Key West Grilled Chicken (Printable)
Tropical-inspired grilled chicken with lime, honey, and fresh herbs. Perfect for easy dinners with a taste of Florida sunshine.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Marinade
02 - 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
03 - 1/4 cup honey
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 - Zest of 1 lime
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together lime juice, honey, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and lime zest until thoroughly combined. Stir in chopped cilantro.
02 - Place chicken breasts in a large ziplock bag or shallow dish. Pour marinade over chicken, ensuring even coating. Seal and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor.
03 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade and discard used marinade. Grill for 5-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Transfer chicken to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with additional cilantro and lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The honey creates these gorgeous caramelized grill marks that make the chicken look like it came from a restaurant kitchen
- Marinating transforms ordinary chicken breasts into something juicy and bursting with Florida sunshine vibes
02 -
- The honey in the marinade can burn quickly so watch your heat and move the chicken if those grill marks get too dark too fast
- I learned the hard way that marinating longer than 4 hours makes the texture mushy and unpleasant
03 -
- Pat the chicken dry before grilling if you want really defined grill marks but honestly the marinade creates better flavor
- Use an instant read thermometer because guessing is how you end up with dry chicken or undercooked meat