60+ Key Lime Recipes

Key limes are a tropical treat, hard to locate due to their select growing climates and delicate skin. If found, however, key limes can yield many fragrant desserts, zesty marinades and refreshing beverages.

Key limes go by many names. Also called the Mexican or West Indian lime, key limes are different from your basic grocery store-bought limes (which are often Persian limes or Tahiti limes). While regular limes are generally mellow in flavor, key limes are smaller, more tart and richly pungent. 

Key limes are often preferred over other varieties in sweet desserts and drinks. Wondering what the difference between a key lime and a regular lime is? Key limes tend to be smaller than other lime varieties but are less acidic and more aromatic. Slice into a key lime and the scent will be distinctly more fragrant.

Referred to by the scientific name Citrus x aurantiifolia, key limes are typically harder to source than other lime varieties. Generally, key limes are grown in Mexico and South America; in the United States, they are difficult to grow outside of California, Texas and Florida.

Choosing the Best Key Limes

Think you may have found a key lime tree? Key lime trees have glossy evergreen leaves in an elliptical or oblong shape. They resemble the leaves of orange trees quite a bit, but when crushed, emit a fragrant smell.

Key limes can be tricky to find. In the United States, key limes only grow between June and September and will be in season through the summer extending into early fall. Key limes grown in Mexico and Central America may be available for purchase in stores throughout the year, however, transporting them can be difficult due to their thin skin and delicate nature.

If harvesting your own key limes, select only ripe citrus – key limes will not ripen off the tree. Ripe key limes should be yellowish-green, as well as firm and heavy. Stay away from fruits that are green and hard.

Many key lime trees have thorns, so be prepared with gloves when picking. Gently grab the fruit and twist to harvest limes – they should come away easily. 

Key limes are recommended to be used two days after picking and to be stored outside of the refrigerator – storing in the fridge actually quickens their decay!

Key Lime Recipes

Key limes lend depth and contrast to the dishes in which they are used. Their aromatic, tart bitterness balances out sweet desserts and adds dimension to many dishes, drinks and marinades. You’ll find many recipes call for either the zest or juice of key limes.

To juice key limes, wash your limes before using and dry to avoid slipperiness, then slice them in half and squeeze. Remove any seeds from the liquid (key limes have more seeds than regular limes). To zest limes, wash then dry the limes, and make use of a zester. No zester? A box grater will work fine as well.

Key Lime Soup and Salad Recipes

Key limes can add fabulous flavors to soups and salads. Envision making a salad dressing with key lime juice for future salads and marinades. Wondering what type of salads key limes pair with? Try a crab cake-topped salad of arugula, mangoes, bell pepper and cucumbers all topped with a key lime dressing. Bonus idea: make a key lime aioli for that crabcake.

Key lime salad dressing also pairs well with shrimp, coconut, pineapple and jicama. Try a Caribbean salad featuring all of the above to test it out. Fruit salads can also benefit from a splash of key lime as well. Juice key limes to make a lime yogurt dressing or sweetened honey dressing for fruit.

Similarly, lime juice can also be added to several soups. Try a Yucatecan-inspired chicken lima soup made with garlic, oregano and coriander-spiced chicken in a broth enlivened with lime juice, tomatoes, bell peppers and onions. Another option is creamy sweet potato bisque pureed with key lime cream. Too hot for soup? Try a chilled avocado and key lime soup served with a dollop of key lime sour cream, corn and shrimp.

Salads

• Key Lime Salad Dressing 
• Key Lime Mango Crab Cake Salad 
• Caribbean Shrimp Salad with Key Lime Vinaigrette 
• Fruit Salad with Key Lime Yogurt Dressing and Granola 
• Cantaloupe and Avocado Salad with Key-Lime Dressing 

Soups

• Yucatecan Chicken-and-Lime Soup 
• Key Lime Sweet Potato Bisque with Key Lime Cream 
• Chilled Avocado Key Lime Soup 

Key Lime Breakfast Recipes

Many are surprised to discover key limes can be utilized in a number of breakfast recipes. Dip bread into a mixture of eggs, coconut milk and lime zest for tasty French toast, or add key lime zest right into pancake batter. Add lime essence to yogurt for making breakfast parfaits and oatmeal or try out key lime pie overnight oats (a gluten-free version is also available).

