Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime Chicken with Broccolini

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Enjoy an easy chicken and broccolini recipe with a sweet and spicy sauce made with honey, jalapenos, lime, ginger, garlic, and sesame for a delicious chicken with broccolini recipe.

top view of the Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime Chicken with Broccolini om a wide round bowl.

Simplicity with Perfect Flavor

Add this low-prep work dish for weeknight dinners to your menu with this easy chicken recipe that strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and incredible flavor—introducing Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime Chicken with Broccolini.

This perfect recipe promises a quick and hassle-free meal and delivers a mouthwatering taste that will leave your taste buds tingling. The succulent chicken is glazed with a delicious sauce combining the sweetness of honey, the jalapeno kick, and the zesty of lime, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

Healthy Feel Good

Including vibrant broccolini adds a nutritional boost and complements the dish with its tender-crisp texture. Say goodbye to mundane dinners and hello to a delightful culinary experience that proves you can have quick meals without compromising on taste.

This Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime Chicken is set to become your go-to recipe for easy, delicious, and satisfying dinners.

Here are some more delicious chicken recipes you must try:

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Simplicity with Perfect Flavor
Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Cooking tip
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ingredients

First, begin your rice before completing this recipe. Then combine low-sodium chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper powder, honey, lime juice, low-sodium soy sauce, garlic cloves, ginger, jalapeno, and kosher salt in a liquid measuring cup (for easy pouring later on).

Next, pat your chicken thighs dry and season with kosher salt. In a hot pan, sear the chicken in olive oil. Add sesame seeds to the oil to toast, then add the seasoned broth. Once the chicken is cooked, add the broccolini and cook until tender.

Plate up the rice, broccolini, and chicken, and finish the sauce by adding sesame oil, a cornstarch slurry, and sliced scallions. Drizzle the finished reduced sauce on top of the chicken and serve.

The Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime Chicken with Broccolini recipe ingredients in containers on a large pizza pan.

Boneless skinless chicken thighs cascaded in a rectangle glass container.

Learn More About Prepping Chicken Chicken Here!

Instructions

Follow the instructions and cooking tips below using the step-by-step picture guide.

the Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime seasoned chicken broth in a measuring cup with a whisk

Make the seasoned broth in a measuring cup for easy pouring.

seared chicken breast with black and white sesame seeds in a non-stick frying pan

Toast the sesame seeds right in the pan with the chicken to bring out a more robust, nutty flavor.

seasoned broth being poured from a measuring cup into the toasted sesame seed and chicken mixture in a non stick frying pan

Add the seasoned broth to the chicken, simmer, and reduce to make a flavorful chicken broth sauce. If you want a darker color for the sauce, use vegetable broth.

raw broccolini sitting on top of the seared sesame chicken in the seasoned broth in a non-stick frying pan

Add the broccolini right on top to steam while the chicken cooks for no more than 3 minutes; you don't want mushy broccolini.

the cooked chicken and broccolini being removed from a non-stick frying pan with a pair of silicone tipped stainless steel tongs

Remove the chicken and broccolini to plate up. You can keep it warm on the side, but I suggest not too hot to overcook the vegetable.

cornstarch slurry in a glass small bowl is being poured into the Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime reduced sauce and being whisk together with a silicone whisk in a non-stick frying pan.

Add the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. Cornstarch slurry is made using the 1:1 method: one part cornstarch to one part water.

a silicone spoon pour the reduced finished Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime sauce over the chicken thighs coated in sesame seeds and sliced scallions in a non-stick frying pan

Add the chicken back into the sauce and coat in the thickened sauce.

Busy Folks - Become a better home cook with cooking tips to help you cook more efficiently on Cook's Notebook tab. In addition, some related detailed steps can be found there. Learn more about prepping chicken.

side close up view of the Spicy Honey Jalapeno Lime Chicken with Broccolini dish

Substitutions

White Medium-Grain Rice - Try with brown rice.
Low Sodium Chicken Broth - Use vegetable broth.
Low Sodium Soy Sauce - Soy sauce is used for the umami flavor and to darken the sauce. You can replace this with liquid aminos, Tamari, or, as a last resort, Worcestershire sauce.
Fresh Lime Juice - Use lemon juice.
White Pepper Powder - Try finely ground black pepper. The white pepper powder gives that kick of a spicy tingling feel.
Minced fresh garlic - For convenience, use garlic paste. Since this also has ginger, you can use store-bought or homemade garlic ginger paste.
Jalapeno - Try Thai chilies!
Chicken Thighs - Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Boccolini - If you can't find it, use regular broccoli florets, Chinese broccoli, or yu choy.

