The Best Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken

Honey ginger grilled chicken is juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. The marinade's irresistible combination of honey and ginger creates a tantalizing glaze that's perfect for summer BBQs or weeknight dinners.

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Making grilled barbecue chicken is one of the best ways to spend time outdoors as the seasons change. It's also perfect around June and July when it's nice and warm. This recipe has such an easy clean up making it perfect for quick weeknight dinners.

Simply marinate the chicken the night before you cook it and the next day you'll have incredibly tender and delicious chicken. What is better than that?

The minced ginger and pure honey infuse the chicken with so much flavor from the inside out. The ginger has warming and spiced flavor that you can't find anywhere else while the honey has a sweetness and unique flavor that balances the chicken recipe so well.

Jump to:

• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How It's Made
• Tips for The Best Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken
• Ways to Serve Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken
• Can Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken Be Made in The Slow Cooker?
• What if I don't have time to marinate the chicken?
• Serve The Chicken With:
• Storing and Reheating The Honey Ginger Chicken
• For More Easy Dinner Recipes:
• The Best Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken

Ingredients and Substitutions

Boneless skinless chicken breast - We love using chicken breast because it cooks up quickly and doesn't have a lot of excess fat. It also absorbs the marinade very well. You can use bone in chicken thighs to make ginger chicken thighs. This will result in a very tender and delicious result. Keep in mind grilling may take longer with bone in chicken. Make sure the chicken is 165 degrees before removing from the grill.

For The Chicken Marinade

Ginger - Fresh ginger root is going to give you the best flavor. It's relatively cheap and available at most populat grocery stores. If you can't find fresh, you can use ginger paste instead.

Honey - Try using a local honey for the health benefits it provides. Try also experimenting with the type of honey you choose. Try clover or honey blossom for this marinade for a sweet unique flavor. As the sugars in the marinade cook up it will help the chicken to caramelize. Brown sugar can be used as a substitute.

Garlic - Fresh garlic is going to be best for this recipe. It's going to have the best flavor and will be nice and potent. You can use garlic powder if you don't have fresh on hand but the flavor may vary slightly. It will end up better than not adding any garlic at all.

Soy sauce - For the savory umami flavor we all love. Plus soy sauce complements the other ingredients so well. This also gives the chicken a nice color as it cooks.

Sesame oil - This isn't your typical cooking oil, it's packed with flavor. Only a little bit is needed in this marinade. If you don't have sesame oil, peanut oil, or olive oil can be used.

Sriracha - For added spice and flavor. I find that sriracha is more flavorful than it is spicy and I love adding it to marinades because it gives the chicken a little zing. You can omit this all together if you're sensitive to spice or add your favorite hot sauce instead. If you want to add spice without altering the flavor you can use red pepper flakes.

Onion powder - Adds a little extra flavor to the marinade without the chunks of onion.

Pepper - For added spice and aromatics

Garnish 

Sesame seeds - To give the chicken a little crunch with every bite.

Green scallions - For extra freshness

How It's Made

Step 1. Pat boneless skinless chicken breasts with a paper towel to soak up any excess moisture.

Step 2. Mix all marinade ingredients in a sealable bag. Squeeze the bag a few times to incorporate the ingredients well. 

Step 3. Add chicken to the bag and massage the marinade into the chicken breasts. Seal the bag well. Place in the refrigerator to marinade overnight or for 6-8 hours. 

Step 4. Heat grill on medium heat. Once the grill has preheated, place chicken on the grill and cook the first side for 5-7 minutes. 

Step 5. Flip and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Increase or decrease cook times according to the size of your chicken. 

Step 6. Serve immediately with sesame seeds and scallions

Tips for The Best Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken

There are a few tips and tricks I've learned along the way when it comes to grilling. These tips will make it easy and will hopefully keep you from making the same mistakes I have made in the past.

Choose Quality Chicken: Start with good-quality chicken, whether it's boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. Quality chicken ensures better flavor and texture.

Marinate for Flavor: The key to a great honey ginger grilled chicken is the marinade. You don't want to skip this step. The longer you let the chicken marinate, the more flavor you'll have with every bite.

Preheat the Grill: Ensure your grill is preheated to medium-high heat (around 350-400°F or 175-200°C) before you start grilling. This helps to sear the chicken and lock in its juices.

Oil the Grates: To prevent sticking, lightly oil the grill grates using a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil held with tongs. Do this before you start grilling. This is especially important because the marinade can be sticky sweet from the honey which caramelizes as the chicken grills but it also increases the risk of sticking.

Grill Time: The grilling time will depend on the thickness of your chicken pieces and the heat of your grill. Generally, boneless, skinless chicken breasts will take about 6-8 minutes per side, while bone-in pieces like thighs or drumsticks may take longer. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Rest Before Serving: Allow the grilled chicken to rest for a few minutes after taking it off the grill. This lets the juices redistribute, keeping the meat tender and juicy.

Ways to Serve Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken

Honey ginger grilled chicken is a versatile and flavorful dish that can be served in various ways. Here are some of the ways I love.

As a Main Dish: Serve the honey ginger grilled chicken as the main course alongside your favorite side dishes.

