Tomatillo Key Lime Chicken Sizzle is a delicious party of flavors with freshly roasted tomatillo salsa topping for the grilled key lime marinated chicken breasts.
Wow, just the title is a mouth full....Tomatillo Key Lime Chicken Sizzle but it is so delicious and it takes only 30 minutes. When tomatillos are roasted, they become more sweet and fruity. Just like in our vegetarian tamales, the tomatillo salsa take this chicken to the next level. This bite is for you!
What's to Love
We know the holidays are around the corner but what are you going to make for dinner the other 364 days of the year??? Tomatillo Key Lime Chicken Sizzle is a delicious recipe to rock out on Taco Tuesdays, parties, gatherings or just an easy nutritious week day meal. We served our meal with a quick and easy chopped cabbage, carrot and onion coleslaw with a cumin spiced vinaigrette.
Tomatillo Key Lime Chicken Sizzle is a delicious low carb, gluten-free and cardiac friendly meal. Dairy free options available in the recipe instructions below.
Tomatillos
Tomatillos, if you are not familiar with them are Mexican husk tomato (or sometimes also called a jam berry) and have a tart, fruity, and slightly herbal flavor when roasted. If eaten raw they are more acidic in flavor.
Tomatillos are not green tomatoes. They actually come from a different nightshade plant and are covered with a paper husk. If you cannot find tomatillos at the market, you can substitute green tomatoes but it may be more tart and need additional seasonings.
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
The roasted tomatillo salsa has a lot of action packed flavors going on, almost like a little party in your mouth. Chicken can be BORING but that is where sauces come to the rescue to brighten this ordinary protein and take it to the next level. Our 3 minute Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pesto rocks drizzled over grilled chicken breasts too.
Favorite Sauce
We might have just accidentally created one of our favorite little sauces to hit the menu in Healthy World Cuisine. Roasted Tomatillo and Key Lime Cilantro green chili sauce is good all on its own but we decided to kick it up one more notch. Roasting any vegetables really adds some depth of flavor and sweetens the tomatillo and it gives the green chilies some natural smoky flavors.
The fresh key lime and the cilantro adds a little sparkle. Then if that was not enough, we added a dab of butter and cream to make it smooth and creamy. You can thank us later...
Roasted Tomatillo and Key Lime Cilantro Green Chili Sauce is the perfect accompaniment to anything grilled. Grilled Chicken, Grilled fish, grilled tofu and any grilled vegetables just rock with a little of this zesty and creamy sauce.
However the best part of this dish is that it is the perfect weeknight quick and easy dish that you can make in the winter in a grill pan or in good weather on the outside grill.
This sauce can be made in advance and put in the refrigerator or freezer for later use or even canned like salsa. If you marinade your chicken before you leave for work in the morning, you can have a full complete meal fit for a king in less than 30 minutes. Keep on reading to find out how to make this delicious Roasted Tomatillo and Key Lime Cilantro Salsa Chicken Sizzle...
More Delicious Tex Mex Recipe Inspiration
Shrimp Burritos with Creamy Poblano Sauce
Creamy Chipotle Chicken Skillet
Chicken Enchiladas with Fire Roasted Poblano Peppers
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Tomatillo Key Lime Chicken Sizzle
Ingredients
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
- 6-8 whole tomatillo remove the outer casing, wash ((alternatives are green tomatoes, canned tomatillos, or even gooseberry and green pepper combo)
- 5 pearl onions or 1 small onion (whole do not peel)
- 2-3 serrano peppers
large cut in half (do not peel) - 4-5 whole garlic do not peel
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
to taste - 1 tablespoon key lime juice
or regular lime - ½ cup cilantro
(coriander) fresh chopped - ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoon butter
(or non-dairy margarine if you have dairy issues) - ⅓ cup heavy cream
or nondairy creamer
Chicken breasts
- 4 chicken breasts
skinless and boneless - 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper
to taste - 1 teaspoon key lime zest
or regular lime zest - cilantro
(coriander)to garnish - optional - limes fresh wedges to garnish - optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 204 degrees Celsius. (400 degrees F)
- Remove husks from the tomatillos and wash well.
- On a parchment (wax) paper lined baking sheet put the chiles, garlic, onion and tomatillos. Season with a little olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Put on vegetables a rack about 1 or 2 inches from the heat, and cook, turning the vegetables once, until softened and slightly charred, about 5 to 7 minutes. Keep a close eye on them so they do not burn.
- When cool enough to handle, squeeze the garlic pulp from the roasted garlic into your food processor and discard the skin of the garlics, and pull off the tops of the chiles, remove the seeds and peel peppers and place in the food processor, discard the skin. Squeeze the the tops of delicious roasted tomatillos and allow the internal tomatillo pulp to go into the food processor but discard the skin. Add all the broiled ingredients(tomatillos, Serrano chili, garlic and onion) to a blender along with the fresh cilantro, lime salt and pepper to taste and a bit of olive oil and puree.
- Put the Roasted Tomatillo and Key Lime Cilantro Salsa aside. At this point you can put in refrigerator for later use, can the salsa or freeze it once it cools down.
- Marinate chicken breasts with olive oil, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, paprika and a little lime zest and set in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to 24 hours to marinade.
- Grill chicken breasts over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes each side or until the juices run clear. (depends on how thick your chicken breasts are) We like to cut our chicken breasts lengthwise so they are thinner and cook quicker.
- Put the Roasted Tomatillo and Key Lime Cilantro Salsa in a small sauce pan on low heat and add 2 hearty teaspoons of butter and drizzle in about ¾ cup of soy cream and salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve your sizzling grilled chicken with a drizzle of the Roasted Tomatillo and Key Lime Cilantro Salsa and bring a smile to your families' faces. Garnish with fresh cilantro and fresh limes as desired.
dianeskitchentable says
The name of this dish & the rainbow made me smile. I love sauces - let's face it your boys are right when they say plain grilled chicken is boring. Add something like this & it makes all the difference in the world. I like parties in my mouth.
