Hot Honey Ushers in the Sweet Heat of Summer

Summer flavors are meant to be bold – they bring heat, smoke, char, spice – and honey ties them all together! In addition to the perfect amount of sweetness to any dish, honey caramelizes on the grill, balances spicy marinades, and adds a smooth finish to everything from wings to watermelon cocktails.

But honey is more than a mere sweet ingredient, it’s an experience in flavor immersion. This pantry staple has a special way of bringing all five flavor profiles to life – complementing sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory foods in one simple swirl.

If you’re like us, you’re planning out your summer cookouts and are looking for new flavors to explore. Hot honey is having a moment, but it’s just the beginning of discovering what honey can bring to the summer spread. Consider this your midweek flavor reset – four sweet summer trends, zero complicated ingredients – just smart combos and a golden drizzle:

Swicy = Sweet + Spicy
Swangy = Sweet + Spicy + Tangy
Swokey = Sweet + Smokey
Swavory = Sweet + Savory

Below we’re unpacking each of these flavor trends and how you can incorporate it into your summer menu:

Honey is the ultimate flavor balancer – bringing harmony to sweet, spicy, smokey, and tangy summer dishes.

Honey Baked Black Beans

Made for the grill – honey caramelizes beautifully, creating rich color and craveable texture on meats, veggies, and fruit.

Honey Grilled Asparagus with Lemony Soy Dressing

Honey is your grill-season essential. In marinades, it helps keep chicken juicy, flavorful and beautifully caramelized from the first bite to the last.

Honey Grilled Chicken