Go Back

Garlic Butter Honey BBQ Chicken Tacos

Garlic butter honey BBQ chicken tacos with glossy caramelized chicken and a lightly spicy honey glaze. Quick skillet cooking leaves tender, thin-sliced chicken coated in BBQ sauce for a dripping, warm-tortilla finish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

chicken breast
  • 1.5 lb chicken breast, sliced thin
BBQ sauce
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
honey
  • 3 tbsp honey
butter
  • 3 tbsp butter
garlic
  • 5 clove garlic, minced
smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
cayenne
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne
salt and pepper
  • 1 Salt and pepper to taste
corn tortillas
  • 8 corn tortillas
fresh cilantro
  • 1 Fresh cilantro, diced
diced onion
  • 1 diced onion
lime
  • 1 lime wedges

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Make the BBQ-honey sauce
  1. In a small bowl, combine BBQ sauce, honey, smoked paprika, and cayenne until evenly mixed. (No heat yet.)
Cook garlic butter chicken
  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Look for bubbling and a glossy sheen on the surface.
  2. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. The garlic should smell aromatic without browning.
  3. Add sliced chicken breast to the skillet in an even layer. Cook until it is nearly cooked through, about 10-12 minutes, turning once or twice for even browning.
  4. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the centers are just shy of done.
  5. Pour the BBQ-honey sauce over the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Make sure the glaze clings to the slices.
  6. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce caramelizes slightly. Watch for thicker, darker gloss on the chicken.
Warm tortillas and assemble
  1. Warm corn tortillas on a griddle until pliable, about 20-30 seconds per side. Look for light golden spots and flexible texture.
  2. Fill each tortilla with the glazed chicken. Aim for a generous amount so the caramelized sauce visibly drips.
  3. Top tacos with fresh cilantro and diced onion. Finish with lime wedges on the side and serve warm.

Notes

Pro tip: For the best glossy caramelization, slice chicken fairly thin and keep the skillet at medium-high so the honey BBQ sauce reduces quickly. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because tortillas and glaze texture soften on thawing. If you want a dairy-free swap, use a 1:1 plant butter substitute for the butter in the garlic step.