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If you’re a fan of sweet and savory dinners, this grilled honey lime chicken will be the perfect recipe! The honey-lime marinade is one of my favorite new tricks for making delicious drumsticks that fulfills all of your cravings. 

a plate of grilled chicken drumsticks covered in a honey lime sauce

Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

This grilled honey lime chicken is about to be a new favorite! The marinade adds the perfect sweet and zesty flavor to juicy chicken.

I used chicken drumsticks here, but feel free to use chicken breasts, thighs, or whatever cut of chicken you’d like! Either way, this marinade is going to make one delicious meal.

Why You’ll Love this Honey Lime Chicken:

  • Quick & Easy: Running low on time? This honey lime chicken requires only 6 simple ingredients and can be cooked in under 35 minutes!
  • Unique Flavor: This recipe uses a delicious honey lime marinade that not many have tried and tasted before. But after taking their first bite, they’ll be begging for more!
  • A Cookout Favorite: The flavor combo brings a refreshing twist to grilled chicken, especially on hot days. The zing of the lime brightens the chicken just enough to make it light yet filling.
squeezing lime juice on grilled drumsticks
brushing chicken legs with honey lime sauce

How to Make Grilled Honey Lime Chicken

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Whisk together the marinade ingredients. 
  2. Add chicken to a resealable bag, pour marinade over chicken, seal and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 4 hours overnight. 
  3. Remove drumsticks from the honey lime marinade, then grill according to instructions.
  4. Bring the remaining sauce to a boil and cook for 8-10 minutes. 
  5. Brush chicken with reduced sauce as instructed and serve immediately.

Ingredient Notes

Use any cut of chicken for this recipe. Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the cut.

how to make honey lime grilled chicken legs step by step photo instructions
Can I make grilled honey lime chicken with any cut of chicken?

Yes, you can! While I chose to use drumsticks, this marinade is great on breasts, thighs, wings, or even a whole chicken! You may need to adjust your grilling time depending on the size and cut of the meat.

What does lime juice do to chicken?

Lime juice, like any acid, makes the meat tender and locks in moisture as it cooks.

How long should I marinate honey lime chicken for?

You should marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. Any longer, and the chicken may turn mushy or stringy.

Should I pierce chicken before marinating it?

While it’s not required, piercing chicken pieces a few times with a fork, knife, or skewer can help the marinade to sink in further.

Do I need to pat chicken dry before grilling it?

To get the best sear, pat the excess marinade off of the chicken. Too much moisture will cause the chicken to steam.

Can I bake honey lime chicken instead of grilling it?

Yes. To bake this chicken, preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush some of the marinade over the chicken and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until 165°F. Serve with reduced marinade.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Make sure you don’t marinade your chicken for too long. After 48 hours, the acidity of the lime juice in the marinade will break down the chicken. 
  • Feel free to use different cuts of meat, but keep in mind that drumsticks and thighs contain more fat to keep them moist.

Make Ahead Instructions

Marinate the chicken up to 1 day in advance (absolute maximum of 24 hours). Store in the refrigerator until ready to grill.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover grilled honey lime chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a microwave, on the grill, or on the stovetop.

Freezing Instructions

Freeze grilled honey lime chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Make It A Meal

Grilled honey lime chicken is great served with cilantro lime rice or over top a fresh salad with the thickened marinade as the dressing. It’s also great sliced in a sandwich or taco!

Tips for Grilling Chicken

  • Clean the grill and oil it before adding the chicken. This will prevent sticking.
  • Bone-in, skin-on chicken has a larger margin of error for overcooking. It will stay moist even if you slightly overcook it.
  • Heat one side of the grill to high and the other to medium-high. Sear the chicken on the high heat side of the grill first to form char marks, then flip it onto the lower heat to finish cooking.
  • Keep the grill closed to reduce drying out.
  • Remove the chicken from the grill when it reaches 160°F internally. Tent it with foil, and it will continue to cook off the heat to 165°F.
  • Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before enjoying. This helps lock in the juices.
grilled honey lime chicken drumsticks on parchment paper

Enjoy this grilled honey lime chicken recipe! The honey and lime flavors pair well with sweet potatoes, creamy avocado, or your favorite veggies. You can also top it with fresh cilantro or use this chicken for tacos! The options are endless.

If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!

grilled honey lime chicken

Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Recipe

If you’re a fan of sweet and savory dinners, this grilled honey lime chicken will be the perfect recipe! The honey-lime marinade is one of my favorite new tricks for making delicious drumsticks that fulfills all of your cravings. 

Instructions

  • Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, lime juice, lime zest, and crushed red pepper.

    ⅓ cup honey, ⅓ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup lime juice, 2 limes, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

  • Add chicken to a large Ziplock bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal and toss to fully coat. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

    1 pound bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks

  • Preheat grill to 400°F.

  • Remove drumsticks from marinade (do not discard marinade!) Place on the grill and cook, rotating every 8-10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (about 30-35 minutes)

  • Meanwhile, pour remaining marinade into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 8-10 minutes until liquid thickens and is reduced by half.

  • For the last 2-3 minutes of grilling, brush chicken with reduced sauce. Remove from heat and brush with remaining sauce. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Soy Sauce: Use an equal amount of tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten free alternative.
  • Chicken: Use any cut of chicken for this recipe. Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the cut.
  • Clean the grill and oil it before adding the chicken. This will prevent sticking.
  • Bone-in, skin-on chicken has a larger margin of error for overcooking. It will stay moist even if you slightly overcook it.
  • Heat one side of the grill to high and the other to medium-high. Sear the chicken on the high heat side of the grill first to form char marks, then flip it onto the lower heat to finish cooking.
  • Keep the grill closed to reduce drying out. 
  • Remove the chicken from the grill when it reaches 160°F internally. Tent it with foil, and it will continue to cook off the heat to 165°F.
  • Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before enjoying. This helps lock in the juices.

Storage: Store grilled honey lime chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150
Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Trans Fat 0.02g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 47mg16%

Sodium 779mg34%

Potassium 174mg5%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 0.3g1%

Sugar 16g18%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 130IU3%

Vitamin C 5mg6%

Calcium 12mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.



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