Honey Lime Chicken

Dinner tonight is Honey Lime Chicken! This honey lime chicken marinade is made with fresh lime juice, lime zest, sweet honey, and simple seasonings for delicious flavor in every bite.

Marinating chicken is the perfect way to prep chicken for a busy weeknight, and this Honey Lime Chicken marinade is one of our family favorites. It’s a great way to get ahead on dinner (hello meal prep!) and always tastes delicious.

Between the tart citrus tang of the lime, the sweet honey, and savory seasonings, this delicious chicken is packed with SO much flavor! It’s easy to put together, and creates flavorful, juicy chicken every time.

The best part is that the ingredients are simple & straightforward. Let’s jump in!

Simple Ingredients To Get Started

As always, you can find the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe card below.

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Or Thighs. Our honey lime chicken starts with boneless chicken breast. Lately, I’ve been ordering from Thrive Market. The quality is amazing, and they deliver to your door! Get 25% off your first order with this link. (Boneless chicken thighs or chicken tenders, work, too!) 
• Fresh Lime Zest + Lime Juice. We’re adding a double dose of tangy lime to our honey lime chicken marinade by using both lime zest and freshl lime juice. The natural oils in the lime zest add a fresh, concentrated lime flavor, while the acidity of the lime juice works its magic to give us tender, flavorful chicken every time.
• Honey. Next up is honey. The sweetness tempers the tartness of the lime and also helps the chicken caramelize in the skillet. I LOVE honey and lime together!
• Garlic. Some fresh garlic adds a delicious savory note to the chicken. Love it.
• Chili Powder + Salt. Then, you’ll round out the marinade with just a little chili powder and some salt. I really want the honey-lime flavors to be the star here, so I keep the chili powder on the subtle side. If you prefer it to taste more punchy, feel free to add more!
• Olive Oil or Avocado Oil. Lastly, you’ll need a bit of oil in both the honey lime chicken marinade and to cook the chicken in your pan.
• Cilantro (If You Want). I love brightening up the flavors with a hit of fresh cilantro, but if you’re not a cilantro person, feel free to skip it.

How To Make Honey Lime Chicken, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe including ingredient amounts, step by step instructions, notes and more in the recipe card below!

First, Marinate The Chicken

1. Combine. In a small bowl, whisk together lime zest, lime juice, honey, oil, garlic, salt, pepper, chili powder, and cilantro (if using). Whisk together and taste. Add additional honey, salt, or chili powder, as desired.)
2. Marinate. Pour the marinade over the chicken in the bag or container and zeal the bag or cover the container with the lid. If using a bag, place the bag on a plate to avoid spills in the refrigerator and marinate at least 20-30 minutes, up to 24 hours. I recommend 1-2 hours for the best flavor, but the longer it marinates, the stronger the flavor will be. 
3. Get Ready To Cook. When you’re ready to cook the chicken, remove the marinating chicken from the refrigerator and allow the chicken to come to room temperature while you heat a small drizzle of oil in a pan, preheat the air fryer, or heat up the grill.

Cook The Chicken

4. Discard Marinade. Carefully remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the remaining marinade. (You don’t want extra marinade on the chicken or it’ll burn.)
5. Stovetop Method: Cook chicken over medium heat 4-5 minutes per side, or until the chicken has nicely browned on the outside, the inside is no longer pink, and the interior temperature has reached at least 165 degrees F. (Keep a close eye on the chicken here, as the honey can start to char. Reduce the heat as needed.) 
6. Air Fryer (Preferred). Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Arrange the chicken in a single layer, ideally not touching, so the air can circulate freely (cook in batches, if needed). Air fry 12-15 minutes, or until the interior reaches 165 degrees F. 
7. Grill Method: Preheat the grill and oil the grill grates if needed. Grill 5-7 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook 4-5 minutes on the second side, or until chicken reaches 165 degrees F. 
8. Rest. Set the chicken aside on a clean plate or cutting board and let it rest 4-5 minutes to let the juices redistribute before slicing or eating.

Make It A Meal: What To Serve On The Side

Now, let’s turn it into a whole delicious meal! So what should you serve with this easy weeknight dinner? Here are a few favorites:

• Cilantro-Lime Rice. Try our Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice or this cilantro lime brown rice!
• Black Beans. Nothing goes better with a side of rice than some seasoned black beans!
• Sweet Potatoes. I love these Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries, but a baked sweet potato is another great option!
• Cilantro-Lime Slaw. Play up the flavor of this chicken with a side of cilantro lime slaw. It’s fresh, crunchy, and SO good with the chicken!
• Watermelon Fruit Salad. In the summer, there’s nothing like this fresh, bright salad!

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Honey Lime Chicken:

Pound The Chicken To Even Thickness First

The best way to get perfectly cooked honey lime chicken is to pound the chicken out to an even thickness before you marinate and cook it. Why? Chicken that’s pounded out to an even thickness cooks more easily and evenly. That way the thinner parts of the chicken breast aren’t overcooked while the thicker parts are underdone. That’s especially important in a marinade with honey, like this one, since honey tends to brown quickly and can char easily. (Here’s an easy tutorial for how to pound out chicken breast if you’ve never done it before.)

MAKE AHEAD TIP: FREEZE CHICKEN IN YOUR MARINADE! 

One of my favorite make-ahead tips for busy weeknights is to freeze chicken in its marinade when you bring it home from the store. It’ll marinate as it thaws in the refrigerator later and cut down on prep work the day you plan to cook it! (Or, make a double batch and freeze half the chicken for another day!)

HOW LONG IN ADVANCE CAN I MARINATE THE CHICKEN IN LIME JUICE?

About 24 hours is a good rule of thumb. Marinating chicken in lime juice for a long period of time can turn the surface of the chicken breast white without impacting the texture of the chicken. Once you pass the 24-hour mark and inch closer to 48 hours, however, the marinade can start to break down the chicken. But up to the 24-hour point, the white you may see is harmless! (If you’re freezing the chicken in the marinade, this won’t be a problem so long as you cook it within 24 hours of thawing.)

⭐Leave a star rating below when you make our Honey Lime Chicken recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

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