This Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken is loaded with bold, mouthwatering flavor-thanks to a super easy homemade honey mustard sauce you can whip up in under 5 minutes! No marinade needed, just sweet, tangy, finger-licking goodness. And with a couple of simple tips, you'll have juicy, tender chicken every single time!
Say goodbye time-consuming marinated chicken… and say hello to a delicious Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts that is perfect for summer dinners instead! It's a perfect weeknight dinner the whole family will agree on!
We've shared plenty of chicken recipes before, like this Zesty Italian Grilled Chicken or this incredible Apricot Skillet Chicken. But we've yet to share our favorite grilling sauce for chicken.
Until now. Honey mustard sauce has won our hearts ever since we were inspired by Carlsbad Cravings, and we're here to let it win yours. We also use it on this tasty Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables.
Skip to:
Why this recipe is great
- It's moist, tender, and really flavorful. Don't plan on having leftovers.
- The sticky honey mustard sauce is honestly one of our favorite grilling sauces for chicken because it's fast, easy, and uses ingredients I almost always have on hand.
- No need to marinade the chicken ahead of time. I mean, who really has time to prep dinner the night before?
- The whole dish is done in under 25 minutes. Weeknight, weekend, and summer picnic appropriate!
"We had this tonight and it was quick, good, and very tasty. For sure a re-do."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Phyllis
Ingredients for grilled honey mustard chicken
A few simple ingredients is all you need for a really fast, but delicious dinner.
Honey mustard sauce is made of basic ingredients (find the full list in the recipe card), but here are a few noteworthy tips for success:
- Honey: This thickens the sauce and provides a natural sweetness.
- Mustard: You will need both yellow mustard and brown mustard to add depth.
- Herbs: Dried herbs are really convenient.
- Salt: Oops! Kosher salt accidentally got left out of the photo!
- Onion powder: Great depth of flavor.
- Garlic: Minced garlic, we love pre-minced frozen cubes or in a jar. But whole cloves fresh minced is great as well.
- Olive oil: Adds flavor, but also helps the chicken not to stick.
Helpful kitchen tools
How to make grilled honey mustard chicken breasts
Begin by preheating the grill to a medium-high heat. Oil the grates to ensure that there is minimal sticking.
Start by salting the chicken. Sprinkle kosher salt on both sides of the chicken breasts and allow to sit for at least five minutes.
While waiting, make the sauce. Place all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk up.
To the hot grill place the first side of the chicken for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges begin to change color.
Alternatively, this can be done inside on a grill pan.
Generously brush the chicken with ⅓ of the honey mustard sauce. Then flip the chicken, brush with another ⅓ of the sauce, and cook for 4-5 more minutes.
Last, flip the chicken one more time and brush with the remaining honey dijon sauce. Serve and enjoy.
Hint: When I grill chicken breasts, I always set up a two-zone fire-one side of the grill is hot, the other is low heat. That way if the outside of the chicken is cooking too fast, I can move it over to the cooler side and let it finish more slowly. Once it's nearly done in the middle, I slide it back to the hot side to get those beautiful grill lines. It's a simple trick that makes a big difference.
Variations and substitutions
- This is great on chicken thighs as well as chicken tenders. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Try a store-bought or Homemade Hot Honey in place of regular honey.
- Mix up the second mustard choice with your favorite mustard: brown mustard, dijon mustard, whole grain mustard are all great options. Choose the one that you like the flavor and texture of best.
- Fresh rosemary or thyme are really tasty in place of the dried herbs.
- Garlic powder can be used in place of fresh in a pinch.
- Add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
What to serve with
There are so many options to serve with grilled chicken, from rice, to veggies, to potatoes or salad. Here are a few simple ideas to get you started:
How to store leftovers
Grilled chicken leftovers can be stored in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
FAQs
Cooking time is dependent on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts. I prefer to slice my chicken breasts in half horizontally so that they cook more evenly. Then I cook them for about 5-6 minutes on the first side and 4-5 minutes on the second side.
First, salt the chicken breasts with kosher salt and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before cooking. The salt will tenderize the chicken and instantly add more flavor, all without you lifting a finger.
Second, don't overcook the chicken - this is the biggest culprit of dryness. Cook the first side until the edges begin to change color and the surface begins to dry. Then flip and cook for a few more minutes to cook through. It is safe to serve once it reaches 160°F.
Tips & Tricks
- For moist chicken, sprinkle each side with kosher salt and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before cooking.
- Don't overcook the chicken. If they start to brown too soon, move them to the unheated side of the grill and close the lid while they finish cooking.
- For pretty grill marks, resist the urge to move the chicken once you set them on the grates.
More recipes using honey
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Easy Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken (No marinade!)
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts trimmed and cut in half horizontally
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Honey Mustard Sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoon dijon mustard or stone ground or spicy brown mustard
- 1½ teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat your grill to medium-high heat and allow to get hot.
- While heating, sprinkle kosher salt evenly on both sides of chicken breasts, then set aside for 5 minutes.1 teaspoon kosher salt, 3 chicken breasts
- In a small bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients together.⅓ cup honey, 3 tablespoon yellow mustard, 3 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1½ teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Once hot, place the chicken on the grill and cook without moving for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges begin to change color and become dry (see picture in post).
- Generously brush ⅓ of the sauce onto the chicken. Flip and brush with another ⅓ of the sauce, then allow to cook for 4-5 minutes more, or until it reaches 160°F.
- Once cooked, flip the chicken one last time and brush with remaining sauce. Remover from the grill and serve immediately.
Notes
- For moist chicken, sprinkle each side with kosher salt and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before cooking.
- Don't overcook the chicken. If they start to brown too soon, move them to the unheated side of the grill and close the lid while they finish cooking.
- For pretty grill lines, resist the urge to move the chicken once you set it on the grill.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Phyllis Miller says
Just wanted to tell you all—I was so tired tonight but made this quick and easy chicken and we really love it. Yum- yum. Thanks for your help for all of us.
Misty says
Glad you liked it!
Phyllis says
We had this tonight and it was quick, good, and very tasty. For sure a re-do 👋😀
Danielle says
Yay! Thanks for letting us know.
Rachel says
Your first thought might be, "Oh no, this will taste like I'm eating a bottle of mustard." Oh no no, my friend. The sauce concoction is a perfect blend of sweet and savory. Mix that with a grilled taste, and, BAM! You've got a winner. I complemented my meal with grilled veggies. My family will definitely be cooking this again.
Danielle says
So happy you enjoyed it! THanks for taking time to leave a comment. We really appreciate it.