The possibilities continue! Bake up some sweet and tangy key lime scones, glazed key lime muffins or key lime pie sweet rolls – think cinnamon rolls, minus the cinnamon but with fresh lime, graham crackers and a vanilla-lime cream cheese frosting. Key lime coffee cake is another inspiring breakfast dish with just the right amount of sweetness and zing.

For healthier breakfast choices, try an invigorating dessert-inspired smoothie dosed with coconut, protein and spinach. Key lime smoothie bowls embellished with blueberries and kiwi are another energizing choice.

• Coconut Lime French Toast 
• Key Lime Pie Pancakes 
• Lime Greek Yogurt 
• Key Lime Pie Breakfast Parfait 
• Key Lime Pie Oatmeal 
• Key Lime Pie Overnight Oats 
• Key Lime Scones 
• Key Lime Muffins with Key Lime Glaze 
• Key Lime Pie Sweet Rolls 
• Key Lime Coffee Cake with White Chocolate Drizzle 
• Coconut Key Lime Pie Smoothie 
• Key Lime Smoothie Bowls 

Key Lime Savory Main Courses

When looking to incorporate key limes into dinner recipes, consider working lime juice and lime zest into marinades and sauces for proteins and seafood. Use key limes in marinades for chicken, shrimp and fish. A sauce of key lime juice and garlic or rosemary and honey is spectacular for grilled shrimp. Chicken also pairs tremendously well with marinades containing key lime juice, salt, paprika, onion powder, thyme, garlic, basil or honey.

A spicy dipping sauce can be made as well like this jalapeno lime beurre blanc ideal for topping fish and seafood. Make a key lime sauce for coconut-crusted fish, key lime butter for grilled salmon or a creamy key lime tartar for blackened fish. More ideas include tacos, enchiladas and grilled skewers, be they chicken, mahi mahi or swordfish.

• Grilled Key Lime Shrimp 
• Key Lime Grilled Chicken 
• Honey Key Lime Chicken 
• Seared Scallops with Key Lime Beurre Blanc 
• Coconut Crusted Fish with Key Lime Sauce 
• Grilled Salmon With Key Lime Butter 
• Blackened Fish with Key Lime Tartar 
• Grilled Fish Tacos with Key Lime Sauce
• Creamy Key Lime Chicken Enchiladas  
• Key Lime Grilled Chicken Taco Skewers 
• Mahi Mahi Skewers with Jalapeño, Key Lime, and Pineapple 

Key Lime Drink Recipes

Key limes can be wielded to produce a variety of vibrant and refreshing drinks. Thirst-defying options for sweltering summer days include key lime lemonade, made with lemon, lime and pineapple juice mixed with Sprite (adding a splash of vodka is completely optional). Another family-friendly option is limeade made with limes, simple syrup and a few mint leaves. 

Use key limes to make a simple syrup for flavoring your own key lime soda. Mix in raspberry or cherry for fun flavor combos.

For more adult-themed drinks, add lime juice or key lime syrup to martinis, mojitos, gimlets and margaritas. Shake key lime juice and lemon-lime soda with a dash of vodka for a refreshing key lime fizz or blend key lime juice with ice, cream of coconut and rum for a key lime colada. A slushie made from coconut rum, lime juice and ice is another simple option. Wish you could infuse key lime flavoring into cocktails all year? Infuse key limes into vodka and you can!

Alcohol-Free

• Key Lime Lemonade 
• Key Limeade 
• Homemade Key Lime Syrup 
• Homemade Lime Soda 
• Raspberry Key Lime Italian Soda 
• Cherry Key Lime Soda 

Cocktails and More

• Key Lime Pie Martini 
• Key Lime Mojito 
• Key Lime Gimlet 
• Key Lime Margarita 
• Key Lime Fizz
• Key Lime Colada 
• Key Lime Slushie Cocktail 
• DIY Key Lime-infused Vodka 

Key Lime Snack Recipes

Too late for lunch, too early for dinner. Guess it’s snack time! Consider adding key limes to snackable plates and appetizers. Shareable fruit dips can be assembled with a dose of lime juice mixed with either cream cheese or Greek yogurt. Savory dips like this creamy one with cilantro, key lime juice and scallions, or citrusy-rosemary hummus are great for serving with chips – even lime-baked tortilla chips.

