Description
These Oven Baked Honey Lime Chicken Tacos offer a delicious and easy dinner option featuring juicy chicken marinated in a tangy honey lime sauce, baked to perfection, and topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese and fresh cilantro. Perfectly crispy tortillas and flavorful seasoning make these tacos a crowd-pleaser with a delightful Mexican-American twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Assembly
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 8 small flour tortillas
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Optional toppings: diced avocado, shredded lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Make the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey, fresh lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken strips to the marinade and toss them thoroughly to coat evenly. Allow them to marinate for at least 15 minutes to enhance flavor.
- Bake the Chicken: Spread the marinated chicken evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Shred and Mix: Remove the chicken from the oven. Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken directly in the dish and mix it well with the pan juices to keep it moist and flavorful. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F.
- Prepare the Tortillas: Warm the tortillas slightly to make them pliable for easy folding and assembly.
- Assemble the Tacos: Spoon the shredded chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla, sprinkle generously with Monterey Jack cheese, and fold each tortilla in half to form a taco.
- Bake the Tacos: Arrange the filled tacos snugly in the baking dish. Bake at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes until the tortillas are lightly crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the tacos from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and any desired optional toppings like diced avocado, shredded lettuce, sour cream, or pico de gallo. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For extra crispiness, brush the tops of the tacos lightly with olive oil before baking.
- Corn tortillas can be used instead of flour tortillas for a gluten-free version.
- To save time, substitute cooked rotisserie chicken and warm it with the honey lime sauce before assembling the tacos.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
