Honey Chipotle Chicken

Name: Honey Chipotle Chicken Thighs with Adobo Marinade
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (minced (about ¼ cup) $0.35*); 2 Tbsp honey; 1 lime (juiced, (2 Tbsp) $0.25); 1 garlic clove (minced, (½ Tbsp) $0.06); ½ tsp salt; 2 Tbsp cooking oil (divided); 6 chicken thighs (boneless, skinless (850g) $6.19); 2 green onions (sliced)

Honey Chipotle Chicken Thighs feature a simple three-ingredient marinade—chipotle peppers in adobo, lime juice, and honey—that delivers sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors in one easy weeknight main dish.

🌍American 🌍Southwest 🏷️Chicken Thighs Recipe 🏷️Chipotle chicken 🏷️Honey Chipotle

Total

50 min

Servings

6

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$17–$28

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Budget Bytes

Ingredients

3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (minced (about ¼ cup) $0.35*)
2 Tbsp honey
1 lime (juiced, (2 Tbsp) $0.25)
1 garlic clove (minced, (½ Tbsp) $0.06)
½ tsp salt
2 Tbsp cooking oil (divided)
6 chicken thighs (boneless, skinless (850g) $6.19)
2 green onions (sliced)

8 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Gather and prepare all ingredients.
2
Mince the chipotle peppers. Combine the minced peppers in a bowl with the honey, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and 1 Tbsp cooking oil.
3
Place the chicken thighs in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over top. Toss the chicken in the marinade until evenly coated.
4
Marinate the chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes, up to one day. If marinating longer than one hour, refrigerate the chicken as it marinates.
5
When ready to cook the chicken, heat a large skillet over medium. Once hot, add the remaining 1 Tbsp cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface of the skillet.
6
Add the marinated chicken to the skillet and cook on one side until the water released by the chicken evaporates, the marinade has reduced to a glaze, and the chicken has browned. Flip the chicken over and cook on the second side until browned and cooked through.**
7
Top with sliced green onions and serve.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Mince chipotle peppers finely and reserve some of the adobo sauce—it adds depth and helps the marinade coat evenly.
Pat chicken dry before pan-searing to achieve a golden crust and better browning of the marinade.
Don't skip the fresh green onion garnish; it brightens the sweet-smoky profile and adds textural contrast.
Use boneless, skinless thighs for even cooking and easier marinating; they'll retain juiciness better than breasts.

Substitutions

Chipotle peppers in adobo → red pepper flakes mixed with tomato paste (loses depth but adds similar heat)
Honey → maple syrup or agave nectar (maintains sweetness and glaze)
Lime → lemon juice (slightly less acidic, milder citrus note)
Cooking oil → avocado or olive oil (no flavor change, adjust smoke point for cooking method)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a 325°F oven or on the stovetop over low heat to avoid drying out.