Chipotle Honey Marinade With Chicken Tacos

Ingredients

We are using a few simple ingredients to create a flavorful marinade before grilling the chicken.

• Chipotle – Chipotle in adobo sauce is the best option. It’s easy to find and has bold flavor.
• Orange – The citrus flavor adds both sweetness and a touch of acidity. We used a navel orange. Any orange will work.
• Honey – Any style of honey works.
• Garlic – For adding flavor to the marinade.
• Olive Oil – You can use extra virgin or regular olive oil.
• Kosher Salt – We prefer Diamond Crystal brand.
• Chicken – We are using boneless and skinless chicken breast. You can also use any other chicken cut from thighs to legs.
• Seasoning – This recipe uses our SPG Rub, which is equal parts kosher salt, granulated garlic, and coarse black pepper. You can also use our savory chicken seasoning for a little more complexity.

Chipotle Honey Marinade

• Start with a couple of boneless skinless chicken breasts, patted dry.
• In a large bowl add the chipotle, orange juice, honey, garlic, salt, and a generous amount of olive oil (to help everything bind and come together). Whisk vigorously to combine.
• Place HALF of the marinade in a gallon-sized plastic baggie (reserving the other half for later), add the chicken, seal the baggie, and then place in your refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, ideally overnight.

Now before you add this straight to the grill you need to add one more layer of flavor. Seasoning.

Seasoning

Take the meat out of the marinade and onto a cutting board or plate. No need to pat it dry. Just let excess marinade fall back into the bag. Add the seasoning liberally and now you’re all set to put these bad boys onto a hot grill. We always add a dry rub after a marinade, and before grilling, to maximize flavor.

Grilling the Chipotle Marinated Chicken Breasts

Preheat Grill: Prepare your grill for two-zone grilling targeting a temperature of 450 degrees in the cooking chamber. Ideally use lump charcoal.

Grill Chicken: Place seasoned chicken on the grill grate over direct heat until the internal temperature of the chicken is 158 – 160 degrees F. Sear on one side for 8 minutes or until a crust develops. Flip and sear the other side for an additional 8 minutes.

If your fire is super hot then move the seared chicken to the indirect side of the grill and close the lid until it reaches the proper internal temperature using a good instant-read meat thermometer. Let rest for 10 minutes to allow for carry-over cooking to occur. Be sure to read our article on chicken temperature so you get perfect juicy chicken every time.

Shred The Chipotle Marinated Chicken Breasts

Shred the chicken using either two forks, your fingers, or heck using a stand mixer (I’ve seen it), whatever makes you happy. Just get it nice and shredded for those delicious tacos!

Now add back that reserved marinade (the stuff you DIDN’T use to actually marinate the meat), and mix together. That marinade is going to add additional moisture and flavor and make those tacos out-of-this-world! Oh yeah!

Now you’re ready to enjoy the heck out of this full flavored chicken.

Taco Ingredients

You can add anything you want but our typical taco bar contains the following.

• Corn or flour tortillas. Whatever is your favorite. Be sure to warm them up.
• This chicken filling
• Sliced avocado
• Diced onion – we prefer red onion for tacos or consider our pickled onions.
• Fresh corn – or grilled corn
• Cilantro
• Cheese – We leave cotija or queso fresco

Variations

We use this marinated chicken for tacos. But you can also use it for the following meals:

• A filling for chicken enchiladas
• A filling for chicken sliders (just bring the buns)
• To top some nachos (you know you were thinking about it!)
• On top of a salad for something light and delicious
• Or as we’ve done here, for the best chicken tacos ever

The options are endless.