There’s nothing I really like greater than a wholesome dinner that checks all of the bins: fast, straightforward, stuffed with taste, and a success with the entire household. And this one-pan coconut lime hen? It’s been on repeat in our home, regardless of the season—there’s simply one thing refreshing about its mild, tropical taste. One chew and it feels such as you’ve been whisked away to a breezy island (sure, even for those who’re nonetheless caught within the kitchen sporting yesterday’s leggings).
In case you’ve been caught in a hen rut (we’ve all been there), that is your signal to combine it up. I do know coconut and lime may sound like an odd combo with hen, however belief me—it simply works. The coconut milk makes it creamy, the lime brightens it up, and the entire thing tastes means fancier than it truly is.
On this weblog submit, I’m sharing the total recipe so you’ll be able to add it to your weekly meal plan. It comes collectively in nearly half-hour and is filled with recent, vibrant flavors, making primary hen really feel something however boring. Let’s get cooking!
One-Pan Coconut Lime Hen: Minimal Cleanup, Most Taste
You already know what’s even higher than a fast, wholesome dinner? Hardly any cleanup after. That’s one of many causes this one-pan coconut lime hen is such a go-to in our home. After a full day of homeschooling and shuttling the ladies to actions, the very last thing I would like is a sink stuffed with dishes looking at me after dinner.
This recipe retains issues easy—only one pan (as you’d anticipate!) and a handful of recent substances. So in case your weeknights are packed however you continue to wish to get a nourishing, flavorful meal on the desk, save this one. It’s a complete win for busy schedules and hungry households.
Do Coconut and Lime Go Collectively?
As Harry Nilsson as soon as sang, “You set the lime within the coconut…” And he wasn’t fallacious! We’ve made all the pieces from hen szechuan to crispy baked hen thighs, however there’s one thing so satisfyingly savory about this recipe.
The intense, zesty tang of the recent lime balances the creamy richness of the coconut milk good. Plus, the lime cuts via that heavier texture and retains all the pieces tasting mild and recent. It’s the sort of tropical taste match you’ll discover in dishes from Thailand, the Caribbean, the Philippines—even coastal elements of India.
And bonus—it’s not simply in regards to the style. Coconut milk is filled with wholesome fat that make meals further satisfying. And the lime? It provides just a little vitamin C to the combo, and really helps your physique take up iron from different meals higher!
Coconut and lime are sort of just like the yin and yang of cooking: creamy and zesty, wealthy and refreshing. That’s what makes one thing like coconut lime hen really feel each cozy and energizing suddenly.
One-Pan Coconut Lime Hen Recipe
This straightforward, flavor-packed dinner is one among my favourite weeknight meals. The coconut milk makes it creamy and comforting, whereas recent lime juice retains it brilliant and zippy. It’s the sort of dish that tastes such as you spent far more time on it than you truly did—my favourite sort of recipe!
Elements
Serves 4-6
- 2 lbs hen thighs (boneless or bone-in — each work!) or hen breasts
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp recent ginger, grated (non-obligatory however provides a recent kick)
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full-fat for creamy, mild for those who favor)
- 2 tbsp recent lime juice (about one lime)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (or coconut sugar or honey)
- ½ tsp chili flakes (or one small chili, non-obligatory for warmth)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
- Salt and black pepper, to style
- ¼ cup recent cilantro, finely chopped (plus further for garnish)
Non-compulsory veggie add-ins:
- 1 crimson bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup child spinach or kale (stir in on the finish)
Directions
Step 1: Pat the hen thighs dry (this helps them brown higher!). Then season each side with salt and pepper.
Step 2: In a big skillet over medium-high warmth, heat the coconut oil. Add the hen skin-side down if utilizing skin-on. Then, sear the hen for about 5-6 minutes per aspect till golden brown. Flip and clip one other 3-4 minutes. Take away and put aside—it’s not totally cooked but!
Step 3: In the identical pan, sauté the onion for about 3 minutes till comfortable. Add garlic and ginger, and cook dinner for one more minute till all the pieces smells superb.
Step 4: Pour in coconut milk, lime juice, lime zest, brown sugar, and soy sauce or coconut aminos. Stir all of it collectively till sugar is dissolved, then style and tweak as wanted. Add extra lime for tang or extra sugar for sweetness. Convey combination to a boil earlier than lowering the warmth. This ensures that the sugar dissolves utterly and the flavors mix evenly.
Step 5: Nestle the hen again into the sauce. Scale back the warmth to medium-low, cowl, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes (or about quarter-hour if utilizing boneless thighs) till the hen is cooked via. You’ll know when it’s totally cooked when the inside temperature is 165°F.
Step 6: Add the sliced bell pepper within the final 5 minutes of cooking. Stir in spinach or kale simply earlier than serving to wilt.
