid and the cream that have separated.
    • Unsweetened – Please be sure to find unsweetened coconut milk because it is already naturally sweet, with no need of added sugars.
    • Full Fat – And for best results, use full-fat coconut milk. Lite coconut milk has less fat, giving it a more watery consistency. So use full-fat here, because it will lend to a more rich and creamy dish.
  • Miyoko’s Creamery ®European Style Cultured Vegan Unsalted Butter – This butter is 100% crafted from plants. Plus it melts, spread, browns, bakes and tastes like butter. For me, this a great alternative because it is lactose free, gluten-free and contains no dairy. Oh yay!

 

Lastly, to make this a full meal, serve this Creamy Coconut Cilantro-Lime Chicken with a side of rice, and asparagus.

This is an easy and super flavorful dish that is ready in under an hour. It’s family-friendly and is perfect for any night of the week. The best part is the creamy, dairy-free sauce that is made with coconut milk, and lots of fresh cilantro and lime juice. It is divine!

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 Large Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • 2 tbsp Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil
  • Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
  • Himalayan Pink Salt, to taste
  • 1/3 Medium Red Onion, finely diced
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, finely minced
  • 10 oz Kettle & Fire Chicken Broth, less sodium
  • 1/3 cup Fresh Cilantro, (stems removed), slightly chopped and loosely packed
  • 1 Large Lime, freshly squeezed juice and zest
  • 2 tbsp Miyoko’s Creamery® European Style Cultured Vegan Unsalted Butter
  • 3 tbsp Native Forest Simple Organic Coconut Milk, Unsweetened

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Prep the chicken: Preheat the oven to 400° degrees F. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
  2. Cook: In a large ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side; flipping once. (You want the chicken nice and browned on the outside. It doesn’t have to be cooked all the way through yet). Remove the chicken to a plate and cover tightly with foil; set aside.
  3. Sauté the onion: Add the onion and sauté for about a minute just to break it down. Add the garlic and stir constantly, for about 30 seconds, or until it becomes fragrant.
  4. Make the sauce: Deglaze the pan with the chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits from the pan and then stir in the cilantro, lime juice, lime zest and salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Boil gently: Once it comes to a boil, turn the heat down a bit and allow it to boil gently, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup. (Just eyeball it. Make sure you don’t let it reduce too much though).
  6. Add the butter and milk: Next, reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the butter and coconut milk. Stir until the butter has melted. Be sure to check all the flavors, and adjust accordingly.
  7. Put it together: Add the chicken back to the pan and spoon some of the sauce over each piece. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake uncovered until the chicken is completely cooked through, about 5-10 minutes.
  8. Make a veggie: During this time, you can steam one of your favorite veggies to serve on the side.

Creamy Coconut Cilantro-Lime Chicken

And, for more chicken recipes, please give these a try: