Honey Lime Garlic Chicken, this chicken is browned on both sides in a cast-iron skillet before popping it in the oven and baking until it is tender and juicy. It is so delicious you will be sure to make it over and over again.
Honey lime garlic chicken is a one-skillet deal made with chicken thighs that have been rubbed with seasoning then topped with honey, lime zest, lime juice, and garlic before it is baked in the oven.
I love making food in a cast-iron skillet. You will notice several posts on my blog where the food is prepared in my cast iron skillet. You will see anything from desserts to bread to pasta dishes and so on.
It just seems like everything tastes better when it is made in a cast-iron skillet.
For this chicken, I love to start cooking on the stove and then transferring the skillet to the oven. This way you can brown the meat quickly keeping the juices in and then finishing in the oven for a tender juicy chicken.
This recipe is no exception. The chicken comes out tender and juicy, just the way it should.
Helpful Tips:
- If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet make sure that your skillet is oven-proof before baking the chicken.
- Don’t worry if your chicken is not browned completely before you place it in the oven. Although you will want the skin of the chicken browned.
- Use chicken thighs that have the bone and skin on the meat. This will make for a juicier chicken.
- Don’t over bake the chicken. Over baking, the chicken will cause it to be dry.
- The chicken should not be pink or no blood in the chicken once it is done baking. The temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees F.
Steps for making Honey Lime Garlic Chicken
Step one
Combine cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Once it is combined rub the seasoning over the chicken.
Step two
Heat the oil in the skillet and add the chicken skin side down. Brown the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes and turn over, continue to cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
Step three
While the chicken is browning in the skillet mix up the honey, lime, and garlic mixture. Turn the chicken over so the skin side is up and pour the sauce over the chicken after the chicken is done browning.
Step four
Place it in a preheated oven and bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until the chicken is at 165 degrees F.
Step five
Let the chicken rest for a few minutes and serve.
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Honey Lime Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- zest from one lime
- juice from one lime
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Combine the cumin, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Once it is combined rub over both sides of the chicken.
- Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet. Once the oil is heated place the chicken skin side down and fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until the chicken is browned. Turn the chicken over and fry for another 3 to 4 minutes.
- While the chicken is frying mince the garlic, zest and remove the juice from the lime. Mix the minced garlic, zest, juice, and the honey. Once the chicken is browned on both sides and the skin side is facing up spoon the honey mixture over the top of the chicken thighs.
- Place the chicken in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs with the skin and bone-in for chicken that is nice and juicy.
- If you don't have a cast-iron skillet make sure you have an oven proof-skillet before placing it in the oven.
- Browning the chicken before placing it in the oven will help to keep the juices in.
- Be sure to bake until the chicken is no longer pink and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on April 23, 2018. It has been updated with new content and pictures on September 28, 2020.
A great combo of flavours, Dawn, and the chicken looks so nicely golden and succulent!
Oh, this looks terrific! And such a neat combo of flavors — lime and garlic are wonderful playmates. Good stuff — thanks.
This chicken sounds like it’s got great flavor, Dawn! I love using citrus with grilled/cast iron foods, and I can see how the touch of honey here would be quite tasty. In fact, I kinda want to try this idea out on the grill now!
Love this! The ingredients are wonderful. I use my skillet a lot as well, especially for my husband’s steaks. But I used to have a clay mattone that was perfect because it had a flat lid, but the bottom broke. Need to find another one…
I do love my cast iron skillet, too! I pull that thing out of the cabinet quite often – and it’s heavy! This is a great combination of flavors for this chicken, Dawn. I’ll have to put this on the agenda soon – I’m thinking this would be tasty chopped up into tacos!
I love my cast iron skillet as well. I’ve had two of them since college! I love what you did with the chicken. All of the spices and flavors are fabulous! And the chicken is so pretty.
My husband’s favorite part of a chicken is the thighs and he would absolutely love this recipe.