This Honey Chipotle Chicken is seriously good! It comes together fast (about 25 minutes!) with no marinating needed, and the sauce is absolutely crave-worthy. We keep it simple by using chipotle chili powder instead of opening a can of chipotles in adobo. Honestly? This copycat recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and heat - better than any restaurant version I have had.
Feeding my family of 7 on busy weeknights taught me how to get dinner on the table fast. This collection of one pan dinner recipes are my go-to when I want something tasty without a sink full of dishes at the end of the night.
Decades of making dinner nightly taught me what really matters: meals that everyone actually loves and don't take all night to pull together. This Chipotle inspired chicken skips the marinade but still ends up packed with flavor after a quick cook on the stovetop.
Restaurants use chicken thighs for a reason, and after testing a couple different ways we figured out why: they cook up nice and juicy. But don't be afraid if you only have chicken breasts, it will still turn out delicious. We also tried dicing the chicken and then cooking it, but that made the texture rubbery. Cooking the chicken thighs whole, then cutting it up before finishing in the sauce, gave us the restaurant-style results we were looking for.
This one got its inspiration from our hot honey sauce recipe. Both use a honey and butter base loaded with spices to bring a rich, sweet heat everyone loves.
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Why this recipe made the cut
Every recipe on Borrowed Bites gets tested many times to make sure it's something you can be proud to serve! Here's why this one earned it's spot:
- Fast: With no need to remember to marinade ahead of time, this one comes together in about 25 minutes from start to finish.
- Incredibly delicious: This is anything but a boring piece of chicken. It is absolutely packed with flavor.
- Crowd pleasing: Life is too short to make a different dinner for each person in the family. Luckily this one keeps everyone happy. Bonus: the heat level can be adjusted to your preference.
- Easy ingredients: These the kind of ingredients I have on hand so dinner can be made even when I have forgotten to think ahead.
Ingredients for chipotle honey chicken
This recipe uses mostly pantry staples! Exact quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are a few noteworthy tips.
- Butter: We like to use salted butter for a really rich flavor.
- Honey: Any mild honey is a good choice here because it adds sweetness without changing the final flavor.
- Chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are our recommendation. We only trim really large pieces of fat and leave the rest to melt off as they cook.
- Oil: We prefer avocado or olive oil for this, but any neutral oil will do.
- Spices:
- Chipotle chili powder: This is not regular chili powder and should not be swapped. It is what gives this dish its signature flavor.
- Smoked paprika: This adds a great smoky depth without any heat.
- Oregano: Regular or Mexican oregano add a hint of earthiness.
- Cumin: This adds a classic Mexican note
- Garlic powder: Brings in that garlic flavor without any added moisture.
- Onion powder: Works the same as the garlic powder.
- Salt: Kosher salt is the standard in our kitchen.
Helpful kitchen tools
How to make honey chipotle chicken
Season the chicken thighs with the garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Let them sit for 5 minutes. This helps seasonings work their way into the thighs before cooking them.
While the chicken sits, combine all the honey chipotle sauce ingredients in a small bowl and give a good whisk to smooth everything out. Set aside until ready to use.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and once the oil is rippling, place the chicken in the pan. Cook for 5 minutes without touching it so it develops a nice golden brown crust. Depending on the size of your skillet this will need to be done in 2 rounds to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Flip them over and cook for about 5 minutes on the second side. Don't worry if they are not completely cooked through at this point. They will be in the next step.
Transfer the cooked chicken onto a cutting board and dice into small bite-sized pieces.
Return the chicken back into the skillet over medium heat. Pour the honey chipotle sauce over the top of the chicken and stir occasionally for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through.
How to serve
- These are amazing as a bowl. Layer with Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans for a take out style dinner at home.
- Add them to this Mexican Salad that has the best spicy ranch dressing.
- Wrap them in warm corn tortillas and top with onion, cilantro, and this 5-minute Avocado Salsa.
- Inside these Oven Baked Quesadillas for a super easy dinner.
- Leftovers are so delicious in Corn Tortilla Quesadillas.
How to store and reheat
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, I prefer to warm it in a medium-hot skillet for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through, but a quick minute or so in the microwave also works.
FAQs
Yes, chicken breasts can be used in place of the thighs. In that case, I recommend slicing the breasts in half horizontally, then cutting them up into bite-size pieces. Cook the pieces through in the skillet before pouring on the sauce. They won't be quite as tender and juicy as the thighs, but they will be yummy and packed with flavor.
Yes! The only real spicy ingredient is the chipotle chili powder and each brand is different so that will determine how spicy it turns out. If you want it more mild, just start with less chipotle chili powder and adjust from there. To really turn up the heat, use a little cayenne pepper or swap the regular honey for hot honey.
Tips & tricks
- Don't substitute the chipotle chili powder for regular chili powder. It is the key ingredient for that smoky flavor.
- For nice crispy edges, we love a cast iron pan. If you have one, definitely use it for this recipe.
- This reheats really well, so I like making extra for a quick dinner later in the week or to have on hand for lunch.
More recipes
Looking for other recipes? Try these:
Recipe
Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs approximately 8-10 thighs, lightly trimmed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons oil divided
Honey Chipotle Sauce
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 ½ teaspoons-2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Mix the kosher salt, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle each side of the chicken thighs with the seasoning. Let sit for 5 minutes.3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Add all sauce ingredients to a bowl and stir together. Set aside. *Note if the sauce is a little thick, feel free to quickly microwave it (like 3 seconds) to loosen it.¼ cup butter, ¼ cup honey, 1 ½ teaspoons-2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon cumin
- Set a 12 inch skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil until rippling. Add in half the chicken thighs for about 5 minutes, flip and cook for another 5 minutes on the other side. Remove from the skillet to a cutting board and repeat with the remaining chicken thighs. Turn off heat2 tablespoons oil
- Once all the chicken is cooked, dice it into bite size pieces, and place back in the skillet over medium heat. Pour sauce over pieces and bring to a simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve warm.
Notes
- Don't substitute the chipotle chili powder for regular chili powder. It is the key ingredient for that smoky flavor.
- For nice crispy edges, we love a cast iron pan. If you have one, definitely use it for this recipe.
- This reheats really well, so I like making extra for a quick dinner later in the week or to have on hand for lunch.
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.
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