One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken: My Go-To Easy Weeknight Meal (Print Version)

Whip up our One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken for a flavor-packed, easy weeknight dinner. My personal recipe is full of zest and creamy goodness!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Thai-Inspired
Dietary: Gluten-Free (use tamari)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Stars

01 - 1.5 lbs (about 680g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 1 (13.5 oz / 400ml) can full-fat coconut milk
03 - 2 limes, juiced and zested
04 - 2 bell peppers (any color), deseeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
05 - 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch wedges

→ Flavor Boosters

06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1.5 tbsp fish sauce
09 - 1.5 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
10 - 1 tbsp brown sugar

→ Seasonings & Spices

11 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
12 - 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)

→ Finishing Touches

14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

# Instructions:

01 - Alright, first things first! Get your boneless, skinless chicken thighs patted dry—this helps them get a nice sear, even in the oven. Cut them into roughly 1-inch pieces. Then, chop your bell peppers and red onion into similar-sized pieces. I like them a bit chunky so they don't disappear into the sauce. This is where my kitchen usually starts to look a bit chaotic, with veggie scraps everywhere, but it’s all part of the process, right? Don't stress the perfection here; just get 'em chopped!
02 - In a medium bowl, let's make that dreamy sauce for our One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken. Whisk together the full-fat coconut milk, fresh lime juice, lime zest (don't skip this, it's key!), minced garlic, grated ginger, fish sauce, soy sauce (or tamari), brown sugar, and red pepper flakes. Give it a really good whisk until everything is combined. I always taste a tiny bit at this stage, just to make sure it's got that perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. Adjust to your liking, hon!
03 - Now, grab a large baking dish or a rimmed baking sheet. Add your chopped chicken, bell peppers, and red onion to the dish. Pour that glorious coconut lime sauce all over everything. Use your hands (or a spoon, if you're not into messy hands like me!) to really toss and coat every piece. Make sure everything is in a single layer as much as possible for even cooking. This is where you can see all those vibrant colors coming together; it smells so good even before it hits the oven!
04 - Pop your One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken into a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C). Let it bake for about 15-20 minutes. You'll start to notice the chicken cooking through and the sauce beginning to thicken slightly. The edges of the chicken might even get a little golden, which is exactly what we want! My kitchen starts to smell absolutely incredible during this step, making my stomach rumble every single time. Honestly, the aroma alone is worth the effort.
05 - After that initial bake, pull the dish out of the oven. Give everything a good stir to ensure all the chicken and veggies are coated in that luscious sauce. This helps prevent anything from drying out and ensures even cooking. Return the dish to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C) and the sauce has thickened to your liking. Sometimes I let it go a little longer if I want the sauce super reduced, oops!
06 - Once it's perfectly cooked, pull that beautiful One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken out of the oven. The sauce should be bubbly and creamy, and the chicken tender. Sprinkle generously with fresh chopped cilantro. This step is a must, it adds such a bright, fresh counterpoint to the rich sauce. Serve it immediately over jasmine rice or with some fluffy naan bread. Gosh, it looks and smells so amazing, you'll want to dig in right away!

# Notes:

01 - Don't skip the full-fat coconut milk; it makes the sauce creamy and dreamy!
02 - This One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken stores like a dream, perfect for meal prep.
03 - No fish sauce? A dash of extra soy sauce works, but honestly, fish sauce adds that umami pop.
04 - Serve this One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken with jasmine rice to soak up all that amazing sauce.

# Tools You'll Need:

01 - Large baking dish or rimmed baking sheet
02 - whisk
03 - cutting board
04 - knife.

# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

Calories: 450 kcal
Total Fat: 30g
Total Carbohydrate: 25g
Protein: 35g

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