Tequila and lime go great together. Add a few other ingredients and you have a marinade for chicken that is a new level of delicious. These Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Thighs are perfect for any BBQ get-together.

Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Thighs

You can never have enough chicken recipes. Chicken is one of the most versatile meats to cook with. There are many ways to cook chicken and many flavours complimenting it.

We have more chicken recipes than any other meat, but this is definitely a favourite.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to consumers. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase we may earn a commission. Keep in mind that we link these products because of their quality, not because of the commission we may receive from purchases.

Can The Thighs be Swapped For Breasts or Legs?

We usually make this recipe with boneless, skinless thighs, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Drumsticks can also be used to make this recipe. We have also used marinade for turkey breasts.

The time it takes to cook will vary depending on the size of the chicken pieces you are grilling.

Ingredients For Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken

This recipe includes simple ingredients.

Chicken Thighs. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are used to make this recipe, but bone-in can also be used.
Jalapenos. These give a touch of heat to the marinade and complement the other flavours in the marinade.
Garlic. Minced garlic is used in the marinade.
Limes. Both juice and zest of the limes are used to make the marinade.
Tequila. Silver or Blanco works well in this recipe.
Agave Syrup. This adds a bit of sweetness to the marinade. And it also complements the tequila since it is made from agave.
Salt. We use kosher salt for this dish.
Pepper. Freshly ground black pepper is our choice.

What Kind of Tequila to Use To Make The Marinade?

There is a difference when it comes to the type of tequila you use for cooking.

For this recipe, we always use silver tequila. It has more of a citrus and pepper flavour that compliments the chicken. It is also sweeter than reposado or gold tequila. There is more of the agave flavour that comes through with silver tequila.

Does The Alcohol in Tequila Evaporate During Cooking?

The answer is yes and no. Some of the alcohol will evaporate but not all of it. There really is no substitute for tequila in this recipe. If you are looking for a non-alcoholic chicken recipe try our Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts.

When we make this recipe for guests, we also make Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts (or Thighs) so that anyone who does not want alcohol in their meal, can eat those instead.

Does This Recipe Have To Be Grilled?

Grilling is our favourite way to cook any piece of meat, but this recipe can also be cooked in the oven.

Cooking these chicken thighs on a flat-top grill like a Blackstone is also a great way to cook this recipe.

Another way to cook this chicken is in an air fryer. Heat the air fryer to 425 and cook the chicken for 15 minutes.

What To Serve With Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Thighs

This chicken recipe goes well with rice, especially cilantro lime rice. But there are other ways to serve this chicken as well.

Tacos are a good option for serving this chicken. Slice up the chicken thighs and serve on homemade corn tortillas or store-bought. Add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and whatever other taco toppings you like.

Drinks To Serve with Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken

To drink, serve this chicken with tequila-based drinks like margaritas. Another good option is a pitcher of Palomas. The tequila and lime in the chicken pair well with these types of drinks. And since you already have the Silver Tequila out to make this chicken, you may as well mix up a batch of drinks to go with it.

Another good option for a drink is Cerveza. Corona is a good choice, or if you live in Canada, my favourite is PC Cerveza which can be found at the Beer Store in Ontario. Or you can serve it with your favourite beer.

Our kids like to have Jarritos Lime soda or Mexican cola.

What To Do With Leftovers

If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in an air fryer or microwave for a few minutes until heated through before serving.

Leftover chicken is also good in a chicken salad for sandwiches. Our recipe for Chicken Salad is perfect to use up any leftover chicken thighs.