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Sticky Honey Lime Grilled Chicken

Sticky honey lime grilled chicken with a glossy caramelized glaze and bright citrus flavor. Grilled until the outside is sticky and the interior reaches 165°F, with reserved marinade for frequent basting.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinating 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2 lb chicken thighs or drumsticks
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 0.5 tsp chili powder
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste
Honey Lime Glaze
  • 0.33 cup honey
  • 0.25 cup lime juice
  • 2 limes lime zest zest of 2 limes
  • 1 fresh cilantro for garnish
  • 1 lime wedges for serving

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the honey-lime marinade and glaze
  1. Whisk together honey, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and glossy.
  2. Reserve 1/3 cup marinade for basting so you have extra glaze-ready liquid for grilling.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Marinate the chicken for 1-4 hours, uncovered in the refrigerator if possible, so flavors soak in.
  2. Before grilling, let the chicken sit at room temperature for a few minutes while you preheat the grill.
Grill and baste
  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
  2. Grill chicken for 7-8 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved marinade to build a sticky sheen.
  3. Continue grilling and basting until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the glaze turns sticky and caramelized-looking.
Finish and serve
  1. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges for bright citrus lift.

Notes

Pro tip: reserve only the 1/3 cup for basting so the glaze you paint on stays flavorful without cross-contamination. Refrigerate marinated chicken up to 2 days; cook within that window. Freezing is not recommended for the finished marinated chicken because glaze texture can change. For a lower-sugar option, use a sugar-free honey substitute in the same amount for a comparable sticky finish.