Key West Grilled Chicken (Printable)
Tropical-inspired grilled chicken with lime, honey, and herb marinade.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lbs 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
10 - Zest of 1 lime
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (plus more for garnish)
# Directions:
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 well 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 deeper 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 5–7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with extra cilantro and serve with lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marinade comes together in under five minutes but tastes like you spent all day planning it
- Leftovers make incredible chicken sandwiches or salad toppers for lunch the next day
02 -
- Don't marinate longer than 4 hours or the lime will break down the chicken too much and make the texture mushy
- Patting the chicken dry before grilling helps achieve those gorgeous restaurant quality grill marks
03 -
- Room temperature chicken grills more evenly, so take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking
- A spray bottle with water is your best friend for taming any unexpected flare ups from the honey in the marinade