Transform your weeknight dinner routine with these irresistible BBQ Chicken Tacos! Featuring perfectly charred tortillas, savory BBQ-sauced chicken, a refreshing black bean and veggie mix, and a vibrant creamy cilantro lime sauce that ties it all together.

Looking for the perfect accompaniment? These tacos pair wonderfully with a light Panzanella Salad or a refreshing Fruit Salad Recipe.

Easy & Delicious BBQ Chicken Tacos: Your New Weeknight Favorite!

Life can be wonderfully chaotic, and finding meal solutions that are both quick and delicious is a constant quest. Tacos consistently rise to the top of my list for their versatility and ease. While classic ground beef tacos are a regular staple in my home, these BBQ Chicken Tacos take simplicity and flavor to an entirely new level. They are designed for those busy evenings when you crave something extraordinary without spending hours in the kitchen.

Thanks to smart shortcut ingredients and a few simple steps, these tacos truly **come together in minutes**. The secret weapon? My go-to creamy cilantro lime sauce, which I often have a jar of waiting in my fridge, ready to elevate any dish. This recipe isn’t just about speed; it’s about crafting layers of flavor that will make your taste buds sing, from the smoky BBQ chicken to the fresh, zesty sauce.

Why These BBQ Chicken Tacos Are a Must-Try

These aren’t just any chicken tacos; they’re a celebration of flavor and convenience. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with this recipe:

• Unbeatable Flavor Profile: The smoky, sweet, and tangy BBQ chicken perfectly complements the fresh, zesty, and creamy cilantro lime sauce. It’s a harmonious blend that’s both comforting and exciting.
• Incredibly Quick & Easy: Utilizing shredded rotisserie chicken drastically cuts down on cooking time, making this an ideal meal for even the busiest weeknights. Most of the prep involves simple chopping and mixing.
• Customizable to Your Liking: Whether you prefer a spicier kick, extra veggies, or different toppings, this recipe is highly adaptable. It’s easy to adjust ingredients to suit dietary preferences or what you have on hand.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: Many components can be prepared in advance, allowing for lightning-fast assembly when dinner time rolls around.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Tacos are inherently fun and interactive. Set up a taco bar, and let everyone build their own perfect BBQ chicken taco creation.

Essential Ingredients for the Perfect BBQ Chicken Tacos

The beauty of these tacos lies in their simple yet impactful ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

• Rotisserie Chicken: This is your ultimate shortcut! A pre-cooked rotisserie chicken makes prep a breeze. Simply shred or chop the chicken. You can also cook and shred your own chicken if preferred, like a grilled chicken marinade for added flavor.
• Your Favorite BBQ Sauce: The quality of your BBQ sauce significantly impacts the flavor. Choose a brand you love – I’m particularly fond of Stubb’s for its rich, authentic taste. Experiment with different varieties (smoky, spicy, sweet) to find your perfect match.
• Fresh Cherry Tomatoes & Red Onion: These add a burst of freshness, color, and a slight tang. Chop them finely to ensure they blend well into the black bean and corn mixture.
• Black Beans and Corn: A classic taco filling duo! Remember to rinse and drain canned black beans thoroughly. If using frozen corn, ensure it’s thawed before mixing. Fresh corn cut from the cob in season is also a fantastic addition.
• Tortillas: Whether you prefer corn or flour, street-taco-sized tortillas are ideal. Warming or toasting them is crucial; it makes them pliable and prevents breaking, while charring adds a wonderful smoky depth.
• Green Cabbage: Shredded green cabbage adds a delightful crunch and freshness. Tossing it with a little cilantro-lime sauce just before serving ensures it remains crisp and flavorful.
• Cilantro Lime Sauce: This creamy, tangy sauce is the absolute star! It brings all the flavors together. Make it ahead of time—its flavor deepens beautifully after sitting in the fridge.

How To Make BBQ Chicken Tacos: A Simple Guide

Creating these BBQ Chicken Tacos is a straightforward process, broken down into a few easy steps. You’ll be enjoying homemade tacos in no time!

