These Hot Honey Chicken Skewers are the perfect blend of smoky, sweet, and spicy, making them an instant favorite for any dinner table or summer cookout. The combination of tender, juicy chicken thighs and a sticky, zesty glaze creates a flavor profile that is both comforting and exciting.
Served over a bright, refreshing corn salad, these skewers offer a beautiful balance of warm, caramelized protein and cool, crisp vegetables.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A savory base of garlic and herbs with a distinct kick of heat, balanced perfectly by the floral sweetness of honey and bright citrus.
- Textures: Charred, succulent chicken pieces paired with the crunch of fresh corn and the burst of juicy cherry tomatoes.
- Total Time: 20 minutes of active prep, plus 30 minutes for marinating.
- Difficulty Level: Easy; this recipe focuses on simple marinating, skewering, and a quick grill or bake.
What You’ll Need
The star of this dish is the boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which stay incredibly moist during the cooking process. You will also need a few pantry staples for the marinade and the signature hot honey glaze, plus fresh seasonal produce like corn, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes to create the vibrant side salad.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Thighs – Using boneless, skinless thighs is highly recommended as they have a higher fat content than breasts, ensuring the skewers stay juicy even over high heat.
- Garlic and Herb Seasoning – This provides a robust, savory foundation. If your chosen blend is salt-free, be sure to add your own salt to enhance the flavors.
- Smoked Paprika – This adds a beautiful deep red color and a hint of woodsy, smoky flavor that mimics the taste of an outdoor grill.
- Hot Sauce – While Frank’s RedHot is suggested for its classic vinegar-based tang, you can use your favorite variety; just remember to adjust the quantity if using a high-heat concentrate like Tabasco.
- Honey – This acts as the thickener for the glaze, allowing it to cling to the chicken and caramelize into a sticky coating.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables – For the salad, you can add diced red onion or bell peppers for extra crunch and color.
- Heat Level – If you prefer more spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the chicken marinade or a few extra splashes of hot sauce to the honey mixture.
- Corn – If fresh ears of corn are not in season, high-quality frozen corn that has been charred in a dry skillet can work as a substitute for the salad.
How to Make Hot Honey Chicken Skewers
1. Prepare and Marinate the Chicken Begin by cutting the 2 lb of chicken thighs into uniform chunks to ensure even cooking. In a large bowl, toss the chicken with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, the garlic and herb seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt. Allow the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes to let the flavors penetrate the meat.
2. Assemble the Skewers Once marinated, thread the chicken chunks onto your skewers. If using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for 30 minutes prior to this step to prevent them from burning.
3. Whisk the Hot Honey In a small bowl or jar, mix together the hot honey ingredients: 5 tbsp of honey, 3 tbsp of hot sauce, and a little squeeze of lemon. Set this aside for glazing later.
4. Cook the Skewers You have two great options for cooking. If grilling, set your grill to medium-high and cook for 5–6 minutes per side. If baking, preheat your oven to 425°F and bake for 18–22 minutes. Regardless of the method, brush the chicken generously with the hot honey glaze during the last few minutes of cooking so it becomes sticky and caramelized.
5. Prepare the Corn Salad While the chicken cooks, prepare your corn by either grilling or boiling the ears. Once cooked, carefully cut the kernels off the cob. In a medium bowl, mix the corn kernels with the quartered cherry tomatoes, chopped cilantro, lime juice, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt.
6. Serve To serve, place the warm skewers over a generous bed of the corn salad and finish with a final drizzle of the remaining hot honey on top.
Pro Tip: For the best results, do not crowd the chicken pieces too tightly on the skewers. Leaving a tiny bit of space between each chunk allows the heat to circulate, ensuring the edges get those delicious crispy, caramelized bits.
Recipe Tips
- Consistent Sizing – Cut your chicken into pieces of similar size so that every skewer reaches the safe internal temperature at the same time.
- The Glaze Timing – Wait until the last 2-3 minutes of cooking to apply the honey glaze. Because honey has a high sugar content, it can burn if exposed to high heat for the entire duration of the cooking process.
- Fresh Corn – If grilling the corn for the salad, keep the husks on for a more steamed texture, or remove them for a smokier, charred flavor.
FAQs
How can I tell when the chicken is done? The chicken should be opaque throughout and reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Thighs are quite forgiving and remain tender even if they go slightly over that temperature.
Can I use chicken breasts instead? Yes, you can use breasts, but keep a close eye on the cooking time as they can dry out faster than thighs. You may need to reduce the cooking time by a minute or two.
Is the corn salad served hot or cold? This salad is delicious served warm immediately after the corn is prepped, but it also tastes fantastic chilled if you want to make it ahead of time.
Serving Suggestions
- Grains – These skewers go wonderfully with a side of fluffy jasmine rice or a light quinoa pilaf.
- Extra Freshness – Serve with a few lime wedges on the side for guests who want an extra burst of acidity.
- Bread – Warm pita bread or naan is perfect for wrapping up the chicken and salad for a handheld meal.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can cut and marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance; keeping it in the fridge will only deepen the flavor. The hot honey glaze can also be mixed and stored at room temperature for several days. For the corn salad, you can grill the corn and chop the vegetables ahead of time, but wait to add the lime juice and oil until just before serving to keep the cilantro and tomatoes from becoming soggy.
Print
Hot Honey Chicken Skewers
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 Servings 1x
Description
These Hot Honey Chicken Skewers are the perfect blend of smoky, sweet, and spicy. Featuring tender chicken thighs and a sticky, zesty glaze, they are served over a refreshing corn salad for a beautiful balance of flavors.
Ingredients
The Chicken & Marinade
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoons garlic and herb seasoning
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- Olive oil & salt
The Hot Honey Glaze
- 5 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- Small squeeze of lemon juice
The Corn Salad
- 4 ears of corn
- 1 handful cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil & pinch of salt
Instructions
Marinate: Toss chicken with olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Marinate for 30 minutes.
Assemble: Thread chicken onto skewers (soak wooden skewers for 30 mins first).
Cook: Grill for 5-6 mins per side or bake at 425°F for 18-22 mins.
Glaze: During the last 2-3 mins of cooking, brush chicken generously with the whisked honey, hot sauce, and lemon juice mixture.
Salad & Serve: Combine salad ingredients in a bowl. Serve skewers over the salad with an extra drizzle of glaze.
Notes
Chicken Choice: Thighs stay juicier than breasts under high heat.
Timing the Glaze: Apply glaze only at the end to prevent the honey from burning.
Spacing: Leave small gaps between pieces to ensure the meat browns rather than steams.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grill / Stovetop / Oven
- Cuisine: American / BBQ-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: hot honey chicken skewers, spicy honey chicken, grilled chicken thighs, summer corn salad, easy bbq recipes, 30 minute meals, hot honey glaze
