Name: Easy Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Mexican & Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons avocado oil or neutral high smoke point oil of choice; 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (if using breasts, pound to even thickness or butterfly into 2 (two) 1-inch pieces); 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon onion powder; 2 chipotle peppers (from a can, packed in adobo sauce), finely chopped; 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers); ¼ cup honey; ½ cup light beer of choice (such as Modelo Especial); 1 lime, juiced; optional: cornstarch slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch whisked into ¼ cup water); kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season

30-Minute Weeknight Dinners Don’t Get Better Than This…

…because this honey chipotle chicken recipe has it all. Juicy, fall-apart tender chicken that absolutely bursts with rich, spicy-sweet flavor despite cooking for a mere 25 minutes. PLUS! It’s basically a pantry recipe, calling for simple staples that you probably always have on hand.

Not sure about you, but that is a dinner situation that I can get down with any night of the week.

So here’s the deal – these honey chipotle chicken tacos are basically my idea of the perfect chicken taco.

Good ol’ boneless, skinless chicken gets a dusting of my go-to homemade taco seasoning. It simmers away in a simple honey chipotle sauce made with beer for extra flavor. The chicken gets seriously fall-apart tender & soaks up so much smoky-spicy-sweet flavor. (It’s not spicy-spicy…there’s a good smoky kick that we balance out with the sweetness of honey!)

& best of all, you can serve it up any which way your heart desires. If you’re not in the mood for tacos, it’s also fantastic in taco salads, burrito bowls, quesadillas, nachos…you name it!

This honey chipotle chicken recipe has been a reader favorite here on PWWB since it was first published back in 2017. I originally shared it as an Instant Pot recipe, but over the years I’ve grown to prefer making it in a skillet, so we’re refreshing it today with this slightly different method. This version is still totally easy & weeknight-friendly. Plus, it delivers the smoky-sweet flavor you may already know & love. & if love cooking with your Instant Pot or slow cooker, be sure to check out the Recipe Notes for full directions with these alternate cooking methods!

An overhead shot of chipotle honey chicken tacos pressed together side-by-side on a piece of white crinkled parchment paper. The tacos are garnished with fresh pico de gallo & chopped cilantro. A lime wedge & a bowl of pico de gallo surround the tacos.

Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe Highlights

You will LOVE this Honey Chipotle Chicken recipe because it’s…

PERFECTLY SPICY-SWEET, thanks to a generous dusting of my go-to taco seasoning & the best smoky-sweet honey chipotle sauce. It absolutely bursts with rich flavor despite a short cook time – life’s too short for bland chicken!
SERIOUSLY QUICK & EASY! It calls for simple pantry staples that you probably already have on hand & it comes together in 35 minutes or less!
TOTALLY VERSATILE. Serve it up as honey chipotle chicken tacos, burrito bowls, salads, nachos, quesadillas, you name it. Plus, it’s a skillet meal that’s both slow cooker & Instant Pot-friendly, perfect for a quick & easy weeknight meal.

There’s seriously nothing not to love about it. ♡ Read on to learn more about this Honey Chipotle Chicken, or jump straight to the recipe & get cookin’!

Chicken Shawarma Hummus Bowl with quinoa, cucumbers, pickled red onion, shredded cabbage, & naan bread shown in a speckled gray ceramic bowl. The bowl sits atop a creamy cement surface, surrounded by lemon wedges, fresh basil leaves & a small bowl of pickled red onions.

Maximum Flavor, Minimal Effort

3 foolproof secrets to low-fuss, flavor-packed dinners, learned from years working in restaurants.

Honey Chipotle Chicken – Key Ingredients

My favorite thing about this easy chicken recipe is that packs a big punch of flavor but doesn’t require a complicated ingredient lineup. Instead, we rely on just a handful of pantry staple ingredients that you probably always have stocked in your kitchen.

Chipotle Honey Chicken ingredients arranged on a light blue textured surface: chicken thighs, avocado oil, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, honey, light beer, & lime juice.

Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the Recipe Card, below.

Here’s what you need…

Chicken – Feel free to use either chicken thighs or chicken breasts for this honey chipotle chicken. Because it’s seared & simmered, I prefer thighs – they’re a little more forgiving & don’t dry out easily. If you choose to use breasts, either pound them out flat or butterfly them by slicing them in half lengthwise to help ensure they cook evenly & quickly.
Taco spices – My go-to blend is a simple yet flavorful combination of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, & onion powder. If you like an extra kick of heat, add a dash of cayenne.
Chipotle peppers – One of my favorite pantry staples, they provide bold smoky & spicy flavor. Learn more about chipotles below!
Honey – A generous drizzle adds sweetness to offset the smokiness of the chipotles.
Beer – For extra rich, earthiness that marries together the spicy & sweet flavor of the chicken. I suggest using a lighter beer – I typically opt for Modelo Especial when I make Mexican & Tex-Mex dishes. (And if you’re not a beer lover, don’t be deterred – the beer infuses the chicken with rich, complex flavor without tasting especially beer-like…I promise!)

Ingredient Spotlight ⇢ Chipotle Peppers

What are chipotle peppers? ⇢ Chipotle peppers are simply jalapeño peppers that have been smoked & dried. Because they have an incredible signature smokiness, I like using them whenever I want to add a big punch of smoky flavor with minimal effort.

Where to find them? ⇢ Most conventional grocery stores here in the US carry canned chipotles packed in tangy-smoky adobo sauce. You can typically find them in the ‘international’ aisle.

