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These Honey Chipotle Chicken Thighs are juicy, bold, and bursting with flavor—crispy caramelized edges and just the right kick of smoky heat.

honey chipotle chicken thighs on a plate with rice and salad.

Chipotle released their new flavor of chicken - honey chipotle and it sounded delish so I went home and created my own. Chipotles in adobo is one of my fave ingredients of ALL time.

This honey chipotle chicken is spicy with a subtle sweetness from the honey! It's juicy and delicious on it's own, but works great in tacos or burrito bowls.

The great thing about chicken thighs is they're nearly impossible to overcook. They stay juicy and moist!

Key Ingredients

Chicken thighs - Chicken thighs are very forgiving! Even if you accidentally overcook them, they rarely dry out. Look for boneless, skinless chicken thighs so they're easy to chop once they're done.
Olive oil - An essential part of any good marinade. I buy mine from Costco so I never run out before its time to buy more.
Chipotles in adobo - The star ingredient! I use chipotles in sauces, marinades, chili, taco meat, and more. They add a ton of flavor with minimal effort.
Honey - The chipotle pack a punch of heat! The honey complements the peppers for a subtle sweetness.
Taco seasoning - My favorite brand is Siete taco seasoning. I used mild in this recipe!
Ancho chile powder - If you haven't tried this type of chili powder yet, you're in for a treat! It's smokier and less bitter than traditional chili powder.

How to Make Honey Chipotle Chicken Thighs

I love a simple recipe and this one is super easy.

Trim fat - This is optional and mostly a personal preference. If the chicken thighs have a lot of fat on them, I use kitchen shears to trim if off.
Make the marinade - I used my immersion blender. If you don't have one, a food processor or regular blender works fine too!

a bowl of chicken thighs in a chipotle marinade.

a bowl of chicken thighs in a chipotle marinade with saran wrap on top.

caramelized chipotle honey chicken thighs in a skillet.

Marinade overnight - For the most flavor, let it go overnight! Another option is marinading the chicken first thing in the morning for dinnertime.
Cook the chicken thighs - Don't jack up the heat! Cook them in a hot skillet over medium heat so the mixture doesn't burn from the honey. You want caramelization, not a burnt mess.
Slice and serve - You don't have to slice up the chicken, but I prefer to because it tastes great on tacos!

honey chipotle chicken thighs on a cutting board with limes.

Recipe Tips

Think ahead. If possible, marinade the chicken the night before you plan to make it, or for at least 4 hours. This will give you the most flavor!
Don't set the skillet to high heat. It should be hot but set for medium heat. Otherwise the honey in the sauce will burn before the chicken cooks through.
For a super quick dinner, serve this chipotle chicken with microwaveable rice and a side salad. I buy frozen organic jasmine rice from Trader Joe's. It takes 3 minutes to heat up in the microwave!

close up picture of chipotle honey chicken thighs.

Storage Tips

Store leftover chipotle chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I like to slice mine up before storing it in the fridge. That way it's ready to go for quick meals like tacos, salads, or burrito bowls.
You can meal prep and freeze the chicken. Let it cool first, then slice it up and freeze in a zip-top freezer bag with the air squeezed out or a freezer-safe container.

Easy Dinner Recipes

Honey Chipotle Chicken Thighs

Carolyn

These Honey Chipotle Chicken Thighs are juicy, bold, and bursting with flavor—crispy caramelized edges and just the right kick of smoky heat.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Marinade time: 12

Total Time 12 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings servings

Calories 325 kcal

Equipment

12 inch Nonstick skillet

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
⅓ cup olive oil
3 chipotles in adobo
1½ tablespoons lime juice
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons Siete taco seasoning, mild or favorite brand
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs if needed, then transfer them to a large bowl.
Use an immersion blender to blend the olive oil, chipotles, lime juice, honey, taco seasoning, ancho Chile powder, and kosher salt. It should be thick, dark red, and smooth.
Pour the thick marinade over the chicken thighs. Use clean hands to move the chicken around so it’s evenly coated. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and marinade overnight.
In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, add a generous drizzle of olive oil so it covers the bottom of the pan.
Cook the chicken thighs in the hot skillet for 4 to 6 minutes per side, until the outside caramelizes and the inside cooks through. Don’t crowd the pan. I cook them in two batches.
Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Enjoy whole or slice it up for tacos and burrito bowls.
Tip: Don’t jack up the heat. If the skillet is set too high, the chicken/sauce will burn in the skillet due to the honey.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 29gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 531mgPotassium: 387mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 140IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 2mg

Keyword honey chipotle chicken thighs

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