This succulent Chipotle Chicken is smoky, spicy and bursting with southwestern flavors! Perfect for salads, burritos, tacos, enchiladas and more!
Chipotle Chicken will knock your socks off! A tangy, sweet and smoky marinade envelops tender chicken. It’s easy to whip up and utterly delicious! This make for a popular weeknight dinner, served it up with rice, salad or in a wrap.
Why this Chipotle Chicken is so good
- A delicious marinade. Loaded with flavor, this southwestern marinade, is sweet from honey, a touch garlicky and has the warmth of adobo peppers – so good!
- Easy! That’s what it’s all about, a simple marinade and perfectly grilled chicken, no fuss, all taste.
- Versatile. Have this with a salad, slice it up for a burrito or tacos, lay it on a bed of rice, whatever you want these tasty chicken plays well with so many meals.
Ingredients
- Chicken
- Chipotle Peppers: Minced and in adobo sauce.
- Adobo Sauce: Spicy, zesty, savory and tangy.
- Honey: For a balance of sweetness.
- Olive Oil
- Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed is best!
- Garlic: Freshly minced for the strongest flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste.
How to make Grilled Chipotle Chicken
Be sure to scroll to the bottom for the full recipe
Whisk together the marinade ingredients, pout into a plastic bag and place in your chicken. Allow to marinade in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the fridge and boil the remaining sauce in a pan.
Add chicken to the grill and brush liberally with the sauce. Cook until chicken is done.
Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with Chipotle Chicken
This benefits from a light or refreshing side, for instance.
- Cilantro lime rice
- Authentic Mexican rice
- Refried beans
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Arugula salad
You can also slice up the cooked chicken and have them in enchiladas, tacos or wraps!
Can I bake Chipotle Chicken?
I made this on the grill and it’s so good, the char lines work perfectly with the spicy, smoky flavors. But you can certainly bake in the oven.
This makes the juicy chicken without overcooking or burning it. Bake it at a high heat (425°F) for about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the breasts. Cook it until it reaches 165°F, then remove it from the oven and cover for 10 minutes.
How do I know when my chicken is done?
Insert your food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken (for a whole chicken, that would be the breast). You know your chicken is cooked when the thermometer reads 180°F (82°C) for a whole chicken, or 165°F (74°C) for chicken cuts.
How long to marinate
Marinade for at least two hours. This will ensure your chicken is infused with so much flavor and stays extra juicy!
More Top Tips
- If grilling, lightly brush the grill with olive oil, this prevents the chicken from sticking and tearing.
- Ideally use a covered grill. A covered grill creates a sealed, oven-like environment that surrounds your food on all sides, which is especially important when you’re trying to thoroughly cook chicken.
- The finished chicken is great with some fresh lime juice squeezed on top.
- Serve with some rice, salad, or slice it up and use it in a wrap – delicious!
Other delicious marinades
Have you tried this Chipotle Chicken? Feel free to leave a star rating and I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Grilled Chipotle Chicken (Chipotle Lime Marinade)
Ingredients
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce minced
- 1/4 cup adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Juice of 2 small or 1 large lime
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- Dash of salt and pepper
- 2 pounds chicken
Instructions
- Whisk together the marinade ingredients and pour into a sealable plastic bag or large dish. Add the chicken to the plastic bag or dish and marinate for at least 2 hours.
- When ready to cook, remove chicken from fridge and set aside.
- Bring the extra marinade (left in the bag) to a boil in a small saucepan and reduce to a simmer for a couple minutes until thickened. For a smooth sauce, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Heat a grill to medium high heat (or place a skillet over medium high heat).
- Add the chicken to the grill (or skillet) and brush liberally with the sauce. Cook for approximately 5-7 minutes per side, brushing both sides with sauce.
- Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Marinade for at least two hours.
- If grilling, lightly brush the grill with olive oil, this prevents the chicken from sticking and tearing.
- Ideally use a covered grill. A covered grill creates a sealed, oven-like environment that surrounds your food on all sides, which is especially important when you’re trying to thoroughly cook chicken.
- The finished chicken is great with some fresh lime juice squeezed on top.
- Serve with some rice, salad, or slice it up and use it in a wrap – delicious!
Mary Mendonca says
I have to prepare this recipe, sounds yummy
Becky Hardin says
I hope you enjoy!!
Debby Johnson says
My husband and I loved this recipe! I pretty much followed the recipe, but I omitted the olive oil. We’re on a low fat food plan (don’t tell my husband!) so I cut oil where I can. I sprayed my tablespoon with olive oil cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure all of my honey went into the sauce. But, that was the only change in the sauce. Only prepared two chicken breast, so poured about 1/2 – 2/3 of sauce into bag with chicken. Retained the rest separately and heated to mix into wild rice that I served the chicken on. Served with an avocado salad and sliced cantaloupe. Delicious, light supper. Today, my husband is still raving about how good it was. Thanks for the great recipe. I’ve become a big fan!
Becky Hardin says
Wow! That sounds delicious!! I’m so so happy you both loved it so much!
Y the Wait says
It looks delicious I loved it Thanks for sharing
Becky Hardin says
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Michelle says
I see that you used dried chiptole peppers. Can you tell me how you made the chiptole sauce or did you buy it? I really want to make this recipe. TIA
Becky Hardin says
You can buy it!
gralion torile says
Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care