Experience the ultimate fusion of sweet, savory, and tangy in these irresistible Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos. Slow-cooked to perfection, tender chicken thighs are bathed in a rich honey, soy, and garlic sauce, then shredded and piled high into your favorite taco shells. Get ready for a weeknight meal that’s bursting with flavor and unbelievably easy to make!
Craving more effortless slow cooker chicken recipes? You’ll love these Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Sandwiches, perfect for a hearty dinner, or these vibrant Chicken Tostadas, offering a delightful crunch and fresh flavors. Both are fantastic options for busy evenings!
Reinventing Taco Tuesday: Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos
Are you looking to inject some new excitement into your Taco Tuesday routine? Our family shares a deep love for tacos – it’s practically a staple in our household. While there’s undeniable comfort in a classic ground beef taco, I find immense joy in dreaming up innovative and delicious taco recipes. Sometimes these culinary experiments are met with enthusiastic praise, and other times, well, let’s just say my family thinks I’m a little ambitious!
However, today, I am thrilled to share a recipe that truly exceeded all expectations. When the idea for Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos first sparked, I admit I had a few doubts. Could the rich, sweet-savory notes of honey garlic chicken truly harmonize within the crisp embrace of a taco shell? The answer, I’m delighted to report, is a resounding YES! These tacos turned out absolutely phenomenal, becoming an instant family favorite.
The inspiration for combining honey garlic chicken with tacos is somewhat of a mystery, but it’s part of the exciting journey of recipe creation. Ideas often strike at the most unexpected moments, leading to a scattering of scribbled notes on small pieces of paper found all over the house. These are precious snippets of inspiration, quickly jotted down before they vanish from memory – a testament to the passion behind every dish shared here.
The Secret to Success: Perfectly Slow-Cooked Chicken Thighs
At the heart of these Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos lies succulent chicken, slow-cooked in a robust, Asian-inspired sauce. This chicken recipe draws inspiration from our much-loved Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken, a staple on Taste and Tell known for its incredible depth of flavor and ease of preparation.
We specifically use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, and for good reason. Chicken thighs are inherently more flavorful and forgiving than chicken breasts, especially when subjected to the long, gentle cooking process of a slow cooker. They retain moisture beautifully, resulting in exceptionally tender, juicy shredded chicken that practically melts in your mouth – the perfect foundation for any taco.
The magic truly happens within the slow cooker, where the chicken thighs slowly absorb the aromatic blend of honey, soy, and garlic. This hands-off cooking method means you can go about your day while your dinner practically cooks itself, filling your home with an enticing aroma that promises a delicious meal ahead.
Maximizing Flavor: The Reduced Honey Garlic Sauce
One of the key elements that elevates these tacos from good to extraordinary is the rich, reduced sauce. After the chicken is perfectly cooked and shredded, don’t discard the flavorful liquid remaining in the slow cooker! This liquid is a concentrated elixir of honey, soy, and garlic goodness. By transferring it to a saucepan and reducing it over medium heat, you transform it into a thickened, glossy, and intensely flavorful sauce that beautifully coats the shredded chicken.
This recipe yields a generous amount of this incredible sauce. A crucial tip: resist the urge to mix all of the reduced sauce back into the chicken at once. Doing so might leave you with more sauce than chicken, which could make your tacos a bit soggy. Instead, coat the chicken with about half of the reduced sauce, ensuring every strand is infused with flavor. The remaining sauce can be passed around the table, allowing everyone to customize their tacos with as much extra sauciness as they desire. My husband, for instance, absolutely loves things extra saucy, so having that extra serving option is always a hit!
And let’s not forget the final touch that brings a burst of freshness: freshly sliced green onions. While optional, these vibrant green wisps are, in my opinion, absolutely essential. They provide a crisp, slightly piquant counterpoint to the rich, slow-cooked chicken, balancing the flavors and adding a pop of color that makes these Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos truly complete.
Hard Shells vs. Soft Tortillas: A Family Affair
Now, let’s address the age-old taco debate: hard shells or soft tortillas? Growing up, my taco experience was almost exclusively defined by the satisfying crunch of a hard taco shell. However, upon meeting my husband, I discovered a devoted fan of soft tacos. This led to a gradual shift in our kitchen, making soft tacos the predominant choice for our meals.
Then came our daughter, who, while enjoying soft tacos, undeniably harbors a strong preference for the crispy texture of hard shells. So now, we find ourselves with one family member firmly in the hard shell camp, another exclusively on team soft tortilla, and the rest of us happily meandering somewhere in the middle, enjoying both equally.
The beauty of these Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos is their incredible versatility. They are equally delicious whether nestled in a crunchy hard shell or wrapped in a warm, pliable soft tortilla. This means that when it’s taco night, we can simply set out both options, ensuring everyone at the table can create their perfect taco experience. No compromises, just pure taco bliss!
Beyond the shells and green onions, consider other toppings to personalize your Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos. A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds adds a lovely textural element and nutty flavor. A drizzle of sriracha mayo can introduce a creamy, spicy kick, while a squeeze of fresh lime juice brightens all the flavors. For extra crunch and a subtle tang, try adding some finely shredded cabbage or a quick pickled red onion. Each addition can transform the taco into a new and exciting culinary adventure.
So, the next time you’re planning taco night and seeking a delicious departure from the usual, give these Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos a try. They’re simple to prepare, incredibly flavorful, and guaranteed to become a new favorite in your recipe rotation. You absolutely won’t regret it!
Explore More Delicious Taco Recipes
If you’re a true taco enthusiast, you’ll love exploring these other unique and flavorful taco creations:
- Brisket Tacos: Tender, slow-cooked brisket bursting with rich, smoky flavor.
- Greek Tacos: A fresh, Mediterranean-inspired twist on the classic taco, featuring savory meats and bright, herbaceous toppings.
- Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Lime Crema: Zesty shrimp perfectly complemented by a creamy, spicy chipotle lime sauce.
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Honey Garlic Chicken Tacos
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup hoisin
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water
- hard and soft taco shells
- sliced green onions
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in a single layer in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, honey, ketchup, hoisin and garlic; mix well. Pour the mixture over the chicken thighs.
- Cook on low for 6 hours, or until the chicken thighs are cooked through and shred easily.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the slow cooker and shred with 2 forks. Pour the liquid that is remaining into a saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Pour into the pan and cook until the mixture thickens 3-5 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the slow cooker. Pour half of the sauce mixture over the chicken and stir until the chicken is coated. (Reserve the other half of the sauce to pass at the table).
- Fill each taco shell or soft tortilla with some of the chicken mixture and then top with sliced green onions. Serve warm.