Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Tacos

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Cook: 3 hours

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Sep. 22, 2023
I wanted to try a different take on taco night and decided on a barbecue theme. Even my father enjoyed this meal, and he doesn’t usually care for tacos. —LaDale Hymer, Cleveland, Oklahoma
Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Tacos Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons bourbon, divided
  • 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • SALSA:
  • 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn
  • 1 cup chopped sweet red pepper
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 2 medium limes, zest and juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 8 flour tortillas (8 inches)
  • Minced cilantro, optional

Directions

  1. In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 9 ingredients and 2 tablespoons bourbon. Add chicken; turn to coat. Cook, covered, on low until a thermometer reads 165°, 3-4 hours. Remove chicken; shred with 2 forks. Return to slow cooker; stir in remaining 1 tablespoon bourbon. Heat through.
  2. Meanwhile, for salsa, combine corn, red pepper, onion, lime zest and juice, hot sauce, salt and pepper in a bowl. Serve chicken in tortillas with salsa. If desired, top with cilantro.
Health tip: Cut carbs about 50% by skipping the tortillas and serving as lettuce wraps.
Test Kitchen tips
  • The zesty salsa is a great complement to the sweet chicken.
  • Adding an extra tablespoon of bourbon after the chicken cooks really balances the flavor of the sauce.
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 taco: 387 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 855mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 4g fiber), 23g protein.