Chili Honey Lime Chicken Tenders
Chicken is such an easy food to serve my family. It is inexpensive, freezer well, and can be prepared in a variety of ways, which is why I have shared so many chicken recipes this week. However, this is probably one of my favorite ways to eat chicken. It is soooo easy to make, even the most kitchen-challenged can make this. It has lots of flavor. It has only a few ingredients. And the leftovers are awesome too. If you have any.
The trick with this recipe is just making sure the chicken is cooked through (but not overcooked), and that you let the sauce darken a bit. When it starts to darken it means the sugars are starting to burn, and it will release a lot of flavor. It will taste like the marriage of all things good taking their first dance as a couple on the dance floor in your mouth. You will want to celebrate in joy!
If you’re looking for a dish that packs a punch of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors, these Chili Honey Lime Chicken Tenders are just what you need. This recipe is quick, easy, and bursting with deliciousness, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or a weekend treat.
What You Need to Make Chili Honey Lime Chicken Tenders
- 1-2 lbs chicken, cut into tenders
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce (Mae Ploy is my favorite for this recipe)
- Juice of 2 key limes (the tiny limes)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
How to Make Chili Honey Lime Chicken Tenders
- Heat the Pan: In a large fry pan, heat your olive oil on medium heat.
- Add Sweet Chili Sauce: Pour about half of the sweet chili sauce into the bottom of the pan.
- Cook the Chicken: Add your chicken tenders to the pan.
- Cover with Sauce: Cover the chicken with the remaining sweet chili sauce, squeeze the lime juice over the top, and drizzle honey all over.
- Sauté: Sauté the chicken, stirring and flipping to ensure it cooks evenly. Keep an eye on the sauce to make sure it’s not burning.
- Finish Cooking: Cook until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is starting to turn dark. The sugars in the honey should be crystallizing and beginning to caramelize.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Tips and Tricks
- Uniform Chicken Pieces: Cutting the chicken into uniform tenders ensures even cooking.
- Heat Control: Keep the heat at medium to prevent the sauce from burning. If the sauce starts to darken too quickly, reduce the heat slightly.
- Tossing and Coating: Continuously stir and flip the chicken to ensure it’s well-coated with the sauce and cooks evenly.
- Check for Doneness: Use an instant read thermometer to make sure the chicken tenders reach 165 degrees F internal temp.
Variation Ideas
- Spicier Tenders: Add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sweet chili sauce for an extra kick.
- Garlic Flavor: Add minced garlic to the pan along with the olive oil for an additional layer of flavor.
- Citrus Twist: Substitute the key limes with regular limes or even lemons for a different citrus flavor.
- Herb Infusion: Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley for a burst of freshness and color.
Serving Suggestions
- Over Rice: Serve the chicken tenders over a bed of steamed rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
- With Veggies: Pair with sautéed vegetables or a fresh salad for a balanced meal.
- Taco Filling: Use the tenders as a flavorful filling for tacos, topped with shredded lettuce, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.
- Party Platter: Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks and a side of extra dipping sauce for a crowd-pleasing snack.
These Chili Honey Lime Chicken Tenders are sure to become a favorite in your household. The combination of sweet chili sauce, fresh lime juice, and honey creates a mouthwatering glaze that perfectly complements the tender chicken. Enjoy this dish on its own or with your favorite sides for a meal that’s as easy to make as it is delicious!
And don’t forget the leftovers are awesome. I made some last week, and used the leftovers in griddle tacos with homemade restaurant style salsa and fresh guacamole and it was awesome!
Love chicken? Try some of these:
- Asian Lemon Chicken
- Orange Chicken
- General Tso’s Chicken Sliders
- Chicken Fajitas
- Easy Chicken Tacos
- Easy Chicken Stir Fry
Chili Honey Lime Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1-2 lbs of chicken cut into tenders
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce Mae Ploy is my favorite for this recipe
- juice of 2 key limes the tiny limes
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1-2 Tbs olive oil
Instructions
- In a large fry pan heat your olive oil on medium heat
- Then put about half the sweet chili sauce in the bottom of the pan
- Add your chicken
- Cover chicken with other half of sweet chili sauce, squeeze on lime juice, and drizzle honey over top.
- Saute stirring and flipping, making sure the sauce is not burning
- Cook until chicken is cooked through and sauce is starting to turn dark (the sugars in the honey should be crystalizing and starting to burn)
- Remove from heat and serve
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Heather says
Oh Wow that was amazing, I made it tonight, I was a little worried that it was quite watery to begin with but once it the sauce reduced, definitely a winner for our family, and will be making it again, thank you so much!
Rachael says
I am so glad you enjoyed it. This is one of our favorites too, and it is so easy!