Hot Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe

This sticky spicy Hot Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe is made with chicken thighs, chipotle peppers in adobo, and sweet honey, ready in 25 minutes. The dark red glaze thickens in the pan, bubbling up to coat every piece of seared meat with a caramelized crust. I always scrape every last bit of that spicy sauce from the skillet.

Better Than Takeaway

I used to order similar sweet and spicy bowls from my local spot constantly. Eventually, I realized that making a sticky glaze at home requires almost zero effort.

My biggest mistake early on was using too much adobo sauce, which completely overpowered the honey. Once I balanced the heat with enough sweetness, the sticky coating turned out incredible.

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Hot Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

How To Make Hot Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe

1. Mix The Marinade: Whisk the honey, chopped chipotle peppers, olive oil, vinegar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Coat The Chicken: Add the cubed chicken thighs to the bowl and toss until completely coated in the red sauce.
3. Sear The Meat: Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add the chicken pieces in a single layer.
4. Caramelize The Glaze: Cook for 5-6 minutes per side until the chicken reaches 165°F internally and the honey glaze turns thick and sticky.

Recipe Tips

• Control the heat: Use less chopped chipotle pepper if you prefer a milder flavor, but keep the adobo sauce for smokiness.
• Use chicken thighs: Dark meat stays juicy over the high heat needed to properly caramelize the honey.
• Watch the pan: Honey burns quickly, so lower the heat if the glaze starts to turn black instead of dark red.

What To Serve With Hot Honey Chipotle Chicken

Serve this spicy chicken over a bed of cilantro lime rice to soak up the extra sticky sauce. A side of roasted corn or black beans also cuts through the rich heat perfectly.

How To Store

Keep leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze the cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove with a splash of water to loosen the glaze.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead?

Yes, you can use chicken breasts. Just be careful not to overcook them, as white meat dries out faster than thighs.

Is this recipe extremely spicy?

It has a moderate kick from the chipotle peppers. You can reduce the amount of peppers to lower the heat level.

Can I bake this instead of pan-frying?

You can bake the chicken at 400°F for 20 minutes. However, you will miss out on the deeply caramelized edges from the skillet.

Nutrition

• Calories: 280
• Total Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5g
• Cholesterol: 105mg
• Sodium: 450mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 15g
• Protein: 25g