Hot Honey Grilled Chicken
sweet, smoky & spicy
Some recipes are complicated. This is not one of them.
This Hot Honey Grilled Chicken is sweet, smoky, slightly spicy, and ridiculously easy to make. A quick marinade does double duty as both the flavor base for the chicken and the sauce drizzled over the top before serving.
Less work. More flavor. My kind of recipe.
The combination of honey, smoked paprika, and cayenne creates that perfect balance of sweet heat that keeps you coming back for another bite. Not so spicy that your kids are reaching for milk, but enough heat to keep things interesting.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Gluten free
- High protein
- Great for meal prep
- Quick marinade
- Easy weeknight dinner
- Perfect for grilling season
This is one of those recipes that feels like summer. Throw it on the grill, serve it with whatever vegetables are hanging out in your refrigerator, and dinner is done.
The Hot Honey Marinade & Sauce
The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity.
The marinade and sauce combines:
- honey
- smoked paprika
- cayenne pepper
- dried garlic powder and onion powder
- apple cider vinegar
- red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper
That’s it. The honey brings sweetness, the smoked paprika adds depth and smoky flavor, and the cayenne gives it just enough kick.
Simple ingredients doing exactly what they’re supposed to do.
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What to Serve With Hot Honey Chicken
This chicken plays well with almost everything.
Try it with:
- grilled vegetables
- roasted potatoes – my crispy smashed potatoes would be amazing
- corn on the cob
- simple salads – like my Lemon Parmesan Side Salad
- watermelon and feta salad
Great for feeling a crowd, meal prep & and that sauce!
This Hot Honey Grilled Chicken is one of those recipes that checks every box.
Easy. Flavorful. Meal-prep friendly. Family-friendly. And perfect for long summer evenings when the last thing you want is a complicated dinner.
Sweet, smoky, spicy, and juicy every single time.
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I use all of the products that I link and reccommend them because they are high quality products that I trust.
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Hot Honey Grilled Chicken
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Paleo
Description
This hot honey grilled chicken is sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy with a quick marinade that doubles as a flavorful finishing sauce. Perfect for meal prep and easy summer dinners.
Ingredients
Hot Honey Marinade and Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Chicken
- 6 boneless chicken thighs, patted dry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix together all the hot honey marinade and sauce ingredients. Pat your chicken thighs dry on both sides with a paper towel and place in a bowl.
- Pour in 1/2 of the honey honey mixture. Toss to coat the chicken on all side and let sit for 20 minutes (or until to 1 hour).
- Heat your grill up over high heat. When it’s hot, brush or drizzle on the olive oil (this helps the chicken to not stick to the grill grates – honey is sticky). Place each chicken thigh on the grill in an even layer – giving them about 2 inches of space between each other. Turn you heat down to medium and cover your grill. Cook for 4 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs over – they should have nice grill marks on the underside and be nicely browned and almost caramelized. Cook for 6 more minutes or until they are cooked through. Remove from you grill and brush on the remaining hot honey sauce. Enjoy.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
Hi, I'm Kat.
Thanks for being here.
Hi, I’m Kat — a Colorado-based Personal Chef and the heart behind White Sparrow Food Company. As a business owner, a soccer Mom to two daughters and always being asked “What’s for dinner?” – I get the challenges of everyday life.
Here, I share the same easy, wholesome, gluten free recipes I cook for my clients, made simple for real life at home. All recipes that YOU can make in your kitchen.
Take a look around, get inspired, and stay awhile — I’m so happy you’re here.
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