Honey Lime Chicken Mango Salsa (Printable View)
Grilled honey lime chicken paired with fresh tropical mango salsa for a bright, summery meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 3 tablespoons honey
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - ½ teaspoon paprika
08 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ For the Mango Salsa
09 - 2 ripe mangos, diced
10 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
11 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
12 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
13 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
15 - Salt, to taste
→ To Serve
16 - Lime wedges
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves
# How to Prepare:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over them, ensuring even coating. Seal and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
02 - While the chicken marinates, combine the diced mango, red bell pepper, red onion, minced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, and lime juice in a medium bowl. Season with salt to taste, toss gently to incorporate all ingredients, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
03 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Grill the chicken breasts for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until fully cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
04 - Transfer the grilled chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Slice each breast against the grain and plate, topping generously with the chilled mango salsa. Garnish with lime wedges and fresh cilantro leaves as desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The honey lime marinade does double duty, caramelizing on the grill while keeping the chicken absurdly juicy inside.
- Mango salsa is one of those things that sounds fancy but takes about five minutes and zero cooking skill to pull off.
- Everything comes together in forty minutes, which means you can pull this off on a Tuesday without losing your mind.
02 -
- Do not marinate longer than two hours or the lime juice will start breaking down the chicken fibers and you will get a mushy texture nobody wants.
- Let the salsa sit in the refrigerator for at least fifteen minutes before serving because the flavors meld and transform into something far greater than the individual parts.
03 -
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before adding it to the marinade so the flavors actually adhere instead of sliding off surface moisture.
- Let your grill pan get fully smoking hot before adding the chicken because that initial sear is what creates the caramelized edges that make this dish sing.