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Spicy Honey-Lime Chicken

Honey lime chicken with a spicy-sweet marinade and caramelized glaze. Juicy grilled chicken with charred edges, cilantro garnish, and a punchy lime finish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinating 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 430
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Spicy honey-lime marinade
  • 2 lb chicken breasts or thighs Use boneless, skinless for even cooking.
  • 0.25 cup honey For the caramelized glaze.
  • 0.25 cup lime juice Fresh is best.
  • 2 limes Zest 2 limes and save wedges for serving.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil Helps marinade cling and promotes grill char.
  • 2 garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper Adjust to heat preference.
  • 0.5 tsp cumin
  • 0.25 tsp salt To taste.
  • 0.25 tsp pepper To taste.
  • 1 fresh cilantro For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make and marinate
  1. Whisk honey, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth and evenly combined, then set aside.
  2. Place chicken in a large zip-top bag and pour marinade over chicken, reserving 1/4 cup for basting.
  3. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator while the flavors infuse.
Grill and finish
  1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates so the chicken releases cleanly.
  2. Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, basting with the reserved marinade, until the thickest part reaches 165°F.
  3. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

Notes

Pro tip: reserve the 1/4 cup marinade for basting so you can glaze without scraping off char. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; freeze cooked chicken up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). Dietary swap: use low-sugar honey or agave if you want a lighter sweet profile while keeping the lime and heat balance.