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Garlic Butter Honey BBQ Chicken Tacos

Garlic butter honey BBQ chicken tacos with glossy, caramelized chicken and a lightly spicy BBQ-honey glaze. Thin-sliced chicken is tossed in the sauce until it clings and drips from warm corn tortillas.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican/American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and glaze
  • 1.5 lb chicken breast Sliced thin so it cooks quickly and stays juicy.
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce Use your preferred smoky BBQ style.
  • 3 tbsp honey Adds sticky sweetness to the caramelized glaze.
  • 3 tbsp butter For the garlic butter base and glossy finish.
  • 5 clove garlic Minced for even flavor in the skillet.
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika Provides smoky warmth.
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne Adds gentle heat; adjust to taste.
  • salt To taste for seasoning.
  • pepper To taste for seasoning.
Taco build
  • 8 corn tortillas Warm until pliable so the glaze doesn’t steam out.
  • fresh cilantro, diced onion, and lime for serving Use diced onion and cilantro for topping; serve with lime wedges for brightness.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the BBQ-honey sauce
  1. Combine BBQ sauce, honey, smoked paprika, and cayenne in a small bowl.
  2. Set the sauce aside so flavors meld while you cook the chicken.
Cook the garlic butter chicken
  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add minced garlic.
  2. Cook garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add sliced chicken breast.
  3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until nearly cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.
  4. Pour the BBQ-honey sauce over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
  5. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce caramelizes slightly, turning glossy.
Warm tortillas and assemble
  1. Warm corn tortillas on a griddle until heated through and flexible.
  2. Fill each tortilla with glazed chicken.
  3. Top with fresh cilantro and diced onion, then serve with lime wedges.

Notes

Pro tip: slice the chicken thinly and keep the skillet hot so the glaze caramelizes instead of pooling. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium until warmed through (tortillas best warmed fresh). Freezing is not recommended because tortillas and glaze texture can change. For a lighter option, use a reduced-fat butter substitute while keeping the honey and BBQ sauce the same for flavor.