Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe

A serving of honey chipotle chicken with sides.

5 from 1 vote

Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe

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.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Servings:

Calories: 426kcal

Author: Danielle

Equipment

12 inch skillet

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 heat
2 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

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.

Nutrition