This cilantro lime rooster simmers in a creamy flavor-packed sauce and comes collectively in only one pan and in round 40 minutes from begin to end. This simple rooster dinner recipe is a favourite in my residence—and plenty of readers’ houses too—all yr spherical!
I initially printed this recipe in 2015 and have since added new images and extra useful success suggestions. And based mostly on reader suggestions, elevated the quantity of creamy sauce! 😉

Whereas I take pleasure in baking desserts probably the most, dinner is an on a regular basis journey. And when you’re like me, you’re continuously looking for fast and straightforward dinner recipes. Effectively, you’ve come to the correct place! That is my one-pan creamy cilantro lime rooster, a constant crowd favourite.
One reader, Marci, commented: “Thanks for this recipe. My household has been obsessed for months; now we have it no less than as soon as per week and I like to recommend it to everybody. ★★★★★“
One other reader, Rose, commented: “Omg what a taste bomb!!! This was completely scrumptious!! … Want I made a double batch, however shall be making repeatedly!! ★★★★★“
And one other reader, Allison, commented: “STAPLE DINNER in our home and a GREAT factor to serve to company! Everybody LOVES this ★★★★★“
As we speak I’m going to indicate you that one skillet is all it takes to rework rooster into one thing you and your loved ones will love. The method is loads like my skillet apple cider rooster and this creamy lemon thyme rooster. Pan-sear the rooster on the range, make a flavorful cilantro lime pan sauce, then bake the rooster within the sauce to complete.

Right here’s Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Rooster
- Fast and straightforward 1-pan meal
- Further tender, juicy rooster
- Creamy, buttery, zesty sauce tastes wonderful on rice and greens, too!
- Undeniably eye-catching, so that you’ll wish to make it repeatedly
Seize These Components
- Rooster: I take advantage of boneless, skinless rooster breasts. Pound them all the way down to even thickness. You possibly can use boneless, skinless rooster thighs as a substitute if desired.
- Salt & Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Rooster Broth
- Contemporary Lime Juice
- Onion: Yellow, white, or crimson—chef’s alternative!
- Cilantro
- Purple Pepper Flakes: Provides a bit of warmth, however be at liberty to cut back or enhance the quantity to your liking.
- Heavy Cream: Simply sufficient to make the sauce style creamy and wealthy. See beneath for a dairy-free various.
- Butter: Provides a lot scrumptious taste!

Begin the Rooster, Then Make the Pan Sauce
The method is similar as my lemon thyme rooster and creamy garlic rooster and greens, so when you’ve made both of these earlier than you know the way simple it’s!
Prepare dinner the rooster in a big oven-proof skillet till each side are browned—the rooster will prepare dinner once more within the oven so if the facilities aren’t cooked all over but, that’s tremendous. Take away the rooster quickly and set it apart.
If you happen to’re out there for a brand new skillet, I personal and love this one.

Now, utilizing the identical skillet, make the pan sauce. The juices left behind by the rooster are key for taste, so don’t clear the skillet earlier than making the sauce!
Simmer the pan sauce till it has diminished and thickened.
Add the rooster again to the skillet:


Bake within the oven till the rooster is cooked by means of. Garnish the saucy rooster with further cilantro (taste! taste!) and a squeeze of lime. Serve with rice and veggies, and smother them with the sauce, too!


Sure! Use full-fat canned coconut cream as a substitute of heavy cream and coconut oil as a substitute of butter for a dairy-free model with a scrumptious coconut-y twist.
No downside! After you prepare dinner the rooster and sauce on the range, you’ll be able to switch each to a baking dish.
Sure, you need to use rooster thighs as a substitute when you favor. No modifications vital!
Sure! The recipe beneath displays an almost-doubled portion of the sauce. Earlier than 2025, it made solely about half as a lot, however now there’s a lot to generously coat the rooster and spoon over any sides you’re serving.
What to Serve With Cilantro Lime Rooster
We take pleasure in this rooster with a facet of rice and a inexperienced vegetable like roasted broccoli (and the cilantro lime sauce poured over every little thing, after all!), however listed below are a couple of extra solutions for tasty pairings:


Description
This cilantro lime rooster simmers in a creamy flavor-packed sauce and comes collectively in only one pan!
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- If the rooster breasts are uneven in thickness, pound them down in order that they’re all even. This manner all of the breasts will prepare dinner by means of concurrently. Sprinkle each side with salt and pepper.
- In a big ovenproof skillet, warmth the oil over medium-high warmth. Add the rooster and prepare dinner for six–7 minutes, turning as soon as. You need the rooster good and browned on the skin. (It doesn’t should be cooked all over but.) Switch rooster to a plate and canopy with foil till step 5.
- Take away skillet from warmth and add the broth, lime juice, onion, cilantro, and crimson pepper flakes. Return to warmth. Prepare dinner and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the underside of the skillet. Deliver to a boil. Permit to boil, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes or till the liquid is diminished to 1/2 cup. Scale back warmth to medium-low, then add the cream and butter. Stir till butter has melted, then take away from warmth.
- Add the rooster again to the skillet, turning as soon as to coat each side within the sauce. Switch the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake uncovered till the rooster is totally cooked by means of, about 5–10 minutes (inside temperature needs to be no less than 165°F (74°C)).
- Serve rooster with sauce spooned on prime, and garnish with lime wedges and cilantro, if desired.
- Leftovers maintain effectively within the fridge for a couple of days. You’ll be able to reheat on the range over medium warmth, within the microwave, or within the oven.
Notes
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Meat Tenderizer | Massive Oven-Proof Skillet (I personal and love this one) | Tongs | Citrus Juicer | Immediate-Learn Thermometer
- Purple Pepper Flakes: Modify the quantity of crimson pepper flakes to your liking. This quantity made the rooster mildly spicy. The cream within the sauce mellows out the spice.
- Heavy Cream: You need to use entire milk or half-and-half as a substitute, however for the thickest, richest sauce I extremely advocate heavy cream. If utilizing entire milk, be certain that it’s at room temperature to assist forestall curdling.
- Dairy-Free: Use coconut cream as a substitute of heavy cream and coconut oil as a substitute of butter.
Diet
- Serving Dimension: 1 rooster breast + 1/4 of the sauce
- Energy: 396
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 254.4 mg
- Fats: 23.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.3 g
- Protein: 40.8 g
- Ldl cholesterol: 165.9 mg

