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Sticky Honey Lime Grilled Chicken

Sticky honey lime grilled chicken with a glossy, caramelized glaze and bright sweet-citrus flavor. Marinate for 1–4 hours, then grill until sticky and cooked through (165°F).
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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: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2 lb chicken thighs or drumsticks
Honey-lime glaze
  • 0.3333333333 cup honey
  • 0.25 cup lime juice
  • 2 lime zest zest of 2 limes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic 2 cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 0.5 tsp chili powder
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
Garnish
  • 1 fresh cilantro
  • 1 lime wedges

Method
 

Make the honey-lime marinade
  1. Whisk together honey, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until the mixture looks smooth and glossy.
  2. Reserve 1/3 cup of the marinade in a separate container for basting, then keep the remaining marinade for the chicken.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Add chicken to the marinade and coat all sides, then cover and refrigerate for 1-4 hours (visual cue: chicken should look evenly tinted).
Grill and glaze
  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, keeping the grates hot and ready for searing.
  2. Place chicken on the grill and cook for 7-8 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved marinade (visual cue: surface starts to caramelize and shine).
  3. Continue grilling and basting until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the glaze looks sticky and thick (visual cue: caramelized, glossy coating clings to the chicken).
Serve
  1. Transfer chicken to a platter and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges for bright finishing color.

Notes

For best stickiness, baste often during the last few minutes so the honey-lime mixture caramelizes without burning. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days; freeze cooked chicken up to 3 months. For a lower-sugar swap, use a honey alternative or reduced-sugar honey in the same amount, keeping the citrus and spices the same.