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This flavorful chicken includes a light citrusy marinade that’s perfect for summer. Fresh orange juice and honey make this delicious grilled chicken recipe a favorite!

Update: This recipe was originally published in 2017 and has been republished with all new photos.

I want to be outside for as many meals as possible this time of year. I just want to grill everything. It’s easily my favorite way to cook because it feels like an experience instead of just a task. Do you know what I mean? Give me a glass of wine, some music, and a grill. There’s not much that makes me happier.

This orange chicken recipe is one my whole family loves. The key to this entree is the simple marinade. Because citrus is a mild flavor you’ll want to give this marinade time to work its magic. I like to let it marinate for 8 to 12 hours whenever possible. Trust me, it’s worth it. The flavors in here are light, bright, and scream of warm weather days with sunshine. It is so good. Promise me you’ll add this grilled chicken to your summer bucket list.

No matter whether you have a gas grill, charcoal grill, or electric grill, you can enjoy this beautiful summer entree tonight and I sure hope you do.

Grilled Orange Honey Chicken Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts or thighs: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this grilling recipe but skinless chicken thighs, bone-in chicken thighs, or boneless thighs are also delicious options if you prefer dark meat.
  • Coconut aminos or soy sauce: You can use either coconut aminos or soy sauce in this marinade.
  • Orange juice: The citrus flavor in this chicken comes from the orange juice in the marinade.
  • Honey: A small amount of honey adds a bit of sweetness to the marinade.
  • Orange zest: Orange zest amps up the orange flavor.
  • Seasonings: Ground ginger, salt, and garlic powder are the only seasonings you need to flavor this easy marinade.

How to Make Grilled Orange Honey Chicken

Let’s make this simple recipe, shall we? Place chicken (breasts or thighs) in a gallon Ziploc bag with all ingredients for the orange chicken marinade. Seal the bag, squeezing out any excess air. Let the chicken marinate for at least one hour and up to 12 hours. The longer you marinate, the bigger the orange flavor.

Once the chicken has finished marinating, grill your chicken. To grill, remove each chicken breast or thigh from the bag and place on a hot grill over medium heat. Grill 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until done. Cooking time may increase if you’re using bone-in chicken. Your chicken should be a beautiful golden brown and juices should run clear. If you find that you regularly overcook chicken I recommend getting a meat thermometer. It’s a most accurate way to make sure your chicken is the right temperature when you take it off the grill. For chicken breasts, you’re wanting an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

If this weather doesn’t permit using the outdoor grill, I recommend using an indoor grill pan but sautéing also works well! To sauté, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet on the stovetop. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. (You’ll know it’s ready when the chicken sizzles as you place it in the pan.) Add the chicken to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 5 minutes. Flip your chicken. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Cooking time may increase if you’re using bone-in chicken. (Chicken should be firm to the touch when done and juices should run clear.)

Coconut Aminos vs Soy Sauce

You can use either coconut aminos or soy sauce in this marinade.

Soy sauce is a flavorful condiment of Chinese origin. It’s name comes from the fermented soybean paste used to make it.

Coconut aminos is a soy sauce substitute that has a lot less sodium and contains no soy. It truly tastes like a slightly sweet soy sauce and has no coconut flavor! You can find it in your local grocery store on the aisle with soy sauce or in the gluten free section. Learn more about what it is and why it’s so popular in healthy recipes here.

Chicken Breasts or Thighs?

Feel free to use boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs. I use breasts most often simply because that’s what my family prefers. You can even use bone-in if you like.

Can this Chicken Be Made Whole30?

Yes, just omit the honey and opt for coconut aminos instead of soy sauce to make this marinade Whole30 compliant.

Will this Marinade Work Well with Other Proteins?

Yes, it’s delicious with turkey or pork tenderloin.

How Long Should You Marinate Grilled Chicken?

Since orange is a fairly mild flavor I recommend marinating for at least an hour and up to 12 hours. The longer you marinate the more pronounced the citrus flavor will be. I don’t recommend longer than 12 hours because your meat can start to breakdown and the texture changes if it sits in a marinade for too long. (That goes for any marinade.)

How To Prevent Chicken from Sticking to the Grill

When I’m grilling meat without an olive oil marinade I add olive oil to the grill grates. If you try to flip your chicken and you notice it’s sticking a bit just give it another minute before flipping and the chicken will release better then.

How to Store Leftover Grilled Chicken

Want to enjoy this easy recipe the next day or later in the week? This entree makes great leftovers and it’s perfect for meal prep! Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a large skillet on the stovetop on low to medium-low heat until warmed through.

How to Serve Grilled Chicken

If you’re entertaining guests I recommend plating this chicken on a large platter with orange wedges. You can even top with chopped green onions or fresh rosemary. It looks impressive and adds to the whole experience!

Try a side dish like Grilled Zucchini & Squash, Garlic Green Beans, or Spicy Roasted Broccoli. These chicken breasts are also incredible on top of a salad like my Blueberry Citrus Spinach Salad or Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad. If you’d like to add a carb I suggest white rice, brown rice, or my Easy Seasoned Roasted Potatoes.

5 from 2 votes

Grilled Orange Honey Chicken

By Christina
This flavorful chicken includes a light citrusy marinade that's perfect for summer. Fresh orange juice and honey make this delicious grilled chicken recipe a favorite!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients 

Chicken

  • 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs, boneless and skinless

Marinade

  • ¼ cup coconut aminos or soy sauce
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • zest from half an orange
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Instructions 

  • If using chicken breasts that are quite thick, slice horizontally to create thin cutlets. This helps us cook the chicken faster and gets us better browning on all sides.
  • Add chicken and all marinade ingredients to a gallon ziploc bag. Squeeze out excess air and zip closed. Lay flat, spreading the marinade inside the bag so that it's distributed evenly around the chicken breasts. Let marinate for a minimum of 1 hour. I prefer to marinate for several hours or overnight if possible.
  • Preheat grill to medium high heat.
  • Oil the grill grates to prevent the chicken from sticking. Place your marinated chicken on the grill. Grill for 5-7 minutes, flip, and grill other side for 5-7 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Cooking time varies depending on the thickness of your chicken.

Notes

If you prefer to sauté this chicken, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet on the stovetop. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. (You’ll know it’s ready when the chicken sizzles as you place it in the pan.) Add the chicken to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 5 minutes. Flip your chicken. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Cooking time may increase if you’re using bone-in chicken. (Chicken should be firm to the touch when done and juices should run clear.)
Nutrition information assumes you grilled 6 chicken breasts and each chicken breast is about 1/3 pound.

Nutrition

Serving: 1chicken breast, Calories: 210kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 97mg, Sodium: 596mg, Potassium: 589mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 66IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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18 Comments

  1. Bailey says:

    My stomach is gurgling. This looks so yummy.

  2. Jessica says:

    These sound delicious! Going to try them out this week

    1. Christina says:

      Thank you, Jessica! I hope you enjoy it!

  3. Ms Walia says:

    This looks just too good..I am surely trying this recipe soon. I never had orange chicken before but I think I should have it soon now. 🙂

  4. Wanda Borup says:

    Looks and sounds yummy! Can’t wait to try it!
    Thanks for sharing!

    1. Christina says:

      I hope you love it!

  5. Mr. Tumnus says:

    Marinading in the bag as I type! 
    I was given some oranges from my neighbor’s tree & this is the perfect use for them! Can’t wait to see how it turns out (I did add sriracha lol, I like a little heat!).

  6. Michele says:

    We made this for our youngest son’s bday dinner. It was DELICIOUS! He’s very picky and loved it. Such an easy marinade to put together and the orange flavor was there but not over powering.