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Garlic Butter Honey BBQ Chicken Tacos

Garlic butter honey BBQ chicken tacos with glossy, caramelized chicken and a warm tortilla that catches dripping honey glaze. Sliced chicken is sautéed with garlic butter, tossed in a BBQ-honey sauce, then quickly caramelized for bold flavor and juicy texture.
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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 for even cooking.
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 5 clove garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne
  • 0.25 salt To taste.
  • 0.25 pepper To taste.
Taco assembly
  • 8 corn tortillas Warm on a griddle before filling.
  • 0.25 fresh cilantro Diced for topping.
  • 0.25 diced onion For garnish.
  • 0.5 lime Wedges for serving.

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the BBQ-honey sauce
  1. Combine BBQ sauce, honey, smoked paprika, and cayenne in a small bowl.
  2. Stir until evenly blended so the honey and spices are fully incorporated.
Sauté garlic and cook chicken
  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add minced garlic.
  2. Cook garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant, watching closely to prevent browning.
  3. Add sliced chicken breast, season with salt and pepper, and cook until nearly cooked through, about 10-12 minutes, stirring to keep pieces even.
Caramelize and glaze
  1. Pour the BBQ-honey sauce over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
  2. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce caramelizes slightly, coating the chicken with a glossy finish.
Warm tortillas and assemble tacos
  1. Warm corn tortillas on a griddle until pliable, about 20-30 seconds per side.
  2. Fill each tortilla with glazed chicken and arrange on a serving plate.
  3. Top with fresh cilantro, diced onion, and serve with lime wedges so each taco gets bright citrus at the table.

Notes

For the most caramelized, glossy coating, keep the skillet at medium-high so the sauce reduces fast; slice the chicken thin so it cooks to nearly done before glazing. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium until hot. Freezing is not recommended because tortillas and chicken texture can soften after thawing. If you want a lower-sugar option, use a reduced-sugar BBQ sauce and keep the honey at 3 tbsp for balance.