Description
This Grilled Hot Honey Chicken with Sweet Corn Salad is a perfect balance of spicy and sweet flavors, ideal for a summer meal. Tender grilled chicken brushed with hot honey pairs beautifully with a fresh, vibrant corn salad tossed with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and herbs for a light and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup hot honey (store-bought or homemade with honey + red pepper flakes)
For the Sweet Corn Salad:
- 2 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 3 ears, or use frozen/thawed)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup cucumber, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill or grill pan over medium-high heat to ensure it’s hot and ready for searing the chicken.
- Prepare Chicken Rub: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Rub this mixture evenly over the chicken breasts or thighs to coat thoroughly.
- Grill Chicken: Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes on each side until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, ensuring juiciness and safety.
- Brush Hot Honey: During the last 1 to 2 minutes of grilling, generously brush the chicken with hot honey and allow it to caramelize slightly, adding a spicy-sweet glaze.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices and enhance flavor.
- Make Corn Salad: While the chicken grills, combine corn kernels, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, and chopped fresh cilantro or parsley in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to combine all flavors.
- Serve: Plate the grilled hot honey chicken alongside a generous scoop of the fresh sweet corn salad for a complete, flavorful meal.
Notes
- You can use store-bought hot honey or easily make your own by warming ¼ cup honey with ¼ to ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes for a custom spicy kick.
- Add avocado slices or crumbled feta cheese to the corn salad for extra creaminess and richness.
- This chicken can also be grilled using a grill pan indoors if an outdoor grill is unavailable.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it tender and moist.
