Chipotle Honey Lime Chicken Bites
This Chicken Bites recipe is a quick, versatile, trusty weeknight dinner made with pantry friendly ingredients and just minutes of prep! The chicken is coated in a chipotle forward fiesta seasoning mix, pan seared to golden perfection, then tossed in honey and lime juice for an explosion of juicy, tangy, sweet and spicy heaven that everyone will be swooning over! Best of all, you can season the chicken up to two days ahead of time, then just toss it in a skillet at dinner time. This versatile Chicken Bites recipe can be served simply with rice or mashed potatoes and veggies, or in salads, roasted veggie bowls, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas and more!
Servings 4 servings
Ingredients
SPICE MIX
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili pepper, more or less to taste
- 1/2 tsp EACH ground cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder
CHICKEN
- 1 pound chicken breasts, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Spice mix: Whisk all the spices together in a medium bowl.
- Season chicken: While the chopped chicken is still on the cutting board, pat it dry with paper towels, then toss it with the spice mix.
- Cook chicken: Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet or enameled cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Once smoking, add chicken in a single layer. Sear chicken for about 3 minutes, then flip over. Continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or just until cooked through.
- Add glaze: Stir in the lime juice and honey until evenly coated. (start with 1 TBS honey if you want it less sweet), Serve with all that yummy glaze. Garnish with cilantro if desired.
- Serve: See post for lots of tasty serving ideas!
Video
Notes
- Spice level. Chipotle chili pepper can be found in the seasoning aisle in any grocery store or on Amazon HERE. ½ teaspoon should be perfect for most people (medium kick), but reduce for less heat, or increase to 3/4 or 1 teaspoon if you love heat.
- Adjust to taste. Make these Chicken Bites your own! If you want a more lime forward flavor profile, add only one tablespoon of honey, or increase the lime juice. If you’re looking for a little sweeter, add 2 tablespoons honey. If you’re not sure, start with one tablespoon of each and adjust to taste.
- Meal prep. These Chicken Bites can be chopped, seasoned, covered and refrigerated up to two days ahead of time. When it’s time for dinner, let the chicken rest on the counter for 30 minutes before cooking.