Easy Mango Grilled Chicken

If you’re concerned about drying out grilled chicken breasts, the solution is this grilled mango chicken recipe. The key is brining then basting. First, you’ll tenderize the chicken in a brining solution. From there, you’ll make a sweet and spicy glaze to baste over the chicken as it grills.

You’re going to love how simple this dish is. Mango and chicken is a sweet and savory match made in flavor heaven. It’s excellent served with fluffy rice and grilled vegetables, but it’s honestly delicious with just about anything! 🙂

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The flavor – Every inch of the chicken is loaded with tropical flavor.
• It’s healthy! The ingredients are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.
• It’s the perfect kid-friendly protein for busy weeknights.
• The brine + baste method makes juicy grilled chicken every time.

• Brining Solution: You can use whatever brining solution you typically use. I use a combination of water, garlic, sea salt, and a bay leaf. The brining method featured here works perfectly.
• Chicken: I like using boneless chicken breasts. Brining them beforehand makes them super juicy. If you prefer bone-in, I recommend brining them longer (overnight preferably) and adding a few minutes to the grilling time.
• Olive Oil: After brining, you’ll coat the chicken in a light layer of olive oil to help seal in moisture and keep the chicken from sticking to the grill.
• Salt and Pepper: enhances every delicious fruity flavor.
• Mango Sauce: This simple mango sauce is thick, sticky, and pleasantly sweet. I make it with a combination of chunky mango salsa and orange all-fruit preserves. Instead of orange, feel free to use peach or apricot all-fruit preserves. I also add fresh chopped mango to the mix when using canned salsa.

How To Make Grilled Mango Chicken

Step 1: Brine chicken. Start by adding your brining solution ingredients (water, garlic, sea salt, and a bay leaf) to a large resealable bag. Place the bag in a deep bowl. Add your chicken and seal the bag closed (pressing out as much air as possible)—brine for at least 2 hours.

Step 2: Prepare chicken for grilling. Rinse the chicken thoroughly with cool water and pat dry. Moving along, coat the chicken with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside on a clean plate.

Step 3: Make mango sauce. Whisk mango salsa and all-fruit preserves together in a small bowl.

Step 4: Grill chicken. Preheat your grill on medium-high heat. Once hot, place brined chicken on the grill and cook until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Halfway through, baste the chicken with mango sauce and flip the pieces over. Baste the opposite side with a thick layer of mango sauce and leave the chicken be while it finishes.

Step 5: Let the chicken rest and serve. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter, tent with foil, and let rest for a few minutes to allow the meat to absorb all of the flavorful juices and finish coming to temperature (165 degrees F). Remove the foil and serve hot. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Thin chicken first – You can pound the chicken breasts out to an even thickness, so they cook evenly.
• Jarred vs. fresh mango salsa – You can use either. If using fresh mango salsa, feel free to blend it beforehand if you prefer a less chunky texture. 
• Mango chicken skewers – Another option is skewering the chicken before grilling. If your skewers are wood, be sure to soak them in water beforehand.
• Finish with fresh lime juice – Squeeze lime juice over the chicken to brighten every tropical fruity flavor.

Variations

The simplicity of this recipe leaves room for flexibility. Check out tasty ideas below:

• Salsa & fruit preserve alternatives – Instead of mango salsa and all-fruit orange preserves, feel free to get creative with the salsa and preserve combo. Feel free to use any jarred fruit salsa like pineapple, peach, or strawberry. A smoky chipotle salsa with blackberry or raspberry preserves is a great option.
• Make habanero mango grilled chicken – Add some heat to your mango sauce by blending the salsa and preserves with fresh habanero. You can also use jarred mango habanero salsa.
• Spicy mango chicken – Bring the heat by adding a bit of chili powder, cayenne, or smoked paprika to the mango sauce. Adjust to taste.

Serving Suggestions

Wondering what to serve alongside grilled mango chicken? I like serving the chicken with sliced avocado, grilled veggies, and fluffy white rice. This recipe also pairs well with:

• Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Summer Zucchini Salad
• Black Bean and Corn Salad
• Grilled Peaches with Cream

Storing & Freezing

Storing: After cooling, store leftover mango grilled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Unfortunately, this isn’t a good one to freeze.

More Chicken Recipes

Caribbean Grilled Jerk Chicken Bowls

Pineapple Chicken

Island Grilled Chicken

Grilled Honey Chicken Kebabs 

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