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Honey lime chicken tacos with red cabbage slaw, jalapeño and lime crema on a plate
Mary Johnson

Honey Lime Chicken Tacos

These honey lime chicken tacos use juicy chicken thighs marinated in honey, fresh lime, garlic, chili powder and cumin, then seared in a hot skillet until caramelized and finished with a sticky honey-lime glaze. Serve them in warm corn tortillas with a crunchy red cabbage slaw, lime crema, cotija, radish and jalapeño.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Marinating 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican

Ingredients
  

Honey lime chicken
  • 1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs about 680 g, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice about 2 limes
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest from 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil divided
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Finishing glaze
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil for dairy-free
Red cabbage slaw
  • 2 cups red cabbage very thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Lime crema
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons water to thin
To serve
  • 10 small corn tortillas 6-inch, warmed
  • 1/3 cup cotija cheese crumbled, or feta
  • 1 avocado sliced
  • 1 jalapeño thinly sliced
  • 3 radishes thinly sliced
  • lime wedges for serving

Equipment

  • Large cast iron or heavy skillet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Instant-read thermometer
  • Microplane or zester
  • Kitchen towel or tortilla warmer

Method
 

  1. Whisk the honey, lime juice, lime zest, 1 tablespoon of the oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the chicken pieces, toss to coat, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
  2. Toss the red cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, honey and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the sour cream, lime juice, lime zest and salt, then add water a little at a time until it drizzles easily. Refrigerate both.
  3. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Lift the chicken out of the marinade, letting the excess drip off (discard the used marinade). Spread it in a single layer, in two batches if needed, and cook undisturbed for 3 minutes until browned.
  4. Stir and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more, lowering the heat to medium if the honey starts to darken too fast, until the chicken is caramelized and reaches at least 165°F (74°C) inside; 175°F gives the most tender thighs.
  5. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, honey and lime juice for the glaze and toss until the chicken is glossy and sticky.
    Tray of honey lime chicken tacos with caramelized chicken thighs and cilantro
  6. Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 20 to 30 seconds per side, or directly over a gas flame, and keep them wrapped in a towel.
  7. Fill each tortilla with slaw and chicken, then top with lime crema, cotija, avocado, jalapeño and radish. Serve with lime wedges.
    Three honey lime chicken tacos with radish, cotija and lime wedges

Notes

  • Chicken breast: Use the same amount, cut into 1-inch pieces, and pull it as soon as it reaches 165°F so it stays juicy.
  • Marinating time: Keep it under 8 hours; lime juice can make the surface of the chicken mealy if left too long.
  • Watch the heat: Honey burns quickly. If the pan smokes or the glaze turns dark brown before the chicken is cooked, lower the heat.
  • Dairy-free: Use olive oil in the glaze, a dairy-free yogurt for the crema, and skip the cotija.
  • Gluten-free: Use 100% corn tortillas.
  • Storage: Refrigerate the chicken, slaw and crema separately for up to 3 to 4 days. Assemble tacos just before eating.
  • Honey safety: Do not give honey to babies under 12 months old.