Here's how to make perfectly grilled chicken breast in a quick and flavorful honey jalapeño lime marinade to inspire your summer grilling plans! Originally published May 2019. Last updated June 2023. This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc. All comments and opinions are my own.
I'm not sure when grilling season officially starts but, temperature-wise, it's here. It's time for cooking and eating al fresco and today I'm putting you onto a delicious honey jalapeño lime chicken breast recipe that's juicy, full of flavor, and easier than you might think. Let's get into it
And if you enjoy this easy grilled chicken recipe, you'll also love my Honey Hibiscus BBQ Sauce and my West African Yaji Dry Rub.
What does it taste like?
This recipe starts with a sweet, spicy, zesty marinade for grilling chicken. You'll taste golden honey with subtle notes of whatever plants pollinated it. You'll also get hit with two different types of heat and some smoky char from the peppers and the grill.
Check out all my favorite summer cookout recipes for more flavor!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Chicken I start with Tyson® Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts from Sam's Club (in the freezer section), which comes in bags portioned perfectly for summer grilling gatherings.
Honey provides sweetness to balance out the flavor profile and is a natural meat tenderizer. I like to use local raw honey in this recipe but feel free to use whatever is available to you.
Jalapeño and Crushed Red Pepper provide kicks of heat. I prefer to use fresh jalapeño here and you can adjust the spiciness but removing parts like the seeds, as needed. If you want a higher heat, try serrano peppers!
Limes add tart, zesty, slightly sour flavor notes and some extra liquid to the mix. Citrus fruits are great in grilling marinades because they also help tenderize the meat. You can substitute lemon or grapefruit here if you don't have access to limes.
Olive Oil is the liquid vehicle for the marinade and great for either the outdoor grill or grill pan with a smoke point of about 400 degree Fahrenheit. Other oils that work well here include avocado oil and grapeseed oil.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredient and instruction details.
More Favorite Grilled Protein Recipes
Garlic Curry Grilled Salmon Filets
Pork Tenderloin Skewers with Peach Habañero Sauce
Smoky Suya Spiced Baby Back Ribs
Tips & Tools
This is a versatile grilled chicken recipe you can make indoors or outdoors. You can either fire up the grill for this recipe or grab a good quality grill pan to grill chicken on the stovetop. Check out the recipe card below for full details on which kitchen tools to use.
Pro tip: Speaking of the grill--do y'all get on the grill at gatherings or do you leave it to the guys? I didn't even realize that grilling was regarded as a "manly" thing until after college. Growing up, the women in my family were just as adept--if not more so--as the men. So, ladies, don't be afraid to try it out, if you want to!
Can I put frozen chicken straight on the grill?
For this moist grilled chicken breast recipe, I mix up the easy honey jalapeño lime marinade and pour it into a zip-top bag over the chicken breasts then let them chill out on the counter for a few hours before grilling. You could also let the chicken marinate overnight in your fridge, if you prefer.
But what I like most about Tyson Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts is that you don't have to thaw them. They're ready to go straight from the freezer to the grill!
How to Serve Jalapeño Lime Chicken Breast
I love pairing this recipe with a fresh vegetable and a starchy side--just like my mom used to build our dinner plates growing up. Try my cheesy brussels sprouts & rice casserole for the best of both worlds. You'll also love these easy garlicky green beans. Such a crowd pleaser!
Shopping for a Summer Barbecue
Whether you're stocking up for meal prepping or a backyard BBQ, Sam's Club likely has what you'll need. If you're already a member, be sure to look inside your Valpak envelope for special offers to use when you go. If you aren't a member yet, I especially recommend it if you love to entertain like I do.
For the large family I come from, the obvious benefit of bulk shopping was fewer grocery trips and Club product sizes that fit our lifestyle. But if you're like me now, with just one or two people in your house, there are still benefits worth noting.
At the top of my list are the great (like amazing) prices on wine, Scan & Go payment from your phone which means you can skip the checkout line, and Club Pickup where you order online and pick up at your local Sam's Club. And when you sign up for an annual membership ($45), you'll get a $20 gift card.
With this marinade, you're set for keeping chicken breast juicy on the grill. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Grilled Honey Jalapeno Lime Chicken Breast
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 grill or grill pan
Ingredients
- ½ jalapeno
- ¼ onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 limes
- ¾ cup honey
- ¼ cup olive oil or another oil with a high smoke point
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
Instructions
Making the Marinade
- Prepare the produce: dice jalapeño and onion. Mince garlic. Zest and juice limes.
- Add jalapeño, onion, garlic, lime zest and juice, honey, olive oil, crushed red pepper, sea salt, and black pepper to a mixing bowl. Whisk together until liquids are uniform.
Marinating the Chicken
- Place chicken breast in a large zip-top bag or airtight container, pour marinade over top, and seal.
- If using frozen chicken breasts, allow to marinate at room temperature for up to three hours. If using thawed or fresh chicken breasts, marinate in the refrigerator for three hours up to overnight.
Grilling the Chicken
- Heat grill to medium (375-400 degrees Fahrenheit) or grill pan over medium-high flame.
- Cook marinated chicken on heated grill or grill pan for about 10 minutes on one side. Flip and cook an additional 8-10 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Using a meat thermometer for this step is best to ensure doneness.
- Allow chicken to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing/serving.
Eden | Sweet Tea and Thyme says
The fam absolutely loved this recipe! The chicken was super juicy and the flavors were on point! Thanks for the recipe Jazz!
Marta says
I love the jalapeño and lime flavors together! This recipe is so versatile because it can be used to bulk up most other recipe's protein content. Another hit, Jazz!