Grilled Hot Honey Chicken
This Grilled Hot Honey Chicken is the best combination of sweet and spicy — perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend cookout. It can be marinated, grilled, and ready to serve in just 40 minutes.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: grilled honey chicken, grilled hot honey chicken thighs, hot honey chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 264kcal
Author: Sara Nelson
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 Tablespoon hot sauce (adjust based on taste preferences)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional for a smoky flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 4 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- ~2 Tablespoons olive oil (enough to coat grill grates)
Make Hot Honey Sauce: In a large bowl, combine honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, Kosher salt, onion powder, smoked paprika, and pepper. Stir well. Spoon half of the sauce into a separate small bowl, and set that small bowl aside.
Prepare Chicken: Blot all sides of chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
Marinate: Add chicken to large bowl of marinade, cover with plastic wrap or foil, and marinate for 15-30 minutes in the refrigerator. (You can marinate the chicken for as little as 15 minutes or as long as 24 hours.)
Preheat Grill: While chicken marinates, turn on grill and set it to medium-high heat (around 375 degrees F to 450 degrees F).
Oil Grates: Brush grill grates with olive oil to prevent chicken from sticking.
Grill Then Glaze Chicken: Place chicken thighs on grill. Cook with grill lid closed for about 4-7 minutes on each side, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. During last few minutes of grilling, brush chicken with hot honey sauce from small bowl you had set aside, flipping chicken over to coat both sides.
Rest Chicken Then Serve: After cooking, transfer chicken to a plate and let it rest for a few minutes, then serve.
To Prep In Advance: Prepare the hot honey sauce and marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours in advance of grilling. Store the other half of the hot honey sauce for glazing in a separate container. Use a food-safe container or resealable plastic bag for marinating, and discard any leftover marinade that has been in contact with raw chicken. When ready to cook, simply grill the marinated chicken and glaze it as directed.
Refrigerator Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the chicken in a microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat.
Serving: 1 chicken thigh | Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 479mg | Potassium: 308mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 156IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg