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Sticky Honey Lime Grilled Chicken

Sticky honey lime grilled chicken with a glossy, caramelized honey-lime glaze. Marinated chicken is grilled until tender, then basted frequently so the glaze turns sticky and shiny.
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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: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken marinade and glaze
  • 2 lb chicken Use thighs or drumsticks.
  • 0.3333333333 cup honey
  • 0.25 cup lime juice Freshly squeezed.
  • 2 lime zest Zest of 2 limes.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic Minced (2 cloves).
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 0.5 tsp chili powder
  • salt and pepper To taste.
  • fresh cilantro For garnish.
  • lime wedges For serving/garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the honey-lime marinade
  1. Whisk together honey, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and combined, about 1 minute.
  2. Reserve 1/3 cup of the marinade in a separate container for basting.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Add chicken to the remaining marinade and turn to coat evenly.
  2. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for 1-4 hours, until the chicken looks evenly slicked with glaze.
Grill and glaze
  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat (around 350–400°F) so you get steady sizzle without burning the honey.
  2. Grill chicken for 7-8 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved marinade as it turns glossy.
  3. Continue grilling and basting until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the glaze looks sticky and lacquered, 3-8 minutes more depending on thickness.
Finish and serve
  1. Transfer chicken to a platter and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges for bright citrus pops.

Notes

To keep the honey-lime glaze from scorching, keep the grill at medium heat and baste often instead of leaving the sauce unmoved. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; freeze up to 2 months (best texture after reheating gently). For a lower-sugar option, replace honey with an equal amount of honey-balance sweetener and follow the same grilling method—watch for caramelization as it may darken faster.