GRILLED

Hot Honey Grilled Chicken Thighs

Juicy charred chicken thighs lacquered with hot honey and finished with grilled lime.

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Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time33 minutes
Servings6
DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the Hot Honey Glaze

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

For Finishing

  • 3 limes, halved
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley

Substitutions

  • Chicken breasts can replace thighs and must reach 165°F.

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the Grill

Preheat to medium-high, about 425°F, and oil the grates.

Step 2: Season the Chicken

Trim excess fat and toss thighs with oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Season the chicken for Hot Honey Grilled Chicken Thighs

Step 3: Make the Glaze

Warm honey, hot sauce, vinegar, and pepper flakes for 2 minutes. Reserve half in a clean bowl.

Make the glaze for Hot Honey Grilled Chicken Thighs

Step 4: Grill the First Side

Grill thighs smooth-side down 5 to 6 minutes until well marked.

Grill the first side for Hot Honey Grilled Chicken Thighs

Step 5: Flip and Cook

Flip and cook 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 6: Glaze Safely

Brush with the cooking portion of glaze and turn once or twice for 2 to 3 minutes until sticky and 165°F.

Glaze safely for Hot Honey Grilled Chicken Thighs

Step 7: Rest and Finish

Rest 5 minutes. Grill lime halves cut-side down 1 minute, then plate chicken with reserved clean glaze, herbs, and lime.

Finished Hot Honey Grilled Chicken Thighs ready to serve

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate the cooked chicken thighs within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days. If you have extra hot-honey sauce that never touched raw chicken, store it separately for brushing on after reheating.

Keep lime halves and fresh herbs separate until serving.

How to Reheat

Reheat the thighs covered in a 325°F oven or in a skillet over low heat until hot through. Brush on a little reserved hot-honey mixture near the end rather than at the beginning so the honey does not burn.

Add the fresh cilantro or parsley and a squeeze of lime after reheating.

Nutrition Information

Nutrient Per Serving
Calories 390
Protein 32g
Carbohydrates 29g
Fat 17g
Sugar 27g

Nutrition is an estimate and can vary with brands, portion size, ripeness, and substitutions.

About the Author

FreshFork Recipes Team edits each recipe page for clear measurements, consistent instructions, and practical cooking guidance.

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