These grilled chicken tacos are made with thighs for more flavor and quick cooking time. Served with simple toppings and insanely delicious cilantro lime cream.

Try serving it with Zucchini Corn Salad for an easy weeknight meal.

overhead grilled chicken tacos this recipe

These grilled chicken tacos are always a hit with my family. I like that they’re easy to make, always juicy, and flavorful, but I think what my kids love best is choosing their own toppings. And if that’s what it takes to get them to eat a healthy dinner, I’m all for it!

While there are many times when I turn to leaner chicken breasts when making meals, I really like the slightly higher fat content of chicken thighs in this recipe. This keeps the chicken juicy on the grill, and it also means the chicken tastes better when reheated, which makes these tacos great for meal prep.

We love these tacos topped with tomatoes, radishes, cilantro, and a sprinkle of queso fresco cheese. Let’s not forget the cilantro lime creama, which is a must-have with any tacos!

Reasons to Love These Grilled Tacos

  • Full of flavor – made with dark meat, flavorful spice mixture, and creamy cilantro lime cream.
  • Made with thighs – so they’re hard to overcook and super juicy.
  • Easy on the grill – with only about 5 minutes of grill time on each side.
  • Budget friendly – chicken thighs are a fraction of the cost when compared to chicken breast.
  • Great for entertaining – this recipe is great for entertaining as it’s easy to double up (or even triple!) for larger crowds.

Ingredients Needed for Grilled Chicken Tacos

  • chicken thighs
  • oregano
  • chili powder
  • garlic powder
  • cayenne pepper
  • olive oil
  • kosher salt
ingredients for grilled chicken taco recipe

Toppings for Serving

Tacos are great as you can set up a taco bar where everyone can add what they like! Here are some toppings to consider:

  • diced tomatoes
  • sliced radishes
  • chopped red onions
  • queso fresco cheese
  • cilantro
  • limes

Other Topping Ideas:

toppings for chicken thigh tacos
cilantro lime cream in a bowl

How to Make Grilled Chicken Thigh Tacos

1. Prepare all of the toppings before you grill the chicken. That way you can serve right away!

2. Toss chicken with spices: In a bowl, whisk together the oregano, chili powder, salt, cayenne pepper, and olive oil. Add chicken thighs to the bowl and toss around to evenly coat.

3. Grill the chicken: Preheat the grill on medium-high. Grill the chicken for about 5-6 minutes per side or until the thickest part of the chicken registers at 165F.

4. Slice and serve: Remove the chicken to a cutting board and lightly cover with foil. Let rest for about 5 minutes before slicing.

step by step on how to make grilled tacos

Grilled Chicken Tacos Recipe Variations & Substitutions

  • For best results, do not substitute thighs with chicken breast. Chicken breast requires different preparation.
  • For a low-carb option, try serving the tacos inside a lettuce leaf, such as iceberg lettuce.

Tips for Making Chicken Thigh Tacos

  • Grill chicken over medium-high heat (on direct heat) for only about 5-6 minutes per side for bigger thighs and 3-4 minutes per side for smaller thighs. Remove from grill once the internal temp has reached 165F. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
  • Prepare all of the toppings before you grill the chicken. Toppings can be prepared the day before, except for the tomatoes, which will release too much liquid if prepared too in advance.
close up grilled chicken taco recipe

What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Tacos

How to Store and Reheat Grilled Tacos

Refrigerate leftovers in separate containers for maximum freshness. (If you don’t want to use a bunch of small containers, at the very least you’ll want to store the chicken separately since it’s the only item that needs to be heated.) The components should last 3-4 days in the fridge.

Reheat the chicken in a skillet set over medium heat until it’s warmed through, or in the microwave.

Grilled Chicken Tacos Recipe FAQs

Can I bake the chicken instead?

Yes, you can bake the chicken if you’d like. Follow the cooking instructions in my recipe for roasted chicken thighs, using the seasonings in this chicken taco recipe. Start checking for doneness at 25 minutes.

Are grilled chicken tacos healthy?

Yes, grilled chicken tacos are a balanced, healthy meal. While chicken thighs have slightly more fat than chicken breasts, this also makes them more satisfying.

What are the best tortillas to use?

I like to use flour tortillas, as they’re more pliable and tend to hold together better than corn. If you prefer corn tortillas, warm them first and use two tortillas per taco if you’re worried about them falling apart.

Can I make the meat in advance?

Yes, the grilled chicken thighs can be made in advance. Store the chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days and reheat it in a skillet over medium heat. The higher fat content in chicken thighs means it’s easier to reheat without drying out.

What is the best way to warm up tortillas for tacos?

Since you’ll have the grill fired up for this recipe already, you can simply use tongs to quickly warm the tortillas on the grates of the grill. Or use a dry skillet to warm them one-by-one, or wrap a stack of tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds.

Love tacos? Try our Chipotle Chicken Tacos, Spicy Shrimp Tacos and for a lighter option — Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps.

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Easy Grilled Chicken Tacos - these tacos are made with thighs instead of breast, which makes them insanely juicy, flavorful, and they cook in fraction of time! | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Easy Grilled Chicken Tacos Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Grilled
  • Cuisine: Tex-Mex
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Description

These grilled chicken tacos are made with thighs for more flavor and quick cooking time. Served with simple toppings and insanely delicious cilantro lime cream. Perfect meal for an easy weeknight!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Chicken

  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 ½ tsp. chili powder
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
  • Kosher salt, to taste

To Serve

  • 12 (6-inch) flour tortillas, warmed
  • 1 cup chopped tomato (about 1 large)
  • 4–6 radishes, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup chopped red onion
  • 1 ½ cups crumbled queso fresco cheese*
  • Cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
  • Limes, quartered

Cilantro Lime Crema

  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
  • 3 Tbsp. cilantro, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed
  • Kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Chicken

  1. In a large bowl, mix together the oregano, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and olive oil until well blended. Season with salt to taste. Add chicken thighs and toss to evenly coat.
  2. Preheat the grill on medium-high, add chicken thighs, and grill until cooked through about 5-6 minutes per side (3-4 minutes for smaller thighs). Thighs are done when the internal temperature registers at 165F. Remove the thighs to a cutting board or plate and cover with foil. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

To Serve

  1. To serve, pile on the sliced chicken into the center of each tortilla and top with your favorite toppings, including the cilantro lime crema.

Cilantro Lime Crema

  1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients until well blended. Keep refrigerated.

Notes

*queso fresco cheese is a soft, mild cheese, usually sold as a whole chunk

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tacos
  • Calories: 579
  • Sugar: 5.4 g
  • Sodium: 1165.4 mg
  • Fat: 25.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 58.5 g
  • Protein: 30.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 98.8 mg