Recipe for golden honey grilled chicken: Juicy and irresistibly delicious

Are you looking for a way to make honey grilled chicken that is not only delicious but also stays tender and sweet without drying out? This honey grilled chicken recipe will help you create an irresistible dish, with a golden, crispy skin and juicy, tender meat inside. In this article, we will share each step in detail to achieve the perfect honey grilled chicken. Let’s discover this simple yet incredibly effective recipe to make delicious honey grilled chicken right at home.

Why should you use honey when grilling chicken?

Honey is not only a natural, easily accessible ingredient, but it also offers many fantastic benefits when grilling chicken. Here’s why honey is the perfect choice over sugar when preparing honey-grilled chicken:

• Rich in nutrients: Honey is not just a natural sweetener; it also contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Nutrients like vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and iron help provide natural energy and boost health.
• Retains moisture in meat: Honey helps keep the meat tender and juicy thanks to its excellent moisture-retaining properties. The honey coating on the surface of the meat creates a protective layer, preventing the meat from drying out during grilling, while sugar can strip away moisture and make the meat tough.
• Balances flavors: Honey helps mellow out strong flavors like garlic, pepper, and chili paste, creating a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy. This makes the dish more appealing and easy to enjoy without being overly intense.
• Crispy, shiny skin: When grilled at high temperatures, honey caramelizes, forming a crispy, glossy skin that adds a delightful texture and visual appeal to the dish, making for an enjoyable and tempting eating experience.

How to marinate whole honey grilled chicken

Ingredients

• Whole chicken (1.5 – 1.6 kg)
• Minced lemongrass, garlic, and shallots
• Shrimp salt: 1 tablespoon
• Chili powder: 1 tablespoon
• Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Fish sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Chili paste: 2 tablespoons
• Ketchup: 1 tablespoon
• Honey: 2 tablespoons

Instructions:

• Prepare the chicken: Clean the chicken thoroughly, remove any fine feathers, and pat it dry with paper towels.
• Make the marinade: In a large bowl, mix together lemongrass, garlic, shallots, shrimp salt, chili powder, soy sauce, fish sauce, chili paste, ketchup, and honey. Stir well to create a thick, flavorful marinade.
• Marinate the chicken: Use your hands or a brush to apply the marinade evenly over the entire surface of the chicken, making sure the seasoning reaches both the outside and inside. Let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. If possible, marinate it overnight for better flavor absorption.

• Grilling the chicken:
  • Oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C – 200°C. Place the chicken on a baking tray or grill rack and roast for about 30-45 minutes. After 30 minutes, you can brush another layer of honey on the chicken to create a crispy skin and a golden color.
  • Charcoal Grill: Place the chicken on the grill rack and cook over glowing charcoal. Be sure to turn the chicken regularly to ensure it cooks evenly and doesn’t burn.
• Finishing and enjoying: The chicken is done when the skin is golden, crispy, and the meat inside is tender and juicy. Serve the chicken on a plate and enjoy it with hot rice or as a dish for a party snack.

|See more: 3 recipes for irresistibly delicious grilled chicken feet

Tips for grilling honey chicken without drying it out

To ensure your honey grilled chicken remains juicy and tender, it’s important to manage the temperature and grilling time carefully. Here are some tips for perfect honey grilled chicken:

• Ideal temperature: Grill the chicken at 180°C – 200°C (350°F – 400°F). This temperature allows the chicken to cook evenly, retain moisture, and develop a crispy skin. Grilling at too high a temperature can cause the chicken to burn on the outside before it’s cooked through.
• Use foil: For the first 30 minutes of grilling, cover the chicken with aluminum foil to retain moisture and prevent it from drying out. Then, uncover the foil and continue grilling to crisp up the skin.
• Grilling time: Grill for about 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken. To check if it’s done, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the meat. If the juice runs clear, the chicken is cooked.
• Brush honey: Every 15 minutes during grilling, brush another layer of honey on the chicken to create a glossy coating and help keep it from drying out.

• Grilling mode: Grill using the rotisserie mode with indirect heat to cook the chicken from the inside while still achieving a crispy, flavorful skin.

Thanks to the combination of honey and proper grilling technique, the honey-grilled chicken will have a crispy, golden skin while the meat remains tender and juicy.

Conclusion

Honey-grilled chicken is a simple yet irresistible dish. The combination of the sweetness of honey and the mild heat of chili creates a burst of rich flavors. By following the steps and tips in this article, you’ll be able to create a delicious and juicy honey-grilled chicken perfect for any party. Wishing you success and a delightful meal!