Step 7: Sprinkle recent cilantro over the hen and the sauce. Give it a style check to see if you should add some extra.
Step 8: Serve hen with that luscious sauce spooned over rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for those who’re going lighter. And don’t overlook to drizzle further sauce on high—it’s the very best half!
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What to Serve With Coconut Lime Hen
After I serve one-pan coconut lime hen for dinner, I wish to spherical it out with a couple of easy sides. The aim is to make it really feel like a whole meal, not one thing that leaves us feeling too heavy or sluggish.
My go-to formulation? One grain, one veggie, and one thing recent. It retains issues balanced, colourful, and stuffed with taste. Listed here are some favourite aspect dishes that pair completely:
Carbs & Grains
- Steamed jasmine rice: traditional and soaks up all that scrumptious sauce
- Brown rice or quinoa: provides fiber and just a little nuttiness
- Cauliflower rice: nice if you need one thing lighter
- Rice noodles: tossed with a drizzle of sesame oil for just a little aptitude
- Cilantro lime rice: pairs completely with the flavors of the hen
Veggies
- Roasted broccoli or broccolini: a squeeze of lime on high brings it to life
- Garlic inexperienced beans: fast, easy, and all the time a win
- Cabbage slaw: with a lime French dressing for crunch and brightness
- Roasted candy potatoes: for just a little pure sweetness
- Grilled zucchini or summer season squash: particularly nice in hotter months
Recent & Brilliant Add-Ons
- Cucumber salad: with mint and rice vinegar for a cool, refreshing chew
- Mango avocado salsa: offers it that tropical pop
- Avocado slices or guacamole: provides creaminess and balances the spice
- Pickled crimson onions: for just a little tang and coloration
Breads
- Heat naan or flatbread: good for scooping up further sauce
- Garlic pita chips: crunchy and enjoyable for teenagers (or me!) to munch on
Combine and match relying on what you will have within the fridge, and dinner is finished!
Dinner doesn’t should be disturbing while you add fast and simple one-pan meals to your weekly meal plan!
What number of occasions have you ever stood within the kitchen pondering, “What on this planet ought to I make for dinner?” And the way typically does that result in tossing one thing collectively that doesn’t precisely examine the “wholesome and satisfying” field for your loved ones?
That’s why I really like having straightforward one-pan meals like this coconut lime hen in my again pocket. Once you plan forward—even just a bit—it’s a lot simpler to whip up a dinner that’s each fast and nourishing. Whole game-changer for busy weeknights.
In search of extra easy, family-approved dinner concepts? Try these weblog posts for extra recipes we carry on repeat!
One-Pan Coconut Lime Hen: Minimal Cleanup, Most Taste
2 lbs hen thighs (boneless or bone-in — each work!) or hen breasts
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp recent ginger, grated (non-obligatory however provides a recent kick)
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full-fat for creamy, mild for those who favor)
2 tbsp recent lime juice (about one lime)
1 tsp lime zest
1 tbsp brown sugar (or coconut sugar or honey)
½ tsp chili flakes (or one small chili, non-obligatory for warmth)
1 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
Salt and black pepper, to style
¼ cup recent cilantro, finely chopped (plus further for garnish)
Non-compulsory veggie add-ins:
1 crimson bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup child spinach or kale (stir in on the finish)
Directions
Step 1: Pat the hen thighs dry (this helps them brown higher!). Then season each side with salt and pepper.
Step 2: In a big skillet over medium-high warmth, heat the coconut oil. Add the hen skin-side down if utilizing skin-on. Then, sear the hen for about 5-6 minutes per aspect till golden brown. Flip and clip one other 3-4 minutes. Take away and put aside—it’s not totally cooked but!
Step 3: In the identical pan, sauté the onion for about 3 minutes till comfortable. Add garlic and ginger, and cook dinner for one more minute till all the pieces smells superb.
Step 4: Pour in coconut milk, lime juice, lime zest, brown sugar, and soy sauce or coconut aminos. Stir all of it collectively till sugar is dissolved, then style and tweak as wanted. Add extra lime for tang or extra sugar for sweetness. Convey combination to a boil earlier than lowering the warmth. This ensures that the sugar dissolves utterly and the flavors mix evenly.
Step 5: Nestle the hen again into the sauce. Scale back the warmth to medium-low, cowl, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes (or about quarter-hour if utilizing boneless thighs) till the hen is cooked via. You’ll know when it’s totally cooked when the inside temperature is 165°F.
Step 6: Add the sliced bell pepper within the final 5 minutes of cooking. Stir in spinach or kale simply earlier than serving to wilt.
Step 7: Sprinkle recent cilantro over the hen and the sauce. Give it a style check to see if you should add some extra.
Step 8: Serve hen with that luscious sauce spooned over rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for those who’re going lighter. And don’t overlook to drizzle further sauce on high—it’s the very best half!
