Description
This Grilled Honey Chili Lime Cilantro Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts marinated in a flavorful blend of honey, lime juice, chili powder, and aromatic spices, then grilled to juicy perfection. Finished with fresh cilantro, it’s a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy flavors, ideal for a quick and healthy weeknight dinner or a summery barbecue.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Marinade
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, ensuring the grates are clean and lightly oiled to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Chicken: Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and slice horizontally if thick to even out thickness for uniform cooking.
- Oil Chicken: Rub both sides of each chicken breast with olive oil to promote a good sear and prevent sticking.
- Make Marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, lime juice, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth and combined.
- Marinate Chicken: Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts and coat thoroughly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour if time permits to infuse flavors.
- Grill First Side: Place chicken on hot grill grates, close lid, and cook undisturbed for 6-8 minutes to develop grill marks and cook through partially.
- Flip and Continue Grilling: Use tongs to flip chicken; cook an additional 5-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
- Chop Cilantro: While the chicken grills, chop fresh cilantro into bite-sized pieces for garnish.
- Rest Chicken: Remove chicken from grill and allow it to rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices and maintain moisture.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped cilantro on grilled chicken before serving; enjoy with rice, vegetables, or a fresh salad.
Notes
- You can marinate the chicken longer, up to 2 hours, for more intense flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken on a grill pan or under a broiler for similar results.
- Adjust the chili powder quantity to your preferred spice level.
- Let the chicken rest after grilling to keep it juicy and flavorful.
