Grilled BBQ Chicken Tacos topped with black beans, corn, tomatoes and avocado with a creamy cilantro lime sauce. This easy and healthy meal will become a family favorite!

Hey everyone, this is Lauren visiting from Tastes Better from Scratch, where I share easy homemade meals made with real ingredients. I’m the mother of three young kids, and like so many moms out there I feel like I’m constantly needing quick, family-friendly dinner ideas to feed my crew.

I particularly love to feed my family “all-in-one” type of meals, meaning meals that include protein, veggies, carbs, etc all tossed together in a wrap, or rice bowl. It’s easier for me than making a stand alone dish that needs to be accompanied by sides. These Grilled BBQ Chicken Tacos fit the bill. They’re packed with protein, healthy unsaturated fats they take less than 30 minutes to make!

How to grill chicken:

Chicken breasts and thighs are two of the easiest types of meat to cook on the grill. I prefer to use chicken thighs when grilling, because dark meat is more forgiving on the grill and doesn’t dry out as easily, thanks to its higher fat content. Many people prefer white meat when grilling chicken, so you can use chicken breasts, instead of thighs.

Chicken breasts on the grill take about 4-5 minutes to cook on each side. Flip them only once, and cook them over medium heat. Chicken thighs may take a few minutes longer than breasts. Use a thermometer if you’d like, and cook the meat to 165 degrees F. Be sure to allow it to rest for a few minutes before chopping it up to serve with tacos.

These bbq chicken tacos are marinated in bbq sauce for up to a few hours before being cooked on the grill. Make sure to spray your grill with some non-stick cooking spray so that your chicken doesn’t stick to the grates.

To prepare your tacos, add a spoonful of cooked, chopped chicken, corn, black beans, tomatoes and avocado to a warm tortilla. Drizzle extra bbq sauce and cilantro lime sauce on top and enjoy!

Try This Next Za’atar Chicken

How to warm corn tortillas for tacos:

You can heat corn tortillas in a skillet on the stove, or on the grill when you cook the chicken. Cook them for just a few seconds on each side, until small brown spots appear. Transfer them to a plate and cover, or wrap them with tinfoil to keep warm. Stack them as you go, making sure to re-cover them after each addition.

The microwave is my least favorite way to warm corn tortillas because they stay soft and flimsy, allowing them to fall apart easier when you add all of your taco toppings.

Ways to adapt this recipe:

If you don’t have black beans, pinto beans would make a great substitute. Feel free to add additional vegetables, like grilled zucchini, chopped lettuce, or olives.

Substitute tofu to make the tacos meatless. Grilled tofu takes about 3-4 minutes on each side, side cook.

I prefer to serve these chicken tacos with corn tortillas, but the small taco-size flour tortillas would work great as well!

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Za’atar Chicken

Seasoned with a traditional Middle Eastern Za’atar spice blend and grilled, this Za’atar chicken is juicy and packed with unique flavors. In just 20 minutes you’ll have a flavorful and filling dinner that no one will forget!

If you have never heard of Za’atar seasoning, you are not alone! I just heard of it recently, and now I’m hooked! It’s a great savory blend of warm and earthy seasonings that will really wow your taste buds. You can also make the spice at home! If you like homemade spices, you’ll have to try this Homemade Fajita Seasoning, this better than store bought Italian Seasoning, and this Taco Seasoning too!

Grilled Za’atar Chicken

So at this point you may be wondering what is Za’atar seasoning? It is a blend of savory, nutty, and earthy spices that usually includes oregano, thyme, marjoram, and sumac. There are different blends of Za’atar seasoning based on where you are eating it. Kind of like curry the ingredients can change based on the area it’s made in. I have a link to the Za’atar seasoning blend in the recipe box below too if you want to make it, or you can pick it up from the store.

Grilled Za’atar Chicken is quickly marinated in the Za’atar seasoning and olive oil and grilled to perfection. I really think you are going to love this dish! It’s an easy 20 minute dinner that would go great with some pita bread and hummus. I also love with baba ganoush which goes great with this Za’atar seasoning. You can actually sprinkle some on top and the flavor is incredible. I think this will be a new family favorite!

Ingredients

These simple ingredients combine to make the most delicious and moist chicken. This Za’atar chicken is so unique, and amazingly flavorful! If you are looking for a great easy dinner, then this is the recipe for you! See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: If you get a breast that is really thick, then you’ll want to flatten it out a bit so that it will all cook evenly on the grill.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil is a must for this recipe. It’s a great quality oil that helps the flavors in the seasonings really pop.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is just what this recipe needs to bring out all of these gorgeous flavors!
• Za’atar Seasoning: I love making this blend at home! It is really herby and nutty, and perfect on meat. I add sesame seeds, coriander, and salt to my blend and I think it’s fantastic!
• Garlic: Minced garlic is one of my favorite things to eat on chicken. It’s so full of flavor and makes every bite the perfect one!

Za’atar Chicken Recipe

This recipe is so easy! I love how quickly it comes together and it really is so delicious. I ate it with some tomatoes and pita bread and it was perfection. Some of my kids added salt and pepper, but I thought it was perfect the way it was. You can make it however you like, and I know you are going to love it!

Popular Recipe Grilled Fish with Lemon and Capers

1. Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, za’atar seasoning, and garlic.
2. Put in Bag: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag then pour the mixture over the chicken.
3. Refrigerate: Seal the bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
4. Grill: Grill chicken breasts on medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit.
5. Enjoy: Let the chicken rest before slicing and enjoying!

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Here are a few simple ways to make yourself the master of the grill! Once your friends and family get a bite of your grilled Za’atar chicken, they’ll be hooked. It’s hard not to be when they’re so juicy and flavorful.

• Use a Thermometer: This step is super important so that your chicken doesn’t dry out on the grill. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your chicken. You can take them off the grill when the temperature inside reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cook them any more than that, they may dry out.
• Let Rest: The key to juicy grilled Za’atar chicken is letting it rest for a minute or two after you pull it off the grill. This allows all of the tasty juices to reabsorb, giving you chicken breast that will melt in your mouth! If you cut into them too soon after grilling, those juices may be released instead of absorbing back into the meat.
• Dripping: If you have seasoning and oil dripping off of your chicken, it will make the flames touch the meat and that’s where the black burned part comes from. If you don’t want crispy crunchy parts on your chicken, make sure that your seasoning is all over your chicken, but not dripping off.

Storing Leftovers

Who doesn’t wan’t grilled Za’atar chicken for leftovers? This recipe makes enough to serve eight people, so if you need to save your leftovers here is how.

In the Refrigerator: Store your cooled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

More Chicken Recipes

I love a simple chicken dinner! But sometimes chicken can taste boring when you are always making it the same way. Here are some recipes that will give you great ideas to keep your chicken tasting unique and juicy!

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