In Tacos or Wraps: Shred or thinly slice the grilled chicken and use it as a filling for soft tortillas or wraps. Add toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.

On a Salad: Slice the honey ginger grilled chicken into strips and place them on a bed of mixed greens. Top the salad with colorful additions like mandarin oranges, toasted almonds, and sesame seeds. Use a honey ginger vinaigrette or a citrus-based dressing for extra zing.

With Noodles: Prepare a cold noodle salad or a warm noodle bowl with the grilled chicken. Toss cooked and cooled noodles (such as udon, soba, or rice noodles) with a sesame-soy dressing. Add thinly sliced chicken, fresh herbs, and crunchy veggies for a delightful dish.

In a Sandwich: Slice the grilled chicken and assemble it into a sandwich with your favorite bread or rolls. Add condiments like mayo, mustard, or a honey ginger aioli for extra flavor. Include lettuce, tomato, and pickles for a satisfying sandwich.

In a Rice Bowl: Serve the honey ginger grilled chicken over a bowl of steamed white or brown rice. Add sautéed or roasted vegetables and drizzle with extra sauce for a satisfying rice bowl.

With Grilled Pineapple: Grill pineapple slices alongside the chicken until they have nice grill marks. Serve the honey ginger grilled chicken with grilled pineapple rings for a tropical twist.

In Lettuce Wraps: Use large lettuce leaves, such as iceberg or butter lettuce, as wrappers for the chicken. Add rice, vegetables, and your choice of condiments to create delicious lettuce wraps.

Can Honey Ginger Grilled Chicken Be Made in The Slow Cooker?

Yes, cooking the honey garlic chicken in the slow cooker is a great idea which helps ensure your chicken will be tender, juicy, and full of flavor. To cook in the slower cooker, add the marinated chicken trying to overlap as little as possible. Cook on low for 3 hours or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Making this in the crock pot will give you the best sticky honey ginger chicken.

What if I don't have time to marinate the chicken?

If you don't have time to marinate the chicken, don't worry you can still infuse the chicken with flavor without the hours of waiting. To do this, place marinade ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Pour half of the marinade in bag with the chicken and massage. Marinate for 20-30 minutes or as long as it takes to prep the dinner sides, preheat the grill, etc.

Pour the other half of the marinade in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 5-7 minutes or until reduced and it's starting to thicken. Remove from heat and let the honey ginger glaze cool slightly.

Place chicken on the grill and brush with the honey ginger glaze. When you flip the chicken, coat the breast again with the glaze. This keeps the chicken tender, juicy, and packed with all the honey ginger flavors.

Serve The Chicken With:

Honey ginger grilled chicken pairs wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. Here are some of my favorite sides I love to pair with this recipe.

Steamed or Stir-Fried Vegetables: Lightly seasoned steamed or stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, bok choy, snap peas, or bell peppers make for a healthy and colorful side dish. Try my super flavorful pad pak thai with this recipe.

Rice or Quinoa: Serve the grilled chicken over a bed of white or brown rice, or opt for quinoa for a nutritious twist. Cook the rice or quinoa with a bit of ginger for added flavor. This would also pair well with my lemon basil rice recipe.

Asian Slaw: Create a refreshing Asian-inspired slaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a sesame ginger dressing. It adds a crunchy texture and complements the chicken's flavors.

Grilled Pineapple: Grilled pineapple slices provide a sweet and tropical contrast to the chicken's flavors. The caramelization from grilling adds depth to the dish.

Fruit Salsa: Make a fresh fruit salsa with ingredients like diced mango, pineapple, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice. It adds a burst of sweet and tangy flavors to the chicken.

Cucumber Salad: A simple cucumber salad with sliced cucumbers, red onions, and a rice vinegar dressing can balance the dish with crisp freshness. Try my beet and cucumber salad for a refreshing and healthy pairing.

Grilled Corn: Grill some corn on the cob and serve it with a bit of butter and lime juice for a summery side. Or, spice it up a bit with this amazing blackened corn recipe.

Green Beans: Sautéed or steamed green beans seasoned with garlic complement the dish with a healthy and vibrant addition. Pair the chicken with this sweet and savory bacon filled crack green beans recipe.

Naan Bread: Warm naan bread or pita can be served on the side for a bread option, perfect for soaking up any leftover sauce. If you don't have either of those or want to make your own bread from scratch you have to try this super easy turkish bread.

Storing and Reheating The Honey Ginger Chicken

To store the honey ginger chicken, place in a sealed container and refrigerate for up to a week. You can eat cold over a salad or reheat. Reheat by placing the chicken in a microwave safe dish. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 seconds at a time until the chicken is warmed through. Keep in mind that overheating or heating without a damp paper towel can result in chicken that's dry and hard.

Want to make the chicken now and eat later? You can because you can freeze the grilled chicken. To freeze place in a sealed bag, airtight container, or sealed well in cling wrap and place in the freezer for up to three months. Be sure to write the date on the bag or container so you don't let it sit for too long. Let thaw before reheating in the microwave. When you're ready to eat, follow the microwave instructions above.

For More Easy Dinner Recipes:

Herbs De Provence Grilled Chicken

Grilled Sriracha Chicken Wrap

Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast