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Easy Honey Lime Chicken—juicy, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes! A simple weeknight dinner recipe with sweet honey, zesty lime, and savory spices the whole family will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy: This recipe is the one you pull out when you’re feeling uninspired and having one of those “I don’t know what to fix for dinner” days. It is a quick and easy way to dress up chicken and it tastes great.
Versatile: Use the honey lime chicken in tacos, on top of salads or serve it with some rice pilaf.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Breasts, boneless and skinless
- Olive Oil
- Limes, juice and zest
- Honey
- Cayenne Pepper
- Salt
- Black Pepper
How to Make Honey Lime Chicken
- Pour olive oil, lime juice and zest, and honey in a sealable plastic storage bag or airtight container.
- Mix until fully combined.
- Add chicken to bag and turn to coat.
- Seal and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.
- Grill marinated chicken on medium high heat until juices run clear. Chicken is cooked when it reaches 165 degrees F.
- Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes after grilling before serving.
Tips from leigh Anne
- The recipe uses a fresh squeezed lime juice. That and the zest from the lime give it the perfect flavor. If you don’t have any fresh juice on hand that bottle of lemon or lime juice in the refrigerator works in a pinch.
- This chicken is best when you are able to let it marinated over night, but if you are short on time, let it marinate for a minimum of one hour.
- I like to grill the chicken but you can also bake it in the oven or cook it in a pan on top of the stove.
- After it is cooked I like to slice it, put it on the serving plate and then drizzle a little more honey over the top for an extra touch of sweetness.
Pair This With:
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Cashew Nut Rice
- Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
- Roasted Asparagus
- Garnish with fresh limes
Frequently Asked Questions
Will chicken thighs work instead of chicken breasts?
Absolutely, I usually use chicken breast for this recipe but it would be delicious with boneless skinless chicken thighs also. If you are baking it in the oven you can also use bone-in chicken if you prefer.
Can I freeze honey lime chicken?
Yes. You can freeze the chicken in the marinade (before cooking) for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking. You can also freeze the chicken after it is cooked if you prefer for 2-3 months.
Can I make this recipe spicier?
Add red pepper flakes, diced jalapeño, or a dash of hot sauce to the marinade for extra heat.
Can you bake this chicken instead of grilling?
Yes, place the chicken on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees F. You can also cook it in a skillet or grill pan on the stove top.
Check out more of my favorite chicken recipes:
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Honey Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice about 2 limes Or substitute lemon or orange juice.
- zest of one lime
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a large plastic bag combine all the ingredients except for the chicken.
- Mix ingredients together
- Add chicken to bag and turn to coat. Seal and refrigerate overnight or for a few hours.
- Chicken can be grilled indoors or outdoors on medium high heat. Grill on each side until juices run clear.
- Serve with rice and a garnish of pepitas if desired.
Tips & Notes:
- The recipe uses a fresh squeezed lime juice. That and the zest from the lime give it the perfect flavor. If you don’t have any fresh juice on hand that bottle of lemon or lime juice in the refrigerator works in a pinch.
- This chicken is best when you are able to let it marinated over night, but if you are short on time, let it marinate for a minimum of one hour.
- I like to grill the chicken but you can also bake it in the oven or cook it in a pan on top of the stove.
- After it is cooked I like to slice it, put it on the serving plate and then drizzle a little more honey over the top for an extra touch of sweetness.
Nutrition Facts:
Gaby says
Sounds amazing! I am making this for dinner tonight. Could I cook the chicken in the marinade in the oven?
Leigh Anne says
Yes, you definitely could. Enjoy!