Spicy Honey Lime Chicken (Printable)
Juicy chicken breasts grilled with a spicy honey lime glaze for a flavorful main dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lbs)
→ Marinade
02 - 3 tablespoons honey
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
04 - 1 tablespoon lime zest
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use gluten-free if necessary)
08 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish (optional)
13 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - Lime wedges
# Directions:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, chili powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
02 - Place chicken breasts in a large resealable bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Seal and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours for deeper flavor).
03 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Discard remaining marinade.
04 - Grill chicken breasts for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Remove from grill, let rest for 5 minutes, then slice. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges before serving, if desired.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- The marinade comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent forever planning it
- That honey lime glaze creates gorgeous caramelized marks on the grill
- Its become my go-to for weeknight dinners that feel special
02 -
- Pat the chicken dry before adding it to the marinade so the flavor actually sticks to the meat
- Don't marinate longer than 4 hours or the citrus starts breaking down the texture
- Letting the chicken rest after grilling keeps all those juices inside where they belong
03 -
- Make a double batch of the marinade and use half as a finishing glaze during the last minute of grilling
- Freeze the marinated raw chicken in resealable bags for easy weeknight meals later