Grilled Mango Chicken (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

June 16, 2020 Modified July 12, 2024 By Nicole Charles 30 Comments
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This Grilled Mango Chicken recipe is inspired by some classic Caribbean flavors of lime, coconut and cilantro. It features strips of chicken breast marinaded in a flavorful mango-lime sauce that’s gluten free, dairy free and AIP/Paleo.

white plate with grilled chicken breast strops garnished with cilantro and a half of a lime on a light grey textured background. in the top left of the frame is a half of a mango scored and in the bottom right of the frame is a small wooden bowl with lime and mango sauce and some cilantro and in the bottom left of the frame there is a light beige cloth napkin

Grilled Mango Chicken with Lime
Ingredients
Instructions
Tips and Tricks
Frequently Asked Questions
Storage and Reheating
Looking for more healthy recipes for grilling season? Try:

Grilled Mango Chicken with Lime

This Mango Lime Chicken is one of my favourite recipes for barbecue season! The best part – all the marinade ingredients go into a food processor or blender, so it comes together in no time.

This recipe features a bright and zesty marinade that is complex in flavour without being complex in technique. Juicy mango pairs perfectly with tangy lime, coconut sugar for an extra hint of sweetness, garlic and fresh herbs of cilantro and green onion to create a delicious marinade. The coconut sugar is optional here and totally can be omitted if you get your hands on really ripe mangoes (I like Ataulfo mangoes the best)! This mango marinade for the chicken provides maximum flavour while also tenderizing the chicken as it marinates. The result is guaranteed moist and juicy grilled chicken with mango sauce.

Ingredients

See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – You can substitute another cut of chicken if you prefer but trust me, these won’t be dry if you let them marinate in the delicious mango lime sauce as directed below.
Mango- you can use fresh or frozen mango in this recipe
Lime juice
Cilantro and green onions – these are key for the flavor of this recipe
Coconut sugar – this is optional and definitely not necessary if you’re using really ripe mango. I often use frozen mango which isn’t as sweet as fresh, ripe mango, hence the addition here
Garlic

mise en place for the grilled mango chicken recipe including lime juice, green onions, garlic, chicken breast strips, cilantro, salt and mango

Instructions

Step 1: Make Marinade

Combine marinade ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until mostly smooth.

frozen mango cubes, green onions, cilantro, coconut sugar, salt, oil and garlic in a food processor

Step 2: Marinate chicken

Pour marinade over chicken strips and coat well. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes

glass bowl with raw chicken breasts marinating in mango lime sauce

Step 3: Grill Chicken

Preheat grill to medium heat, oil grill and cook chicken for 5-7 minutes, then flip and baste with remaining marinade. Cook until chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

strips of chicken breast covered in mango lime sauce on a grill

Step 4: Garnish and serve

Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and lime, if desired.

grilled chicken breast strips in mango lime sauce on a white plate garnished with chopped cilantro and a half of a lime

Tips and Tricks

Marinating your chicken for at least 30 minutes is key to really allowing the flavours to meld together and infuse the meat. If you have more time, I always recommend longer, up to an hour is perfect. Because of the amount of lime juice in this recipe I don’t advise marinating overnight as this can cause the chicken to break down and become mushy.
This dish is great for meal prep. Prep your chicken breasts and make the marinade and store in the fridge. Marinate for 30 minutes before you’re ready to cook and cooking the chicken strips is pretty quick and done in under 15 minutes on the grill!
Oil your grill. Even though this recipe contains oil in the marinade, to avoid sticking, it’s a great idea to oil your grill gates when preheating the grill so the chicken doesn’t stick!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this mango marinade for chicken work on other proteins

Absolutely! Don’t limit yourself to just chicken. This mango lime marinade is absolutely delicious on fish and veggies on the grill or in the oven. The recipe also makes more marinade than you will need for 1 lb of chicken. I usually pour only what is necessary onto the chicken and reserve the rest to use on veggies or to serve as a dipping sauce

Can I use frozen mango to make the marinade?

Yes, this is usually what I do because I find it tricky to reliably source fresh ripe mangoes. The trick is to let it defrost a bit first so that when you blend it, it will be a smooth purée.

Can I bake this mango lime chicken in the oven?

You can definitely bake or pan-fry the chicken strips if you don’t have access to a grill. It’s ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, and when juices run clear when cut.

What to serve with grilled mango chicken

This recipe pairs well with a refreshing salad like this cucumber salad or this watermelon salad, and with sides such as sweet potato wedges, or sweet potato salad, gluten free pasta salad.

white plate with grilled chicken breast strops garnished with cilantro

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover chicken in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Any marinade that has not been used on raw chicken can be saved and stored separately in the fridge or in the freezer.
Reheat chicken in the microwave, on the stovetop with a bit of olive oil or in the oven on low heat until tender.

Looking for more healthy recipes for grilling season? Try:

If you loved this Grilled Mango Chicken recipe I would appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and short review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram or Facebook by tagging me @healmedelicious and using the hashtag #healmedelicious.