Honey Orange BBQ Grilled Chicken Recipes

I'm so excited to share this sticky honey orange grilled chicken with you because it's genuinely one of those recipes that makes people sit up and take notice. The moment the glaze hits the grill, your whole backyard smells incredible. It's that perfect balance of sweet honey, bright citrus, and smokey char that somehow tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when you really didn't.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Like This Recipe
• Ingredients For Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken
• How To Make Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken
• Storage And Reheating Your Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken
• Tips And Tricks For Perfect Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken
• Frequently Asked Questions About Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken
• Recipes You May Like
• Final Thoughts On This Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken Recipe
• Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken

We discovered this recipe last summer when Donald was getting tired of the same old grilled chicken. I wanted something that felt special but wouldn't stress me out on a busy weeknight. Alex, who's usually skeptical about anything "healthy," actually asked for seconds. That's when I knew I'd found a winner. The beauty of sticky honey orange grilled chicken is that it looks fancy enough for company but it's actually super straightforward to make.

If you love citrus flavors and juicy chicken, you've got to try my honey garlic butter chicken for another weeknight favorite that comes together in minutes.

Why You'll Like This Recipe

The reason I keep making this over and over is simple. Here's what makes it special:

• Takes just 30 minutes from start to finish (plus marinating time)
• The marinade does all the flavor work so you don't have to fuss
• Chicken thighs stay incredibly moist and tender no matter what
• The honey orange glaze is bright, tangy, and just sticky enough
• Works great for feeding a crowd at casual gatherings
• Leftover chicken is amazing cold in salads or sandwiches

Ingredients For Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken

For the Marinade:

• ½ cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoon hot sauce
• 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

For the Chicken:

• 3 ½ lbs boneless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat
• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

For the Honey Orange Glaze:

• 2 tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• 2 teaspoon orange zest
• ¼ cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

I always use fresh orange juice because the difference in flavor is honestly night and day. If you've got bottled juice sitting around, don't use it here. The citrus taste needs to be bright and alive. For the chicken thighs, I trim away the excess fat but keep a little bit because it helps keep them juicy on the grill.

How To Make Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken

Step 1: Mix Your Marinade

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice, olive oil, hot sauce, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic. This takes about two minutes and sets up all your flavor from the start.

The combination of hot sauce and Dijon mustard might sound weird, but trust me on this. They add complexity without making it spicy. The mustard especially helps tenderize the chicken as it sits.

Step 2: Marinate The Chicken

Place your chicken thighs in a gallon-size resealable bag and pour the marinade over them. Press out as much air as you can and seal it up. Rub the marinade around so every piece gets coated.

Pop it in the refrigerator for at least one hour, but here's my trick—I usually let it go for four to six hours if I'm planning dinner. The longer it sits, the more the flavors sink in. You can even do this the night before if you want zero stress on cooking day.

Step 3: Get Your Grill Ready

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, around 400 degrees. While it's heating up, make your glaze so it's ready to go.

You want the grill nice and hot before the chicken goes on. This creates those beautiful char marks that make everything taste better.

Step 4: Prepare The Honey Orange Glaze

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the honey, orange juice, orange zest, BBQ sauce, and Dijon mustard, then remove from heat.

This glaze is pure magic. Here's the important part—set aside about ⅓ cup of the glaze for serving after the chicken comes off the grill. Use the remaining glaze for brushing on the chicken while it cooks. You don't want to use the same glaze that touched raw chicken for your serving glaze.

Step 5: Grill The Chicken

Place the chicken thighs on the grill and cook about four minutes per side. Then brush with your glaze and continue grilling until the internal temperature hits 165 degrees in the center, about two minutes per side more. You're looking for some nice char, but not burnt.

I always use an instant-read thermometer because I'm paranoid about undercooked chicken. Chicken thighs are forgiving, but getting to exactly 165 degrees is the safest way to go. The glaze will darken as it caramelizes, which is exactly what you want.