Change Heat Level - Modify the recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.

Variations

Sweet Potatoes - Use to substitute the rice.
Rice Bowl - Turn this into a rice bowl with chopped broccolini, rice, and slaw with chicken pieces.
Make it Crispy - Replace the chicken thighs with crispy chicken tender cooked on a sheet pan or in the air fryer and skip cooking the chicken thighs; just toast the sesame seeds, add the seasoned broth, and reduce after cooking the broccolini and coat the chicken tenders in the sauce.
Meal Prep - This will make an easy meal prep lasting up to three days.

Equipment

Paper Towels - Used for drying off the chicken to for perfect golden brown searing.
Whisk - It is for combining the ingredients for the seasoned broth and incorporating the slurry at the end. If using a non-stick pan, use a silicone whisk, like the Walfos Silicone Whisk, Non Scratch Coated Whisks.
Liquid Measuring Cup - An easy method to measure the broth, season it, and easily pour it into the pan to make the sauce—no bowls, easy clean up, like the OXO Good Grips 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup.
Non-stick Frying Pan - To prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan. You can also use a seasoned stainless steel ring pan. To develop this recipe, I used the chef-trusted All-Clad D3 3-Ply Stainless Steel Nonstick Fry Pan, perfect for oven and broiler cooking too.
Tongs - Used for placing and cooking the chicken into the pan. If using a non-stick pan, try the KitchenAid Silicone Tipped Stainless Steel Tongs, which I also used to develop this recipe.

Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.

Storage

Refrigerator - To store in the fridge, you can place the rice, chicken, broccolini, and sauce in shallow 2-inch containers to cool down quickly. Then, store it in an airtight container. As a result, the meal will last up to three days.
Freezer - Follow the refrigeration process mentioned above. Then, place it in the freezer in a labeled, airtight container.

Air Tight Food Containers - I use Glass Food Storage Containers with a plastic clipping lid to store food. For example, I always suggest glass storage containers since you can microwave them and hold food without staining the container, and the glass keeps them at a more stable temperature, which keeps the food fresher longer.

Cooking tip

For a foolproof way to thicken sauces, consider using a slurry. Simply mix equal parts cold water or broth with cornstarch or flour, then gradually whisk it into your simmering sauce until you achieve the desired thickness, ensuring a smooth and lump-free result that adds the perfect velvety texture to your dishes.

Cornstarch slurry is quicker than using flour. Some recipes call for a roux, using all-purpose flour, which takes longer and is done around the beginning of a recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I cook boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a frying pan?

On average, boneless, skinless chicken thighs take about 6-8 minutes per side to cook thoroughly in a frying pan over medium heat. However, using a meat thermometer is essential to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.

Should I marinate chicken thighs before frying?

Marinating boneless, skinless chicken thighs before frying is a great way to enhance flavor and tenderness. Allow the chicken to marinate in a marinade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

This adds delicious depth and helps keep the chicken juicy during the frying process. You can do this by marinating it in salt, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper powder, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger paste with the jalapeno pieces, then using the marinade to make the sauce later by adding the remaining ingredients.

For safety purposes, make sure to bring the sauce to a full boil to kill any harmful bacteria from the raw chicken.

How do I cook broccolini to maintain its vibrant color and crisp texture?

Blanching is an excellent method to preserve broccolini's bright green color and crisp texture. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, then immerse the broccolini in the boiling water for about 2 minutes. Quickly transfer it to an ice water bath to halt the cooking process.

Afterward, you can coat the blanched broccolini in the sauce for a short time to achieve the perfect balance of vibrant color and tender-crisp consistency.

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