Lime-Kissed Chicken Breast Recipe

Why You’ll Love This this Lime-Kissed Chicken Breast

This lime-kissed chicken breast brings together tangy lime juice, spicy hot sauce, and creamy sour cream in a way that’ll make your taste buds do a little happy dance.

The marinating process keeps the chicken incredibly tender while building layers of flavor that go way beyond your typical weeknight dinner.

You get all the satisfaction of a restaurant-quality meal without having to change out of your pajamas or figure out what 15% tip is on a $47 check.

Ingredients List

Getting this lime-kissed chicken breast on your table requires just a handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have lurking in your fridge and pantry.

• 4 chicken breasts
• 12 tablespoons favorite hot sauce or salsa
• 12 tablespoons mustard
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 lime
• 1 dash salt
• 8 ounces sour cream

Health-wise, this recipe brings some solid wins to your dinner table:

• Chicken breast delivers lean protein without the guilt of fried alternatives
• Lime juice adds vitamin C while keeping sodium levels reasonable
• The sour cream and hot sauce combo gives you that comfort food satisfaction without going completely off the rails
• Skip the heavy cream sauces tonight – this creamy sauce gets its richness from ingredients that won’t leave you feeling like you need a nap afterward

Step by Step Directions

This lime-kissed chicken breast recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish with a tangy, creamy sauce that perfectly balances heat and richness.

• Squeeze lime juice into a bowl, add hot sauce, mustard and salt, then mix until you have a uniform marinating sauce.
• Marinate chicken breasts for 45 minutes in the sauce mixture.
• Fry chicken breasts in a pan with butter, setting aside the remaining marinating sauce for later use.
• Add the reserved marinating sauce back to the chicken in the pan for extra flavor.
• Let it cook slowly for a couple of minutes to allow flavors to meld.
• Remove chicken from pan and place on serving plate, keeping the marinating sauce in the pan.
• Add sour cream to the pan with the marinating sauce and stir to create a creamy sauce.
• Serve the creamy sauce spooned over the top of the chicken breasts.

For consistent mixing results when preparing marinades and sauces, consider using a professional stand mixer to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Substitutions and Variations

• Make it a marinade powerhouse – Double the marinating time to 90 minutes, because why not let those flavors really get acquainted.
• Turn it into chicken thighs – They’re more forgiving than breasts and actually taste better with this sauce, plus they’re cheaper which means more money for good hot sauce.

Additional Things to Serve With This Dish

This saucy chicken deserves some serious sidekick action, and honestly, the possibilities are pretty endless when you’ve got that creamy, spicy goodness going on.

• Rice or quinoa – Something to soak up every last drop of that incredible sauce, because leaving sauce on the plate should be illegal.
• Roasted vegetables – Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or asparagus all play nice with the lime and heat, plus you get to tell yourself you’re being healthy.
• Simple green salad – A basic mix of greens with a light vinaigrette helps cut through all that rich, creamy sauce when your taste buds need a little break.
• Garlic bread or crusty rolls – Perfect for sauce-mopping duties, and let’s be real, carbs make everything better.
• Mexican-style rice – Since we’re already in lime and spice territory, why not lean into those flavors with some cilantro-lime rice.
• Roasted sweet potatoes – The sweetness plays beautifully against the heat, and they’re sturdy enough to handle being drowned in that creamy sauce.
• Steamed corn on the cob – Brush it with some of the leftover marinating sauce before you add the sour cream, because why waste perfectly good flavor.

Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)

Look, I’m going to share some secrets that’ll turn you from chicken-cooking amateur to the person everyone asks for this recipe.

• Don’t skip the full 45-minute marinating time – I know you’re hungry and that clock seems to be moving backwards, but those flavors need time to actually penetrate the meat instead of just sitting on top like a sad little flavor hat.
• Pound your chicken to even thickness – Unless you enjoy the thrill of having one end perfectly cooked while the other end could still cluck, grab a meat mallet and give those breasts a gentle beating until they’re about 3/4 inch thick all around.
• Use a meat thermometer, seriously – Guessing when chicken is done is like playing Russian roulette with your dinner party, and 165°F internal temperature is your winning number.
• Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking – I know it’s torture to wait when that smell is filling your kitchen, but cutting into it immediately just sends all those juices running across your cutting board instead of staying where they belong.
• Save some marinating sauce before it touches raw chicken – Future you’ll thank present you when you have clean sauce to brush on vegetables or use as a dipping sauce without any food safety drama.
• Add the sour cream off the heat – High heat plus dairy equals that weird, grainy texture nobody wants, so pull that pan off the burner before stirring in the cream for silky smooth results.
• Taste and adjust the heat level – Hot sauce varies wildly in intensity, so start with less if you’re not sure, because you can always add more fire but you can’t take it back once it’s there.

Nutritional Facts

Based on the full recipe serving 4 people, here’s what you’re getting per serving:

• Calories: Approximately 485 calories per serving
• Protein: 54g – excellent source for muscle maintenance and growth
• Total Fat: 25g (mostly from sour cream and butter)
• Saturated Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 8g (primarily from hot sauce and mustard)
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 1,200mg – on the higher side due to hot sauce and mustard
• Cholesterol: 175mg
• Vitamin C: 15% daily value from lime juice
• Calcium: 20% daily value from sour cream
• Iron: 8% daily value
• Potassium: 650mg – supports heart and muscle function
• Phosphorus: 25% daily value for bone health

Fun “Did You Know?”

Did you know that lime juice doesn’t just add tangy flavor to this dish—it actually helps tenderize the chicken through its natural acids?

I find it fascinating that citric acid breaks down tough protein fibers, making your chicken incredibly tender.

Here’s another cool fact: hot sauce contains capsaicin, which can boost your metabolism temporarily.

When you combine lime with mustard, you’re creating a natural emulsifier that helps flavors bind together beautifully.

The sour cream isn’t just for creaminess—it neutralizes some heat while adding probiotics.

These ingredients work together scientifically to create the perfect balance of flavor and texture.