Description
Honey Chipotle Chicken is a flavorful grilled dish featuring tender boneless chicken breasts or thighs marinated in a smoky, sweet, and spicy blend of chipotle peppers, honey, lime juice, and spices. Perfect for a summer barbecue or weeknight dinner, this recipe yields juicy chicken with a delicious balance of heat and sweetness.
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Marinade:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce plus 2 tablespoons of the adobo sauce
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine kosher salt, or to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a glass measuring cup, combine olive oil, chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, lime juice, honey, garlic powder, ground cumin, chopped cilantro, kosher salt, and black pepper. Whisk until well blended.
- Flatten the chicken: Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts or thighs to an even thickness to ensure uniform cooking.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken inside a freezer-safe bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, press out excess air, and seal the bag. Massage to evenly coat the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably 4 to 6 hours for deeper flavor.
- Bring chicken to room temperature: Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to grilling to allow it to come to room temperature, which helps with even cooking.
- Preheat and prepare the grill: Heat the grill to 400°F (204°C). Once hot, clean the grill grates thoroughly and brush them lightly with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
- Grill the chicken: Shake off excess marinade from the chicken and place it on the grill grates. Close the grill lid and cook for 6-8 minutes on one side. Flip and cook for another 6-8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). The temperature will continue rising to 165°F while resting.
- Rest before serving: Remove the grilled chicken and place it on a plate. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes to retain juices and allow the carryover cooking to finish.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken longer (up to 6 hours or overnight) intensifies the chipotle and honey flavors.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked safely to 165°F internal temperature.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken on a grill pan or stovetop skillet over medium-high heat, adjusting cook times accordingly.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce vary in heat; adjust quantity if you prefer milder or spicier chicken.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and makes great sandwiches or salads.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
