Description
Succulent honey lime grilled chicken skewers combine zesty marinade with perfect char marks from high-heat grilling. Mexican-inspired flavors dance across tender chicken pieces, making you crave each deliciously caramelized bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2.5 lb (1.13 kg) boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 6 tbsps honey or maple syrup
- 3 tbsps low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tbsps fresh lime juice
- 1.5 tbsps grated fresh ginger
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1.5 tbsps Sriracha sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1.25 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 0.5 teaspoon cornstarch for glaze
- 2 tbsps chopped cilantro or parsley (for garnish)
- Lime wedges (for garnish)
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Blend all marinade components in a blender until smooth, creating a harmonious mixture of flavors.
- Chicken Coating: Immerse chicken pieces in the marinade within a sealed container, ensuring complete and thorough coverage by massaging the liquid into the meat.
- Marination Process: Allow chicken to absorb flavors at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 6-12 hours, strategically omitting lime juice for extended marination to preserve protein integrity.
- Glaze Creation: Transform remaining marinade into a glossy coating by incorporating cornstarch and gently heating until it reaches a slightly thickened consistency.
- Grill Preparation: Meticulously clean grill grates, apply a light oil coating, and preheat to medium-high temperature (375-400°F), creating an optimal cooking environment.
- Skewer Setup: Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent combustion, then carefully thread marinated chicken chunks with minimal spacing for consistent heat distribution.
- Grilling Technique: Position skewers on the grill, rotating periodically to achieve uniform caramelization and cook for 9-12 minutes until chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Resting and Serving: Let grilled skewers rest for 4-5 minutes to redistribute internal moisture, then plate with a drizzle of prepared glaze, garnishing with fresh cilantro and zesty lime wedges for a stunning presentation.
Notes
- Prevent Protein Breakdown: Omit lime juice for overnight marinades to stop acid from destroying meat texture.
- Skewer Preparation: Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Resting Technique: Allow grilled skewers to rest 4-5 minutes to redistribute juices and maintain tenderness.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg