Simple Smoky Chipotle Chicken Marinade

Kick up your Taco Tuesday (or Tostada Tuesday) with this easy smoky chipotle marinade. This comes together in minutes, and it is perfect for any preferred protein like chicken or shrimp (both of which are zero points on the WW Freestyle Plan).

The smoky chipotle marinade gets its smokiness from the cumin, paprika, and chipotle pepper--three ingredients I always keep in my pantry. The fresh lime, cilantro, and garlic bring such a brightness to this dish, it's sure to be a crowd-pleaser for your next cookout.

Simple Chicken Breast Taco Recipes

I know it is easy to open a packet and sprinkle it all over your chicken. I know it's even easier to open a jar of salsa and cook chicken breasts all day in the crockpot. I've never been a fan of crockpot chicken, but this recipe involved minimal chopping, and it takes no time at all to assemble. The fresh ingredients make this recipe pop, and they elevate this from convenience to indulgence.

I hope I didn't scare you away. Legit, all you are doing is juicing to limes, mincing some garlic, and chopping some cilantro. Sure, this is called my Smoky Chiptole Marinade, but it needs fresh ingredients to really shine. You CAN cut corners and by a squeeze tube of garlic and cilantro if your supermarket has it.

If you have a micro-plane, you can grate the garlic cloves instead of chopping. (You can find my recommended micro-plane here, and it's on Amazon and awesome).

Grilled Chipotle Chicken Tacos

This chipotle chicken marinade is a super simple weeknight marinade. What I love most is the versatility of it. I use this chipotle chicken breast in tacos, burrito bowls, salads, my Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad, and enchiladas. If you've never grilled chicken, check out my how to cook chicken breast guide here.

Yield: 2-3 lb. chicken

Smoky Chipotle Chicken Marinade

Print

This smoky chipotle marinade is an easy way to elevate your tacos. The smokiness comes in three ways with the cumin, smoked paprika, and chipotle chili powder while the lime and cilantro add a bright freshness to this marinade.  There is a little honey in it that helps even out the spice to make this family-friendly, but forgo the honey if you want to keep it spicy.

Prep Time 1 minute

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 31 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp chipotle chili powder (depending on heat preference)
• 3 garlic gloves, minced
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• ½ tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 limes juiced
• 2 tsp honey

Instructions

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Add your protein to the bowl.
3. Let your protein marinate for at least 30 minutes, covered, in the refrigerator before grilling or cooking.

Notes

Nutritional Information and WW Points reflect marinade only (with 8 servings)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1/8
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 57Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 210mgCarbohydrates: 15gNet Carbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 3g

Want even more help cooking chicken breasts?

I created a full guide on how to cook chicken breasts using the grill, oven, and air fryer. This comprehensive guide gives you five different ways to season chicken and four ways to cook it.