1. Prepare the Cilantro Lime Sauce: Start by zesting and juicing your limes to yield about 1/2 teaspoon of zest and 3 tablespoons of juice. Combine the lime juice and zest with minced garlic, fresh cilantro, half of a seeded jalapeño (adjust to your preferred spice level), mayonnaise, and sour cream in a blender or mini food processor. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Blend until wonderfully smooth and creamy. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate; the flavors will meld and improve over time.
2. Create the BBQ Chicken Filling: If using a rotisserie chicken, remove the meat from the bones and shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce, mixing thoroughly until every piece is coated. If the chicken is cold, gently warm it in a pan over low heat until heated through.
3. Assemble the Veggie Mixture: In a separate large bowl, combine the finely chopped cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, thoroughly drained and rinsed black beans, and thawed corn. Toss gently to combine all the vibrant ingredients.
4. Dress the Cabbage: Take about 1/2 cup of your prepared cilantro-lime sauce and toss it with the shredded green cabbage. This step adds moisture and flavor to the cabbage, ensuring it’s not dry and adds a zesty crunch to your tacos. Set aside until assembly.
5. Warm and Char Your Tortillas: For the best results, lightly spray both sides of your corn or flour tortillas with cooking spray. “Grill” them on your stovetop directly over an open flame (using tongs) until they are slightly charred and pliable. If an open flame isn’t an option, warm them gently in a microwave (covered with a damp paper towel) or in a dry pan. As soon as they are warm and flexible, quickly fold them in half and set them aside. This helps them hold their taco shape when you assemble them.
6. Assemble and Serve: Now for the fun part! Take a warmed tortilla, lay down a generous layer of the dressed cabbage, followed by a few spoonfuls of the delicious BBQ chicken, and then a spoonful of the colorful black bean and veggie mix. For an extra touch, add thin slices of avocado and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. Finish with a final drizzle of the extra creamy cilantro-lime sauce and serve immediately. Enjoy the explosion of flavors and textures!

Toppings and Variations to Elevate Your Tacos

While these BBQ Chicken Tacos are fantastic on their own, a selection of fresh toppings can truly take them over the top. Here are some of our favorite suggestions:

• Avocado: A must-have for its creamy texture and rich flavor. Add thin slices to each taco, or mash it with a pinch of salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice for a simple, homemade guacamole.
• Fresh Veggie Salsa: Beyond the black bean and corn mix, consider a quick side salsa. Mix drained black beans, thawed corn, halved cherry tomatoes, and diced red onion. Feel free to swap in or add finely diced red bell pepper or a touch of green chili for extra crunch and heat.
• Fresh Cilantro: A sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro brightens the entire dish with its herbaceous notes. Don’t skip it if you love cilantro!
• Extra Creamy Cilantro-Lime Sauce: Always have extra sauce on hand for drizzling right before serving. It’s too good not to!
• Pickled Red Onions: For a tangy, sweet, and slightly crunchy contrast, quick pickled red onions are an excellent addition.
• Cotija Cheese or Feta: A sprinkle of crumbly, salty cheese adds another layer of authentic taco flavor.
• A Squeeze of Fresh Lime: A final squeeze of fresh lime juice just before eating enhances all the fresh flavors.
• Spicy Kick: If you love heat, add a dash of your favorite hot sauce or a few extra slices of jalapeño (fresh or pickled).

Meal Planning and Storage Tips

These BBQ Chicken Tacos are fantastic for meal prepping, allowing you to enjoy a delicious, homemade meal with minimal effort throughout the week.

• Make Ahead: The creamy cilantro-lime sauce can be made up to 3-4 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The black bean and corn mixture can also be prepared 1-2 days ahead of time.
• Storing Leftovers: For the best freshness, store the leftover BBQ chicken, the black bean and corn mix, and the cilantro-lime sauce separately in individual airtight containers in the fridge.
• Shelf Life: Leftovers will remain fresh and delicious for up to 3-4 days when stored correctly.
• Reheating: Reheat the BBQ chicken gently in a pan or microwave until warm. Warm your tortillas just before serving for the best texture. Assemble your tacos with fresh toppings right before eating.

