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Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe

Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe


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4.6 from 10 reviews

  • Total Time: 47-49 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Honey Chipotle Chicken brings spicy-sweet fire to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Tender chicken gets glazed in a smoky-hot sauce that makes weeknight meals totally irresistible.


Ingredients

Scale

Primary Proteins:

  • 2 lbs chicken thighs

Supporting Flavors:

  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

Cooking and Seasoning Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Instructions

  1. Fire up the grill to 400°F, creating a medium-high heat zone perfect for chicken thighs.
  2. Whisk together ½ cup honey, 2 tablespoons minced chipotle peppers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until your marinade looks smooth and glossy.
  3. Submerge your 2 pounds of chicken thighs completely in the marinade, using your hands to ensure every inch gets coated with the spicy-sweet mixture.
  4. Let your chicken rest in the marinade for 30 minutes at room temperature, allowing the flavors to penetrate deep into the meat.
  5. Transfer the marinated chicken directly onto the preheated grill grates, arranging each thigh with about 2 inches of space between them.
  6. Grill the chicken for 6-7 minutes on the first side, watching for beautiful golden-brown char marks developing on the surface.
  7. Carefully flip each thigh and continue grilling for another 6-7 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
  8. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes, allowing the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

Notes

  • Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but overnight marinating will deepen the smoky-sweet flavor profile.
  • For a less spicy version, remove the seeds from chipotle peppers before blending into the marinade.
  • Check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F to ensure safe cooking without drying out the meat.
  • Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for quicker cooking and more tender results, or swap with chicken breasts if preferred.
  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
  • Category: Chicken
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: Mexican-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 360 kcal
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 90 mg