Norma Chang says
Had to smile when I read that your boys do not like their foods to touch. My daughter is the same, glad to know there are others like her. She is not so weird after all.
A very versatile salsa indeed, love sauces that can serve multiple purposes.
Mich - Piece of Cake says
Oh wow Bam, your chicken looks so good with that lime sauce, I can just imagine how tasty it is!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks so much. I think I could eat anything even liver if you put this sauce on it! Take care, BAM
ChgoJohn says
Behind every great dish is a spectacular sauce. This is definitely one of those sauces, BAM. And that photo of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor is really special, beautifully shot.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Bonjouno John and thank you. My photo was a very happy accident. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. I can hardly compose myself but I have to share with you that I am going to be in Bologna,Italy for just a couple of days here this fall. Woo Hoo! Take care, BAM
ChgoJohn says
That's wonderful news!!!!!! I'm o happy for you! I'm heading in a couple inute for Michigan to visit my Zia. Be back next week. Buona Sera!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Enjoy those clear blue skies in Michigan and family. Take some time to unplug and relax. I am sure that one of these days our paths will cross and we can have an epic cooking day together. Until then...take Care, BAM
Lilly Sue says
Key Lime Cilantro Salsa sounds so delicious!! I love everything in that title.
Also, I know you have received an award from me but your blog is truly inspiring to me so I have awarded you the Very Inspiring Blogger Award 🙂
Click on the link http://goo.gl/clxov or visit my blog. Congrats!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Lily Sue for thinking of me and for the award. I am certain you have a brew that would go perfect with this grilled chicken. Take Care, BAM
Dawn says
This looks AMAZING, and I have to make this for my family - I can't wait to try it, thanks so much for the recipe!!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
You are most welcome Dawn. I hope my measurements are okay as you know when I cook it is a little of this and little of that... So play with the seasoning until you get it to your liking. Take care, BAM
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook says
Oh my gosh! I soooooo wish I had checked your post BEFORE making dinner last night! We had chicken schnitzels baked with salsa and cheese, but this is AMAZING! I have a feeling Schnitzels will be served sooner than I thought.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Ohh Yum! My hungry teenage boys would love chicken schnitzels baked with salsa and cheese. As a matter of fact they are on their way to your house now. Batten down the hatches, lock the fridge! Just kidding Take care, BAM
Karista says
Bravo Bam! I'm so excited about your sauce. Looks absolutely delicious and I'm definitely going to make this one. Yummy! I think you are becoming a sauce guru yourself. 🙂 Thanks for the shout out, very kind of you and I really appreciate it! Have a wonderful week, Karista
Healthy World Cuisine says
Dear Sauce Guru thanks for the dear compliment and thanks for your inspiration! I have your sauce page booked marked and ready to go. Take Care, BAM
yummychunklet says
You had me at key lime cilantro salsa!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. Have a super day. BAM
Kristy says
I just love rainbows, they always bring me such a sense of happiness and peace. I love the backdrop for this one. And your sauce sounds out of this world good. I can just imagine the creamy, spicy goodness. Fun way to make chicken fun!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Kristy. A complete photo accident. Actually this photo was taken just off my balcony. We call it the million dollar view...
I hope you are surviving the new school year. Take Care,BAM
kickasscooking says
Indeed, a good sauce always makes the difference! Thanks for sharing this one..and Karist'as blog too! Just subscribe because the sauces on the homepage were so mouthwatering!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I think that should be our new motto. "Get Sauced!" Karista blog is always very inspiring. Take care, BAM
Choc Chip Uru says
Your photos have me considering my vegetarianism I mean this recipe and that sauce look incredible 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello CCU, this sauce rocks over fried tofu and veggies. I tried that the next morning for my always unusual breakfast fare with the left over sauce and it was delightful. Take care, BAM
Jeno @ Week Nite Meals says
Hi Bam! I've never tasted tomatillo, actually that might not be a true statement, I assume the Mexican restaurants I've been to probably cook with tomatillo, but personally I've not cooked with them, so this recipe seems especially intriguing. I am trying to imagine the taste, is it savory, is it tarte? Just by the look of things, I am sure it's super tasty!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Jeno, Tomatillos are a little tart but get a nice smoky flavor when roasted.. When you roast the onions and the garlic it adds natural sweetness and the tomatillos and lime are tart and the green chili are spicy and then get a lovely smoky flavor when roasted. Of course the creaminess of the butter and cream balance the whole dish. So I guess the flavors are slightly smoky tart, sweet, spicy, savory and creamy. You have to love that going on in this dish. Take care, BAM
kitchenriffs says
Seriously good stuff here. That sauce is killer - so much flavor! And you're right - a quick little sauce can turn something ordinary into the sublime. Good post - thank you.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you a very happy accident. Actually I was just so excited to actually see tomatillos in the grocery store in Asia that I bought them before I had any idea of what I was going to do with them. I am glad I did. I have seen canned tomatillos in the store and these would work just as nice. I am thinking KitchenRiffs will have a great drink to pair with this chicken dish I am on my way to your website to make a plan for this upcoming weekend celebration on the balcony. Take Care, BAM
thecompletecookbook says
What a zesty sauce Bam - I bet your boys are more than happy with grilled chicken now. I can imagine how this must be like a party in your mouth -scrumptious.
Well done on capturing the rainbow - lovely!
🙂 Mandy
Healthy World Cuisine says
My boys like spicy things, but I only like mild heat so this was a nice flavorful compromise. It is very rare to get a full rainbow end to end in view, I was delighted. Thanks and take care, BAM