Spicy Grilled Chicken in Chipotle Marinade
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Spicy grilled chicken is smoky, juicy, and bursting with flavor. Marinated in a simple yet flavorful blend of chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, it has the perfect balance of heat and smokiness. It’s perfect for summer grilling, meal prepping, sandwiches, tacos or as is for a quick and delicious dinner making it a good choice for busy nights.
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As soon as grilling season arrives, this spicy grilled chicken recipe is always a top request. With just a handful of ingredients and a quick cooking time, it’s an easy dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor. The tender, mild chicken absorbs the smoky heat from the marinade, making every bite delicious. I always make extra—it’s just that good, and we love having leftovers for lunch!
Spicy grilled chicken ingredients
Ingredient List
How to make chipotle spiced grilled chicken
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
STEP 1: Combine the marinade ingredients in a glass dish. Add the chicken and marinate for at least an hour.
STEP 2: Place chicken breasts on a preheated charcoal grill, gas grill or grill pan over medium heat. Cover the grill and cook for approximately 10 to 12 minutes; flip and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees f.
Tips & Tricks
- If the chicken sticks to the grill grates, that usually means it’s not ready to flip yet. Let it cook for a few minutes longer until it releases from the grill easily.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is properly cooked to 165 degrees f.
- Let the chicken rest before cutting it to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Variations
Make this recipe your own by customizing the flavors to suit your taste! Whether you want to dial up the heat, add a touch of sweetness, or experiment with different seasonings, there are plenty of ways to tweak this dish. Here are a few easy variations to try.
- Spicy – This dish is slightly spicy, but you can turn up the heat more by adding ancho chili powder or hot sauce to taste.
- Citrus – Swap out the lime juice with an equal amount of orange juice or lemon juice for a different flavor.
- Meat – Replace the chicken with pork chops, pork tenderloin, or shrimp.
Love the flavor of smoky chipotle peppers? Try this slow cooker chipotle chicken stew!
Serving suggestions
This chicken tastes delicious with so many things; the possibilities are endless. I like to turn my vegetarian burrito bowls into chicken burrito bowls with it.
It’s also a great addition to a Mexican chopped salad, or with a street corn salad, grilled vegetables or green beans.
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How to store leftovers
This is a great recipe to plan for leftovers. Once leftover chicken reaches room temperature, refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
How to freeze leftover grilled chicken
Let the chicken to cool to room temperature, and freezer it into portion sizes to suit your family or single portion sizes. Place it in an airtight container, label and date the container. It should last in the freezer for up to three months.
How to use leftover spicy grilled chicken
Use leftovers in sandwiches, salads, quesadillas , chicken salad, tacos, pasta salad, pasta or your favorite way to use chicken.
Recipe FAQs
You can easily make this recipe in a skillet. Heat a large skillet, over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken and cook until the chicken no longer sticks to the pan. Flip it over and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees f.
It is not recommended to use the leftover marinade as a sauce. You can, however double up on the ingredients for the marinade and set half of the marinade aside to serve as a sauce with the cooked chicken.
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Grilled Chipotle Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 3 chipotle peppers chopped
- 2 tablespoons chipotle sauce
- 2 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- At least an hour before serving, chop 3 chipotle peppers, combine them in a non reactive bowl with 2 tablespoons chipotle sauce, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 clove garlic (crushed) and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts to the marinade. Marinate for at least one hour.
- Preheat a gas gril, charcoal grill l or grill pan at medium – high heat. Once the pan or grill is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 10 to 12 minutes on one side, flip and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees f – about 10 minutes longer.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
