Grilled Coconut Chicken

Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor.

Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor.

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Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor. A super easy summer meal!

These past few months all I’ve wanted in my recipes is for them to be quick and easy. Like, ridiculously easy. And preferably on the grill so we don’t have to heat up the house.

In comes this Grilled Coconut Chicken. The only effort you have to put into it is dicing the chicken into chunks and whisking up a few ingredients.

Though this recipe may seem simple, the coconut milk marinade completely transforms the chicken and provides so much flavor while still being healthy.

Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor. A super easy summer meal!

Grilled Coconut Chicken Ingredients

  • Boneless skinless chicken: You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs, whichever you prefer. The photos here picture chicken breast.
  • Unsweetened coconut milk: This brings all the creamy coconut flavor. Make sure it’s unsweetened. You can usually find canned coconut milk in the ethnic aisle of your grocery store.
  • Lime: The zest and juice of one lime is added to the marinade for some extra flavor and zip. Zest the lime first then roll it on the counter to get the juices flowing before juicing it.
  • Soy sauce: Adds depth, richness and a little saltiness to the marinade.
  • Honey: Just a little sweetness to balance out the other flavors. It also helps caramelize the chicken and give those delicious char marks.
  • Fresh garlic: Always garlic.
  • Ground ginger: Adds a warm, spiciness to the chicken.
Ingredients needed for the recipe - unsweetened coconut milk, honey, lime, ground ginger, garlic and soy sauce.

How to Make Grilled Coconut Chicken

This couldn’t get easier. Start out by cutting your chicken into 1-inch chunks. If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water to keep them from burning too much.

Whisk together the coconut milk, lime zest, lime juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic and ground ginger. Measure out 1/2 cup of the marinade for basting later.

Marinade mixed up with the limes and garlic in background.

Add the chicken to the bowl and stir until it’s completely coated.

Cover, place it in the fridge and marinate it for as little as 1 hour or up to 8 hours.

Once you’re ready to cook, get your grill turned on to medium heat. While you’re waiting for it to warm up, thread the chunks of chicken onto your skewers.

Grill for about 15 minutes, flipping and basting with the reserved marinade every 5 minutes.

Chicken soaking in the coconut marinade.

Healthy and Flavorful

The coconut milk in the marinade brings so much flavor and makes the chicken SO tender.

The addition of soy sauce and lime juice gives the chicken Thai food vibes which is always a plus.

Then the grill adds that summer nostalgic charred flavor. It all combines to a delicious meal that everyone will love.

I especially love serving it with coconut lime rice to really bring home that coconutty tropical flavor.

Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor. A super easy summer meal!

More Summer Main Dishes:

Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor. A super easy summer meal!
Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor.
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5 from 6 votes

Grilled Coconut Chicken

Need some tropical vibes in your life?! This Grilled Coconut Chicken will transport your mind to the beach. Simple, healthy and packed with coconut flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time15 minutes
Marinate Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Keyword: grilled coconut chicken
Yield: 6 servings
Author: Meg’s Everyday Indulgence

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 13.66 oz. can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1 lime, zested and juiced
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. honey
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together coconut milk, lime zest, lime juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic and ginger. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade, cover and refrigerate.
  • Add chicken to remaining marinade and stir to coat. Cover the bowl and marinade for 1 to 8 hours in the fridge.
  • Preheat grill over medium heat. Thread chicken onto skewers. Grill for 5 minutes, flip then baste with reserved marinade. Cook 5 minutes, flip and baste again. Cook another 5 minutes. Total grill time is 15 minutes. Remove from grill.

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4 comments

  1. 5 stars
    My family loves anything grilled on a stick so I knew I had to try this . This Coconut grilled chicken was amazing. The balance of flavors was spot on. I am going to have to make this a few more times before grilling season is over.

  2. 5 stars
    These look so juicy and good! I’m inspired to make them!

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe was so great!! Very delicious and super easy to make! Thanks!

  4. 5 stars
    Wow! Great marinade. The coconut milk did a great job of tenderizing the chicken breast. Good flavor, texture… I didn’t have any limes so used tangerines instead… yummy!

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