This Spicy Honey Chicken is one of my family’s favorite meals. Both kids and adults gobble it up every time I make it. I love the combo of a savory spice rub combined with a sweet, tangy honey glaze and it doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty quick and easy either! You don’t have to think ahead about marinating because you’re just throwing together a spice rub and, after the spices have grilled into the chicken, you just slather on a honey glaze. Even though it has the word spicy in the title, it’s actually pretty mild and you can always cut the chipotle in half if you’re worried about it.
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Vegetable Oil
- Spice Rub
- Granulated garlic
- Chili powder
- Onion powder
- Coriander
- Kosher salt
- Cumin
- Chipotle chili powder
- Glaze
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
How to Make Spicy Honey Chicken
- This recipe starts with a simple spice mix of garlic, chili powder, onion powder, coriander, salt, cumin, and chipotle powder. Mix the spices all together in a bowl, then toss chicken with oil and spice rub to coat all sides well. Use your hands and get in there, then pop it on the grill!
- Next, mix up the glaze. While chicken is cooking, warm the honey in the microwave so it’s not so thick. Add the vinegar and combine well. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the honey glaze for serving. (In fact, the sweet, tangy honey glaze is so good that I usually double it to ensure plenty for drizzling on before serving!)
- Take the rest and brush on the chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling. I recommend a silicone basting brush like one of these that can withstand the high heat of the grill. I’m gonna warn you that this can make a hot mess, literally. It’s sugar, and it’s gonna drip. But the smelly smoke is worth it for a minute or two. Just leave your grill on for a few minutes after the chicken is done to burn off any excess glaze. It’s totally worth it once you taste this stuff.
Storage and Other Tips
- If you don’t have a BBQ, try it on an indoor grill pan or use your broiler. Just be sure to open a window in case you burn your glaze!
- Store leftovers in the fridge and eat within 3-4 days for best results.
- Speaking of leftovers, my absolute favorite way to eat leftover Spicy Honey Chicken is in a salad! If you still have reserved glaze, drizzle a little over your favorite salad ingredients with some glaze and a touch of olive oil and toss it all together with your leftover chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
My family is very sensitive to spicy food. Can I just leave the chipotle out completely?
There are lots of spices here that will still be delicious if you decide to leave the chipotle out completely. It does bring a nice depth of flavor, though, so I’d recommend at least trying half of what’s called for!
Can I make this ahead of time?
This recipe is quick and easy. It is best made and eaten fresh if you are wanting warm chicken. Cold leftover chicken is great in salads and sandwiches!
Spicy Honey Chicken
The best chicken thighs! This recipe combines a savory spice rub with a sweet honey glaze for a crowd-pleasing favorite.
Servings people
Equipment
Ingredients
Thighs
- 8 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless about 2 pounds
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Rub
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
Glaze
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
Instructions
Rub
- Combine the rub spices in bowl and mix well.
Grill
- Use kitchen shears (or a pair of clean scissors) to trim off any excess fat from the chicken pieces. Pat dry. Drizzle oil over chicken and rub in with your hands to lightly coat all the pieces. Then toss chicken with the spice rub to coat all sides well. Grill chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Using a digital thermometer, cook chicken until it is a minimum temperature of 165°. However, you’ll want to aim for between 170-175° for improved flavor and texture.
Glaze
- While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it’s not so thick. Add the vinegar and combine well. Reserve 2 tablespoons honey glaze for later. Take the rest and brush on chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling.
- Drizzle chicken with reserved glaze before serving.
Notes
- If you don’t have a barbecue grill, try it on an indoor grill pan or use your broiler.
- Be sure to use a silicon basting brush; a horsehair basting or pastry brush won’t hold up to heat on the grill.
Nutrition
Calories: 108kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 0.5g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 0.3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 404mg, Potassium: 54mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 251IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg
Calories: 108kcal
Cost: $10
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Questions & Reviews
I made this for dinner last night and we loved it!! The salad and everything, it was sooo delicous!
This is my first time trying one of your recipes. (And first time commenting.) I LOVED this chicken. I just made it last night. SO good. Perfect combo of spicy and sweet. If I make it for my kiddos I will cut back on the spice just a bit (probably half both the chili powders). Thank you! I was getting bored with my go-to chicken dishes. And I broiled the thighs and it was great.
This was so good. I took a big zipper bag of these thighs to my sister’s for her 4th of July BBQ and they were a hit. Her kids are picky eaters and they loved them. After we left her oldest asked if there were any left. He wanted some for an evening snack. Before I left her house I gave her the recipe I had brought along with the chicken.
Today I took an empty seasoning jar with a shaker; took the lable off and filled it with just the rub, so I’ll have it on hand when we make this again. Thinking of making my sister a jar too as a gift.
This was so delicious! I cut out the chipotle completely (gringo tongues around here), but it was still amazing!
Can you tell me where you can buy the granulated garlic and chipotle chili powder? I can not find it anywhere.
granulated garlic is just garlic powder (it’s technically a coarser substance but either works) and you’ll just have to check the grocery stores for the chipotle powder. Most well stocked stores should have both.
What a great, easy dinner! Loved the salad and homemade dressing on the side too.
I am making this tonight. I though it was funny I have the EXACT same brands for spices. Down to the Kirkland garlic:) LOL!
We made this last night for dinner for the first time and it was BLOW MY MIND fantastic! My two and a half year old even gobbled it all up!
I’ve been hearing about Our Best Bites for a while now (Sara’s dad was my bishop growing up and Kate’s MIL did my flowers when I got married). Although my mom has been telling me about the wonderful recipes she has found here for over a year, I finally got around to trying one of your recipes last night. This. was. so. amazing! I was busy spooning the honey glaze over the chicken when I noticed that I was drooling…
Slightly embarrassing, but it sure tells you how good this was! I’ll definitely be coming back here often!
OMG! This was THE best!!! We currently don’t have a grill, so I used our indoor grill pan! We had it with “smashed” potatoes (I used butter and Philadelphia’s Garlic Cooking Creme), and Steamed Broccoli, with Honey Wheat Hawaiian Rolls! This meal is a KEEPER! Tyler (my hubby) says, “Great pairing, all the sides go well with the chicken!” YUMMY indeed! We will be making this again!