Description
This easy 5-minute honey lime chicken marinade creates perfectly tender, juicy chicken with an irresistible sweet and tangy flavor. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have, this restaurant-quality marinade transforms ordinary chicken into something extraordinary. Perfect for grilling, baking, or pan-searing!
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh lime juice (about 6–8 limes)
- 2 tablespoons lime zest
- ¼ cup honey (preferably raw or local)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- 2–3 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs
Instructions
- Prepare the citrus: Zest limes using a microplane grater, avoiding the bitter white pith. Juice the limes and strain out seeds.
- Mix the marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey, and olive oil until honey is completely dissolved (2-3 minutes of vigorous whisking).
- Add aromatics: Stir in minced garlic, lime zest, salt, pepper, and cilantro until well combined.
- Taste and adjust: The marinade should be pleasantly tart, moderately sweet, and well-seasoned. Adjust honey, lime juice, or salt as needed.
- Marinate chicken: Place chicken and marinade in a zip-lock bag, removing excess air. Refrigerate 2-8 hours (4-6 hours is optimal).
- Cook as desired: Grill over medium-high heat 6-8 minutes per side, bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, or pan-sear 5-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Rest and serve: Let chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing to redistribute juices.
Notes
Marinating Tips: Don’t over-marinate beyond 8 hours as the acids can make chicken mushy. For food safety, always marinate in the refrigerator.
Cooking Methods: This marinade works beautifully for grilling, baking, or pan-searing. Reserve ¼ cup of fresh marinade (not what chicken was in) for basting.
Storage: Marinade can be made 3 days ahead. Marinated chicken freezes up to 3 months and will marinate as it thaws.
Substitutions: Can substitute lemon juice for lime (use ⅓ cup as it’s more acidic). Works great with pork, shrimp (30-60 min), or firm fish (1-2 hours).
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Marinating
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: honey lime chicken marinade, easy chicken marinade, grilled chicken, honey lime marinade recipe, quick chicken dinner, meal prep chicken, citrus marinade, sweet and tangy chicken