Honey Chipotle Chicken is succulent chicken glazed in a sticky honey sauce, infused with smoky chipotle peppers. Each bite has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors, and can be used in tacos, burritos, or bowls!
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The Best Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe
This honey chipotle chicken recipe is the perfect spicy and smoky chicken recipe that takes boring old chicken to a whole new level! It is pan-seared for ease, and can be used in a bunch of different ways! This makes it absolutely perfect for a flavorful meal prep idea. Cook once and serve this chicken 4 different ways!
The marinade will infuse the chicken with flavor and moisture, and when it is seared up, the glaze turns into a sticky sauce that coats the chicken perfectly! The combination of honey, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and lime juice makes this chicken have a wonderful balance of sweet, spicy and tangy flavors. It is everything you need in a chicken marinade!
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Thighs: I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs here. You can also use chicken breast if you prefer, just make sure not to overcook it!
- Honey: For a bit of sweetness to caramelize the chicken and balance out the bold flavors of chipotle pepper!
- Canned Chipotles in Adobo Sauce: You will need one of the chipotles from the can as well as some of that flavorful sauce!
- Spices: Onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper combine to spice these chicken thighs up to perfection!
- Olive Oil: To coat the chicken.
- Lime: Lime adds a bit of tang!
- For Serving: I recommend serving this honey chipotle chicken with tortillas, cilantro, a squeeze of lime and your favorite taco toppings like salsa and guac!
How to Make honey chipotle chicken
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken to a large bowl or a ziplock bag. Add in the honey, chipotles in adobo, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil and lime juice.
- Coat: Toss to coat the chicken in the spices. Marinate for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Sear: When you are ready to cook, heat a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil. Add in chicken and cook for 4 minutes on each side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165. If the sauce starts to burn (due to the honey), turn down the heat.
- Rest & Squeeze with Lime: Remove the chicken from the pan and allow it to rest for a couple minutes. Squeeze half of a lime onto the chicken.
- Dice: Cut or shred the chicken into bite sized pieces, if desired. Use it in tacos, burritos or bowls! Enjoy!
Tips for Success
- If you are sensitive to spice, you can just use the adobo sauce in the can without adding the chili! You will get loads of flavor without all the spice from the actual pepper.
- Chicken thighs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F! Due to the higher fat content in chicken thighs, they don’t taste dry or overcooked if you cook them a little longer. If you use chicken breast instead, make sure to only cook it until it hits 165 F!
- Only flip once! The best say to get a really nice sear on chicken is to leave it be. For real, don’t be tempted to flip it until it is full seared on one side, then you can flip it to the next side!
what to serve with honey chipotle chicken
Honey chipotle chicken is versatile and can be served in so many different ways! I recommend serving it as a honey chipotle chicken bowl, with piping hot rice! It is also amazing in tacos with some corn salsa on top, along with creamy guacamole.
You can serve the chicken thighs whole as well, with a side of Spanish rice!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is honey chipotle chicken spicy?
It is slightly spicy, due to the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce added here. It is definitely not overly spicy, and can be tolerated and enjoyed by most people. If you or someone in your family is especially sensitive to spice, just use the adobo sauce in the can without any of the whole peppers.
How should I store leftover honey chipotle chicken?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave and serve!
More Chicken Recipes to Try
- Best Greek Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Baked Teriyaki Chicken
- Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
- Chicken Shawarma
Honey Chipotle Chicken
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp chipotle in adobo sauce
- 1 chipotle in adobo pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus more for cooking the chicken
- 1 lime, juiced
For serving
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- fresh cilantro for serving
- tortillas
- salsa / guac / sour cream / hot sauce
Instructions
- Add the chicken to a large bowl or a ziplock bag. Add in the honey, chipotles in adobo, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil and lime juice.
- Toss to coat the chicken in the spices. Marinate for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- When you are ready to cook heat a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil.Add in chicken and cook for 4 minutes on each side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165. If the sauce starts to burn (due to the honey) turn down the heat.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and allow it to rest for a couple of minutes.Squeeze half of a lime onto the chicken.
- Cut or shred the chicken into bite size pieces.
- Use this chicken in tacos, burritos or bowls!
Nutrition Information
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Harry
This chicken was amazing! Served it in tacos! It was fantastic