Step 6: Serve

Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and brush with your reserved glaze. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if you want to fancy it up, but honestly, it's delicious either way.

Sarah always makes me plate this pretty because she likes the way it looks. Donald just wants to eat it, so take your pick on presentation.

Storage And Reheating Your Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken

Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about three days. I've never had this last that long because we seem to eat it all the first night.

To reheat, I pop individual pieces in a 350-degree oven for about ten minutes until they're warmed through. You can also reheat them quickly in a skillet over medium heat if you're in a rush. The glaze actually sticks around and tastes even better the next day.

I sometimes use leftover sticky honey orange grilled chicken to top salads for lunch or slice it thin for sandwiches. It's honestly just as good cold as it is hot.

Tips And Tricks For Perfect Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken

Don't skip the marinating time. I learned this the hard way when I tried making this with no time to marinate. The chicken was still good, but the difference when you wait is huge. Even two hours makes a real difference.

Use chicken thighs, not breasts. Dark meat stays moist and juicy on the grill in a way that white meat sometimes doesn't. If you only have breasts, pound them thin so they cook faster.

Keep a spray bottle of water nearby. If your glaze starts charring too much, give the grill a quick spray to cool things down slightly. You want color, not burning.

The glaze is your friend, but don't go overboard. Too many coats can make it overly sweet. I usually brush it on twice—once halfway through cooking, once near the end.

Here's the thing about this recipe—it looks complicated but it's really just three components that come together beautifully. Once you make it once, you'll be confident enough to make it again and again.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken

How Long Should You Marinate Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken For The Best Flavor?

The minimum is one hour, but I really recommend four to six hours for the best taste. The longer the chicken sits in that marinade, the more the citrus and spices penetrate the meat. If you've got the time, overnight marinating is absolutely fine. The acid from the lemon and orange juice actually starts to slightly cure the chicken, which helps it stay juicy on the grill.

Can You Bake Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken Instead Of Grilling It?

Absolutely! I've done this when the weather wasn't cooperating. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, place the marinated chicken on a lined baking sheet, and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. You can still brush on the glaze while it's baking, but you won't get those beautiful grill marks. It's not quite the same as grilled, but it's still delicious.

How Do You Know When Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken Is Fully Cooked?

The safest way is an instant-read thermometer. Stick it into the thickest part of a thigh without touching bone, and it should read 165 degrees. Don't rely on color because with that dark glaze, it's hard to tell. I also check that the juices run clear when you poke the chicken, but the thermometer is really your best friend here.

Can You Make The Honey Orange Glaze Ahead Of Time And Store It?

Yes, you can make the glaze up to two days ahead and keep it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Just gently reheat it on the stove before you brush it on the chicken. I actually like making it ahead because it's one less thing to worry about on cooking day. The flavors meld together and taste even better after sitting overnight.

Recipes You May Like

• Honey Garlic Butter Chicken That's Quick And Easy is perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something simple but impressive. The combination of honey and garlic is such a crowd pleaser.
• Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs uses the same chicken thigh cut and gives you that smokey flavor profile if you can't grill on a particular night. It comes together with minimal hands-on time.
• Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta You'll Love is a great way to use leftover grilled chicken from this recipe and turn it into something completely different for the next night.

Final Thoughts On This Sticky Honey Orange Grilled Chicken Recipe

I genuinely love this recipe because it makes me feel like a confident cook without being stressful. The marinade does all the heavy lifting, the glaze comes together while the grill heats up, and the whole thing is done before you know it. Alex's approval is honestly the seal of quality in my house, and he loves this.

What I appreciate most is that this tastes like you made something special, but you didn't spend hours fussing over it. That's really what home cooking should be about. Simple ingredients, good technique, and food that brings your family together.

I hope you make this for your family and love it as much as we do. Let me know how it turns out! Don't forget to save this to Pinterest for your next barbecue.

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