These honey chicken bites are the perfect trifecta of deliciousness: sweet honey, tender chicken, and a bright burst of fresh orange. They’re so easy to make, even the kids can help! Make them for a party or a quick weeknight dinner. Serve these chicken bites next to cilantro lime rice, alongside roasted broccoli, tucked into warm corn tortillas, or on top of one of our favorite salad recipes.
Key Ingredients
Chicken: I usually make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but it works just as well with chicken thighs. Whichever you use, cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces to make them bite-size. Butter: I love the flavor of butter in this recipe, but olive oil works just fine if that is all that you have. If you plan to marinate your chicken longer than my suggested 15 minutes, you may find that the butter hardens again. Don’t worry about this, as it will melt again and help the chicken brown as it bakes in the oven. Honey: Honey baked chicken is super delicious (especially with the butter), but maple syrup is an excellent substitute! Orange: I love fresh orange zest in this recipe and use my fine grater (often called a Microplane) to grate it. Lime or lemon are also great options. Hot Sauce (optional): When making this for my son, I leave the hot sauce out, but if it’s just for me or Adam, I go all in with four or five dashes of hot sauce.
2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon orange zest 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper Hot sauce, optional 2Combine the melted butter, honey, orange peel, salt, pepper, and 2 or more dashes of hot sauce (optional) in a medium bowl. 3Add the chicken and toss well. Set aside for 15 minutes to marinate. 4Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. 5Arrange the chicken on the baking sheet. Drizzle any marinade left in the bowl over the chicken. Bake until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F, 15 to 20 minutes.
