Key West Grilled Chicken (Printable)

Tender citrus-marinated chicken with honey and fresh herbs, grilled to perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.25 pounds total)

→ Marinade

02 - 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
03 - 1/4 cup honey
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - Zest of 1 lime
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (plus more for garnish)

# Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and lime zest until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chopped cilantro.
02 - Place chicken breasts in a large ziplock bag or shallow dish. Pour marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated. Seal or cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor.
03 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade and discard the used marinade. Grill chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
06 - Garnish with extra cilantro and serve with lime wedges if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The honey-lime marinade creates this incredible sticky-sweet glaze that caramelizes beautifully on the grill
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like something from a restaurant
  • Leftovers (if you have any) make amazing tacos or salad toppers the next day
02 -
  • I once marinated chicken for 6 hours and the acid broke down the protein too much, making the texture weirdly soft
  • Letting the chicken rest after grilling is not optional, it's what keeps it from drying out the second you cut into it
  • An instant-read thermometer has saved me from overcooked chicken more times than I can count
03 -
  • Room temperature chicken grills more evenly than cold from the fridge
  • If the honey's too thick to whisk, microwave it for 10 seconds first

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