Easy BBQ Chicken Tacos – Tastes Better from Scratch

BBQ Chicken Tacos are a favorite healthy and easy dinner at our house. Marinated BBQ chicken is served in a warm tortilla topped with black beans, corn, onion, cilantro, avocado and a creamy cilantro lime sauce.

Want more 30-Minute Meals? Try my Spring Roll Bowl, Applebee’s Salad, Easy Sheet Pan Fajitas, or Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.

Why I love this meal:

• Taco Tuesday– It’s no secret that I love tacos and we eat them weekly. These BBQ Chicken Tacos are fresh, filling, and everyone can add their own favorite toppings.
• Healthy – Packed with protein and fresh veggies, this these grilled chicken tacos are hearty and tasty!
• The Sauce – The creamy cilantro lime sauce is quick to make, only has a few ingredients, and takes these tacos to the next level. You can’t leave out this homemade sauce!

How to make BBQ Chicken Tacos:

Marinate Chicken: Add chicken and ⅓ cup BBQ sauce to a ziplock bag. Refrigerate for 1-3 hours.

Make Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce by combining all ingredients until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The sauce could be made a few days ahead.

Grill Chicken: Preheat grill and lightly grease with oil or cooking spray. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side, flipping once, until cooked through, 165 degrees F. Remove to a cutting board, baste with more BBQ sauce, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before chopping.

Assemble Tacos: Warm tortillas on grill or in a hot dry skillet. Add a spoonful of chopped chicken, corn, black beans, tomatoes and avocado to each warm tortilla. Drizzle chicken tacos with extra bbq sauce, and cilantro lime sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro. Enjoy!

How to Heat Corn Tortillas:

The best way to heat corn tortillas is in a skillet on the stove, or on the grill. Cook them for just a few seconds on each side, until small golden spots appear. Transfer them to a plate and cover, or wrap them with aluminum foil to keep warm. Stack them as you go, making sure to re-cover them after each addition. I don’t recommend using the microwave to warm corn tortillas because they get soft and tear easier.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: The chicken can be marinated and the veggies can be chopped and kept separately in the fridge until ready to serve.

To Freeze: Place cooked or marinating chicken in a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to two months.

Recipe Variations:

• Vegetables: This is a great meal to clean out the extra veggies in your fridge. We love to add grilled zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, chopped lettuce, or olives.
• Vegetarian: Instead of chicken, marinate extra firm tofu.
• Crockpot: Place chicken in crockpot and cover with bbq sauce. Cook for 3-5 hours on low, or until done. Chop or shred chicken.

More Taco Recipes:

I originally shared this recipe July 2018. Updated July 2022 with new photos and helpful tips.