Explore More Delicious Taco Recipes

If you love tacos as much as we do, you’ll want to try these other fantastic recipes from our collection:

• Healthy Tacos
• Chicken Tinga Tacos
• Turkey Tacos
• Chicken Taco Salad
• Chipotle Chicken Tacos

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5 from 4 votes

BBQ Chicken Tacos

By Chelsea Lords

These BBQ Chicken Tacos with charred tortillas are loaded with saucy chicken, a black bean veggie mix, and a creamy cilantro-lime sauce!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yields: 13 tacos

Recipe Video (External)

A video guide for these BBQ Chicken Tacos is available on the original blog. You can often find cooking demonstrations that walk you through each step, making the process even easier for visual learners.

Equipment

• Blender or mini food processor

Ingredients

Tacos

• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (like Stubb’s)
• 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
• 1/3 cup diced red onion
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed (or fresh corn cut from a cob)
• 12 to 15 corn or flour tortillas, street-taco-sized
• 3 cups shredded green cabbage
• Optional serving suggestions: fresh cilantro, fresh limes, 1 large avocado (see note 1)
• Cooking spray (optional, for tortillas) (e.g., olive oil spray)

Cilantro Lime Sauce

• 2 limes (for 1/2 tsp zest and 3 tbsp juice)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 of a large bunch cilantro (approx. 1 loosely packed cup)
• 1/2 jalapeño, seeded (1 heaping tablespoon, or 1 full jalapeño for spicier dressing)
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/2 cup sour cream (fat-free can be used)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Zest and juice the limes to obtain about 1/2 teaspoon of zest and 3 tablespoons of juice. Add this lime juice and zest to a blender or mini food processor. Combine with the minced garlic, cilantro, 1/2 of the seeded jalapeño (add more slowly if you prefer extra heat), mayo, and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to your desired taste. Blend or pulse until the sauce is perfectly smooth and creamy. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
2. Shred or chop the rotisserie chicken meat from the bones. In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken with your preferred BBQ sauce, ensuring the chicken is evenly coated. If the chicken is cold, you may warm it gently in a pan over low heat for a few minutes before assembling the tacos.
3. In a separate large bowl, combine the chopped cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, thoroughly drained and rinsed black beans, and thawed corn. Mix well to create a vibrant veggie topping.
4. Take approximately 1/2 cup of the prepared cilantro-lime sauce and toss it with the shredded green cabbage. This lightly dresses the cabbage, adding flavor and ensuring it stays crisp. Set this aside.
5. Prepare your tortillas by lightly spraying both sides with cooking spray. For authentic flavor and flexibility, “grill” the tortillas directly over an open stovetop flame using tongs until they are slightly charred and pliable. Alternatively, warm them by covering them with a damp paper towel and microwaving, or heating in a dry pan. Once warmed or charred, quickly fold each tortilla in half while still warm; this helps them maintain their shape for easier assembly.
6. To assemble, place a layer of the dressed cabbage on each tortilla. Follow with a few spoonfuls of the BBQ chicken mixture and then a few spoonfuls of the black bean and veggie mix. If desired, add thin slices of fresh avocado and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro to each taco. Finish by drizzling generously with extra cilantro-lime sauce and serve immediately. Enjoy your homemade BBQ Chicken Tacos!

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Here are some optional serving suggestions: fresh cilantro for garnish, fresh lime wedges for squeezing, and 1 large avocado for slicing or mashing into guacamole.

Storage: Store leftover BBQ chicken, the black bean and corn mix, and the cilantro-lime sauce separately in individual airtight containers in the refrigerator. Leftovers will last up to 3–4 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 taco |
Calories: 302 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 31 g |
Protein: 17 g |
Fat: 13 g |
Saturated Fat: 3 g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g |
Trans Fat: 0.02 g |
Cholesterol: 47 mg |
Sodium: 339 mg |
Potassium: 316 mg |
Fiber: 6 g |
Sugar: 6 g |
Vitamin A: 222 IU |
Vitamin C: 13 mg |
Calcium: 57 mg |
Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.