How spicy are chipotle peppers? ⇢ Since they’re dried & preserved, I find chipotle peppers to be a little spicier than a fresh jalapeño. If you’re really sensitive to spicy foods but still want the smoky flavor, skip the chipotles & use their adobo sauce instead. It’s boldly flavored but much more mild in terms of spiciness.

How to Make Honey Chipotle Chicken in a Skillet

This honey chipotle chicken is an easy one-skillet recipe & it comes together really quickly – in just 35 minutes or less! If you love cooking with your Instant Pot or slow cooker, rest assured that this recipe is also both slow cooker- & Instant Pot-friendly! You can find the full directions for these methods in the Recipe Notes, below.

Six chicken thighs seasoned with taco seasoning arranged in a white bowl lined with white crinkled parchment paper. The bowl rests on a light blue textured surface.

A white ceramic bowl filled with an easy honey chipotle sauce sits atop a light blue texture surface. A small whisk rests inside the bowl.

Full Recipe Directions, including step-by-step photos, are included in the Recipe Card, below.

An overview of the process…

First, sear the chicken. Dust the chicken with the taco seasoning, then brown it a couple minutes per side in an oven-safe skillet. Why? ⇢ Searing the chicken gives it a browned, crusty exterior. Which helps create rich, deep flavor in these chipotle honey chicken tacos (thanks to the Maillard reaction!). It’s a simple step that translates to BIG flavor.
Next, simmer in honey chipotle sauce. Combine chipotle peppers, honey, & beer, then pour the mixture into the skillet, coating the chicken. Next, pop the skillet in the oven. The chicken will soak up the spicy-sweet flavor of the sauce and simmer to reach fall-apart tender perfection. Why? ⇢ The oven provides gentle, consistent heat, ensuring the chicken cooks up perfectly without drying out.
Lastly, shred & serve! Shred the honey chipotle chicken into bite-sized pieces & toss it back into the skillet with a squeeze of fresh lime juice to bring out all of the flavors. The honey chipotle sauce will be a little runny at this point – if desired, whisk in a cornstarch slurry to tighten it up or reduce the sauce over high heat to create an irresistible sticky-sweet glaze. Quick & easy shortcut for shredding chicken! ⇢ My favorite kitchen hack is using a trusty stand mixer to shred chicken. The paddle attachment does all the work, creating the perfectly pulled chicken.

A silver fork scoops up shredded chipotle honey chicken on a small silver baking sheet a top a light blue textured surface. The shredded chicken is garnished with fresh chopped cilantro.

Alternate Cooking Methods – Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Honey Chipotle Chicken:

As written, this honey chipotle chicken recipe uses my preferred method – a simple skillet braise. Based on the amount of time you have, you can easily adapt it with a few other commonly loved techniques:

Slow Cooker or Crockpot Honey Chipotle Chicken – This recipe is incredibly slow cooker/Crockpot-friendly! Rather than assembling on the stovetop, assemble in the slow cooker & let it do its thing until the chicken is fall-apart tender. If your slow cooker has a browning/searing feature, be sure to sear the chicken prior to slow cooking for maximum flavor. Full slow cooker honey chipotle chicken instructions are detailed in the Recipe Card, below.
Electric Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Honey Chipotle Chicken: Similarly, this recipe is also incredibly Instant Pot-friendly – it was originally published in 2017 with Instant Pot preparation. Be sure to use the Instant Pot’s browning/searing feature to sear the chicken before adding in the sauce & sealing the pressure cooker. It’ll cook up in about 25 minutes – full Instant Pot honey chipotle chicken instructions are detailed in the Recipe Card, below!

A close up of shredded chipotle honey chicken garnished with fresh chopped cilantro.

Serving Suggestions – Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos & More!

Once it’s simmered & shredded, you are ready to serve your honey chipotle chicken any which way your heart desires! It’s a super versatile recipe that you can use in a multitude of different ways. It’s great on a burrito bowl or on a taco salad, on a pile of nachos, in quesadillas, stuffed in a sweet potato & loaded with toppings, or even piled on slider buns as a fun party appetizer or dinner!

My trusty go-to, though, is honey chipotle chicken tacos. Char up corn tortillas over a gas burner, then load ’em up with shredded honey chipotle chicken & toppings. When it comes to taco toppings, I subscribe to a ‘more is more’ philosophy. You can’t go wrong with a simple sprinkle of chopped cilantro or a squeeze of fresh lime juice, but if you want something really special try my Cashew Crema (the creamiest dairy-free sauce!), these Quick AF Quick Pickled Red Onions, & a good dollop of guacamole.

Other Tips & Tricks:

Storage & Reheating: Shredded chipotle chicken stores absolutely beautifully! Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
Freezer Instructions: This honey chipotle chicken is also a wonderful freezer staple since you can quickly thaw it out and use it on tacos, nachos, taco salads, or burrito bowls in a snap. Feel free to make a double batch & freeze the leftovers for an extra quick dinner down the road! I like freezing it in small portions so it thaws quickly – these are my absolute favorite freezer containers!

Side angle of chipotle honey chicken tacos pressed together side-by-side on a piece of white crinkled parchment paper. The tacos are garnished with fresh pico de gallo & chopped cilantro. A glass of beer, a lime wedge, & a bowl of pico de gallo surround the tacos.

I can’t wait for you to try this Easy Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos recipe. It’s a longtime reader fave here on PWWB, & I know you’re going to love it! If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations!