Honey Lime Chicken
Published on August 11, 2025
Quick Summary
This Honey Lime Chicken is bursting with flavor thanks to a zesty, slightly sweet marinade made with fresh lime juice, honey, garlic, and smoky spices. Made with juicy chicken thighs and grilled to perfection, it's an easy and irresistible dinner that's perfect for summer nights, meal prep, or backyard BBQs. Serve it with rice, grilled veggies, or your favorite summer salad!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItThe Best Honey Lime Chicken for Easy Summer Dinners
This Honey Lime Chicken is hands-down one of my family's all-time favorites. It's the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, smoky, and just a hint spicy. I've been making this recipe for years, and no matter how many times I serve it, it always gets rave reviews!
What makes it shine? The marinade is super simple (nothing fancy or hard to find), but it does wonders for the chicken. The lime keeps it fresh and zesty, the honey adds just the right amount of sweetness and caramelizes on the grill, and the smoked paprika and cumin give it that warm, smoky flavor that just tastes like summer.
We usually serve it with avocado corn salad, watermelon feta salad, or grilled sweet potatoes. The leftovers are great sliced up in tacos, burrito bowls, or even tossed into a salad the next day.
Ingredients (with Helpful Notes)
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs: Juicy, flavorful, and ideal for grilling; thighs are more forgiving than breasts and stay tender. You can easily swap for bone-in thighs, just increase the grilling time slightly to ensure they cook through. Chicken breasts also work if you want a leaner option; just watch carefully to avoid overcooking since they cook faster and can dry out.
- Fresh lime juice: Adds bright, tangy flavor and helps tenderize the chicken as it marinates.
- Honey: Brings natural sweetness and helps caramelize the outside for that perfect char.
- Garlic (minced): Fresh garlic adds depth and savory flavor to the marinade.
- Avocado oil or olive oil: Helps the marinade stick to the chicken and prevents sticking on the grill.
- Smoked paprika: Adds a subtle smoky flavor that plays perfectly with the honey and lime.
- Ground cumin: Earthy and warm, it gives the dish a deeper, more complex flavor.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Adds a mild heat, use more or less depending on your spice preference.
Tips for the Best Honey Lime Chicken
- Marinate for flavor. Let the chicken marinate for at least 1 hour, but overnight works too!
- Use chicken thighs for juiciness. They stay tender even if slightly overcooked and hold up beautifully on the grill.
- Preheat your grill. You want medium-high heat so the chicken gets a nice char without burning the honey.
- Use a meat thermometer: Chicken thighs are done at 165°F internally.
- Let it rest. After grilling, rest the chicken for about 5 minutes before slicing to keep the juices in.
Honey Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs*
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, garlic, oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Add the chicken thighs and toss until well coated. Cover and marinate for 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and cook 5-7 minutes per side or until chicken reaches 165°F. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat or microwave in short bursts to avoid drying it out.
- Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat as needed.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod