This Chipotle Honey Chicken is a bold and flavor-packed dish that balances smoky heat with sticky sweetness. Marinated in a zesty blend of chipotle peppers, lime, and honey, the chicken cooks down until the sauce transforms into an irresistible, caramelized glaze.
Juicy, tender, and just the right amount of spicy, this skillet chicken is perfect for taco nights, rice bowls, or a simple weeknight main.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A dynamic mix of smoky spice from the chipotle peppers, tart brightness from fresh lime, and a sweet, sticky finish from the honey.
- Texture: The boneless chicken thighs stay incredibly juicy, coated in a thick, glossy glaze with crispy charred edges.
- Time: 10 minutes prep, 30 minutes marinating, 15 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves a simple marinade and stovetop cooking.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a shallow dish or ziplock bag for marinating and a large skillet for cooking the chicken. The ingredients are simple but powerful: canned chipotle peppers provide the base flavor, while honey and lime juice create the glaze chemistry. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are the best protein choice for keeping the dish moist.
Ingredient Notes
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce – You need about 3 peppers (minced). These canned jalapeños are smoked and packed in a savory tomato-vinegar sauce. They pack a punch of heat and smoke.
- Honey – Two tablespoons of honey not only sweeten the dish to balance the spice but also help the chicken caramelize and char beautifully in the pan.
- Lime Juice – Fresh lime juice tenderizes the meat and adds a necessary acid to cut through the rich, spicy flavors.
- Chicken Thighs – Boneless, skinless thighs are recommended. They have more flavor than breasts and won’t dry out while the glaze reduces.
- Garlic – A fresh clove, minced, adds aromatic depth.
- Green Onions – Sliced green onions provide a fresh, crisp finish to the rich chicken.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Spice Level – If you want less heat, scrape the seeds out of the chipotle peppers before mincing. For more heat, add an extra pepper or a spoonful of the adobo sauce from the can.
- Protein – This marinade works wonderfully on chicken breasts (reduce cooking time), pork tenderloin, or even shrimp.
- Vegetables – You can sauté sliced bell peppers and onions in the same pan after removing the chicken to pick up the leftover glaze.
How to Make Chipotle Honey Chicken
- Prep the Marinade: Gather and prepare all ingredients. Mince the chipotle peppers. In a small bowl, combine the minced peppers, honey, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and 1 Tbsp of the cooking oil. Whisk to combine.
- Marinate: Place the chicken thighs in a shallow dish (or ziplock bag) and pour the marinade over top. Toss the chicken well until every piece is evenly coated. Let it marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes, or up to one day. (If marinating longer than one hour, be sure to refrigerate the chicken).
- Heat the Pan: When ready to cook, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the remaining 1 Tbsp cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface.
- Cook: Add the marinated chicken to the skillet. Cook on the first side. Initially, the chicken will release water; continue cooking until this liquid evaporates and the marinade reduces down to a sticky glaze and the chicken begins to brown/char.
- Flip and Finish: Flip the chicken over and cook on the second side until it is browned and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F).
- Serve: Remove from heat, top with sliced green onions, and serve immediately.
Pro Tip: Don’t rush the first side of cooking! The liquid needs to cook out so the sugars in the honey and peppers can start to caramelize. If you flip too early, you’ll miss out on that delicious sticky char.
Recipe Tips
- Leftover Chipotles: You will likely have peppers left in the can. Freeze them individually on a piece of parchment paper or in an ice cube tray for easy use in future recipes.
- Pan Crowding: If your skillet isn’t large enough to hold all 6 thighs without overlapping, cook them in two batches. Crowding the pan causes steaming rather than searing.
- Watch the Honey: Honey can burn if the heat is too high. Keep the heat at medium and watch closely once the liquid evaporates.
FAQs
- Can I grill this? Yes! This marinade is excellent for grilling. Just be careful as the honey can cause flare-ups or char quickly over an open flame.
- Is it very spicy? It has a solid medium heat. The honey and lime help tame the spice, but chipotles are naturally hot.
- How do I store leftovers? Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Serving Suggestions
- Tacos: Slice the chicken and serve in corn tortillas with avocado and cilantro.
- Rice Bowls: Serve over cilantro lime rice with black beans and corn.
- Salad: Top a bed of mixed greens with this warm chicken and a lime vinaigrette.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Marinating: You can put the chicken in the marinade the night before or the morning of. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes.
- Meal Prep: This chicken reheats well without drying out, making it a great protein option for weekly meal prep lunches.
Chipotle Honey Chicken
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 Chicken Thighs 1x
Description
This Chipotle Honey Chicken is a bold and flavor-packed dish that balances smoky heat with sticky sweetness. Marinated in a zesty blend of chipotle peppers, lime, and honey, the chicken cooks down until the sauce transforms into an irresistible, caramelized glaze. Juicy, tender, and just the right amount of spicy, this skillet chicken is perfect for taco nights, rice bowls, or a simple weeknight main.
Ingredients
The Marinade
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (about 1/4 cup)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (approx. 1 lime)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
The Chicken & Garnish
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (approx. 1.8 lbs / 850g)
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (for the pan)
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
Prep the Marinade
In a small bowl, combine the minced chipotle peppers, honey, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil. Whisk until well combined.
Marinate
Place the chicken thighs in a shallow dish or zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss well to coat every piece. Let it marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours in the fridge).
Heat the Pan
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and swirl to coat.
Cook
Add the chicken thighs to the skillet. Cook on the first side. Note: The chicken will initially release water. Continue cooking until this liquid evaporates and the marinade reduces down to a sticky glaze and the chicken begins to brown and char (about 6–8 minutes).
Flip and Finish
Flip the chicken over and cook on the second side until browned and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F), about 5–7 minutes more.
Serve
Remove from heat, garnish with sliced green onions, and serve immediately.
Notes
The Glaze Magic: Don’t rush the first side of cooking! You need the liquid from the marinade and chicken to cook off so the sugars in the honey and peppers can start to caramelize. If you flip too early, you’ll steam the meat instead of searing it.
Leftover Chipotles: You will likely have peppers left in the can. Freeze them individually on a piece of parchment paper or in an ice cube tray for easy addition to future chilies or salsas.
Pan Crowding: If your skillet isn’t large enough to hold all 6 thighs without overlapping, cook them in two batches. Crowding causes steaming and prevents that delicious sticky char.
Spice Control: This dish has medium heat. To reduce the spice, scrape the seeds out of the peppers before mincing. For more heat, add an extra pepper or a spoonful of the adobo sauce from the can.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet / Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Chicken Thigh
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: chipotle honey chicken, spicy chicken thighs, skillet chicken recipes, easy mexican chicken, glazed chicken, taco night recipes, chipotle lime marinade