Blend key limes into sauces for fritters or use key lime juice to cure ceviche. In search of kid-friendly snacks? Consider naturally sweetened key lime pie popsicles made with Greek yogurt and honey for a tasty, sugarless treat. You can also blend key lime zest into fruit leather with other tropical fruits like mango or bake into rice krispie treats for more portable snacks.

• Key Lime Cheesecake Fruit Dip 
• Fresh Key Lime Greek Yogurt Dip 
• Refreshing Savory Lime Dip 
• Lemon Key Lime Rosemary Hummus 
• Grouper Fritters with Key Lime Sauce 
• Key Lime Ceviche 
• Key Lime Pie Popsicles 
• Mango Lime Fruit Leather 
• Key Lime Pie Rice Krispie Treats 

Key Lime Dessert Recipes

And on to dessert! Key limes can of course be harnessed to make key lime pie, but their dessert-y reach extends beyond this one concoction. In addition to authentic key lime pie, consider no-bake pies, parfaits and mousse on those hot summer days when you’d rather not use the oven.

More inspiring options include light and buttery key lime pound cake, key lime pie cookies made with graham crackers and key limes, white chocolate fudge key lime, as well as cupcakes filled with key lime curd and adorned with both key lime buttercream and candied key limes. Finally, there’s key lime pie ice cream (with both churn and no-churn recipes supplied) in addition to decadent key lime pie popsicles made with just four simple ingredients. 

• Best-Ever Key Lime Pie 
• Easy Mini No Bake Key Lime Pie 
• No-Bake Key Lime Parfaits 
• Key Lime Mousse 
• Key Lime Pound Cake 
• Key Lime Pie Cookies 
• Key Lime Fudge 
• Key Lime Pie Cupcakes With Candied Lime Slices 
• Key Lime Pie Ice Cream (No-Churn)
• Key Lime Pie Ice Cream 
• Key Lime Pie Dessert Popsicles 

Cultured & Fermented Key Lime Recipes

Fermenting limes is one popular method of preservation. One method involves preserving whole limes in a solution of brine. You can also pickle limes in a solution of salt, black peppercorn and coriander, or an Indian-themed pickle of vinegar, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and other flavors. Fermented limes taste quite similar to fresh limes, but are much saltier. Fermented and pickled limes really shouldn’t be used for desserts, but they are spectacular for squeezing over fish, tacos and other savory or spicy entrees.

Another cultured option includes fermented cheong  – a Korean fruit syrup made with limes for adding to cocktails. Lastly, there’s vegan key lime yogurt derived from both cashews and cashew milk and cultured with probiotics.

• Preserved Limes With Fermentation 
• Key Lime Indian Pickle 
• Fermented Korean Lime Syrup (Cheong)
• Key Lime Cashew Yogurt (Vegan)

Preserving Key Limes

Seeing as key limes are such a rarity, preservation methods are often an important topic of discussion. The best way of preserving limes is by using salt-preservation. This is a great method for saving limes for savory uses.

Other preservation options include dehydrating limes, although this method is generally best for adding limes to teas and water or making lime powder. You can use either a dehydrator or oven for making homemade dehydrated limes.

More options to extend the flavor of key limes include making lime marmalade or lime curd and canning it for long-term storage. Properly stored and sealed marmalade will keep at peak quality for 18 months while sealed lime curd will keep for 3 to 4 months (or up to a year if frozen).

You can also preserve lime juice by freezing it into ice cube trays which last for 3 to 4 months, or canning limeade or limeade concentrate

• Salt Preserved Key Limes 
• How to Dehydrate Limes (Dehydrator Method)
• Homemade Dehydrated Limes (Air Fryer or Oven Method)
• Lime Marmalade 
• Canning Lemon or Lime Curd) 
• Canning Limeade (& Limeade Concentrate)
• Canning Cherry Limeade Concentrate