Hot Honey Marinated Chicken Recipe

There is something magical about that perfect combination of sweet and spicy that you find in hot honey. This ingredient is taking the culinary world by storm, and our Hot Honey Marinated Chicken captures that magical flavor with just a handful of ingredients. This easy-to-make grilled meal has become a go-to in our summer grilling rotation, although, to be honest, it’s tasty year-round!

This dish gets so much flavor from hot honey’s balance of sweetness of regular honey with just right kick of heat. Combined with the brightness of fresh lemon juice and garlic, the marinade creates a deep flavor that transforms plain-old chicken breasts into a mouthwatering treat, and because it’s so simple, you don’t have to worry about excessive prep or cooking time.

What is hot honey, and why use it?

If you haven’t experienced hot honey before, you’re in for a treat! Hot honey is honey infused with a touch of chili or hot peppers delivering a deliciously balanced heat that warms your taste buds without overwhelming them. Mike’s Hot Honey is the best-known national brand, and many local honey producers are starting to make regional versions as well!

Hot honey can be drizzled over almost anything to add a sweet and spicy kick – pizza is incredible topped with hot honey – and it’s a terrific ingredient in marinades like this one!

What type of chicken should I use?

We wrote our Hot Honey marinated chicken recipe to use boneless skinless chicken breasts, as they are the most popular cut of chicken that we offer. If you’re using our jumbo-sized chicken breasts, we recommend pounding them flat to an even thickness to help them cook evenly. You could also use these cuts:

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs – super affordable and made for grilling, boneless skinless chicken thighs are an easy cut to use for this recipe if you prefer dark meat or are looking to save money.
• Chicken tenders – fresh chicken breast tenders are easy to marinate and grill quickly. Since they’re smaller than whole breasts, you’ll get more marinade per bite!
• Pork chops – okay, this may be cheating, because this is supposed to be a hot honey marinated chicken recipe, but the rich flavor of a pork chop combined with this sweet and zingy marinade would taste awesome hot off the grill!

Recipe variations

Here are a few ways you can tweak this recipe to make it your own!

• Adjust the heat: if you don’t like heat but like the idea of a honey marinated chicken, omit the hot honey and use regular honey instead. If you really like it spicy, add a squeeze of hot sauce or a dash of chile flakes to the marinade!
• Cook inside: if you aren’t able to grill, you can also cook this recipe inside. We recommend baking the chicken at 375ºF for about 25 – 30 minutes until it reaches 160ºF internal temperature.
• Mix up your sweet & spicy: the basic concept of this recipe is sweet & spicy, so if you want to riff on this recipe, you could try combinations like maple syrup & Sriracha sauce, honey & buffalo hot sauce, and more!

Serving suggestions and pairings

There are so many great ways to serve this hot honey marinated chicken! Here are a few of our favorites:

• With grilled vegetables: grab whatever is fresh and in season from your local farm stand and grill them up. Our favorite pairing is grilled sweet corn. The fresh, sweet flavor of local corn with the hot honey marinade is unbeatable!
• In a salad: slice up the chicken and toss it in a salad with your favorite salad greens, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and hot honey drizzled on top as a dressing. The cool flavors and crunchy texture of the salad are a delicious complement to the grilled chicken.
• As a sandwich: make yourself an incredible hot honey marinated chicken sandwich by cutting the chicken into pieces and then placing them on a toasted bun with coleslaw, pickles, and a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet-and-spicy sandwich that’ll rival any takeout!

If you’re into beverage pairings, we suggest serving the hot honey marinate with a light-bodied white wine with a touch of sweetness like a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or an off-dry to dry Rieslings. All of these wines provide a balance to the spice without overwhelming the flavors of the marinade.

It’s also delicious with an ice-cold lager beer, especially if you’re serving this recipe as a hot honey chicken sandwich!

Wrapping up

Not only is our Hot Honey Marinated Chicken recipe straightforward and quick to make, but it’s also packed with bold flavors that will leave you wanting more. It’s perfect for everything from backyard barbecues to weeknight dinners and will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Did you make any tweaks to this recipe or have suggestions to share with us? Leave us a comment below to let us know what you did and how it turned out.

Enjoy, and happy grilling!