Smoked Chicken Tacos with Chili Lime Seasoning
On August 22, 2025
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These Smoked Chicken Tacos pack a serious flavor punch with a zesty chili lime taco seasoning and homemade smoked salsa verde. One bite of these killer chicken tacos and your family will be requesting them every Taco Tuesday.
Smoked Chicken Tacos
You don’t have to wait for Tuesday to roll around to enjoy tacos, and after you make these Smoked Chicken Tacos, you won’t want to. With just a homemade chili lime taco seasoning and a little time on the smoker (plus a healthy dose of smoked salsa verde), you can turn out amazing chicken tacos that rival the best taco shop in town. If you’re ready to add these Smoked Chicken Tacos to your Mexican food arsenal, let’s get started.
Ingredients for Smoked Chicken Tacos
Before you fire up your smoker, let’s make sure you’ve got everything you need to make these tasty tacos. Here’s what you’ll need on hand so you can get started:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 Tablespoons Chili Lime Chicken Taco Seasoning
Homemade Chili Lime Taco Seasoning
This homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning turns ordinary chicken into taco nirvana. The blend of warm spices with bright lime zest creates layers of flavor that store-bought packets just can’t match.
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon lime zest (1 lime)
My Fiesta Rub also makes a perfect taco seasoning if you don’t feel like making your own. You can pick up a bottle from the Hey Grill Hey Store if you don’t have any on hand already.
Smoked Salsa Verde
The secret weapon of these tacos is this incredible smoked salsa verde that brings brightness and heat to every bite. This is totally optional, but you’ll be glad you made it. I’ve got a complete guide in my Smoked Salsa Verde post if you want all the details. Here’s what you’ll need for it:
- 4 tomatillos (husks removed)
- 2 Serrano peppers (sliced in half)
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ yellow onion (quartered)
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 limes (for juice)
- Kosher salt (to taste)
If you love this smoky twist on salsa verde, you might also want to check out my Roasted Tomatillo Salsa for an oven version, or my classic Smoked Salsa recipe that uses regular tomatoes for a different flavor profile.
How to Make Smoked Chicken Tacos
Time to get that smoker rolling and follow these simple steps:
- Preheat the smoker. Get your smoker going at 275 degrees F with a mild hardwood like maple or alder.
- Smoke the veggies. Toss your tomatillos, Serrano peppers, garlic, and onion with avocado oil in a grill basket. You’ll know they’re ready after 30-45 minutes when the tomatillos start to soften and everything takes on a golden-brown color with lovely charred edges.
- Season the chicken. While the veggies are getting their smoke on, coat your chicken thighs generously with the taco seasoning, and don’t be shy. The spices form a beautiful crust that’ll develop layers of flavor.
- Smoke the chicken. Next, get those seasoned chicken thighs on the smoker and close the lid. You want to give your chicken 30-45 minutes to absorb the combination of wood smoke and your zesty seasoning. You’ll know the chicken is done when it hits 175 degrees F on an instant-read meat thermometer and has a gorgeous mahogany color. Pull the chicken off and tent it with foil for 10 minutes. This resting time makes it easy to shred.
- Prepare the salsa verde and chicken. Place those caramelized vegetables in your food processor or blender, then add the fresh cilantro and lime juice. Blend until you have your desired consistency, then get ready to build the perfect taco. Shred the rested chicken into tender, juicy strands.
- Assemble the toppings. Get your fresh avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges ready. These bright, fresh elements balance all that rich, smoky goodness.
- Heat the tortillas. Warm them on the smoker grates for just a minute or two until they’re soft, pliable, and lightly kissed with smoke.
- Assemble and enjoy. Load up those tortillas with smoky chicken, your favorite toppings, and a drizzle of salsa verde, and enjoy!
The Best Toppings for Chicken Tacos
In my humble opinion, the right toppings make the difference between average and unforgettable tacos. Here are some of our favorite toppings (and some recipes for tortillas from scratch):
- 12 corn or flour tortillas (you can use store-bought, or follow the links to make your own)
- avocado slices (or guacamole, if you’re feeling fancy)
- cilantro
- lime
Susie’s Smoked Chicken Taco Pro Tips
Check out these tips if you want to take these tacos from great to jaw-dropping:
- Double up on that salsa verde. Sure, this recipe makes plenty for your tacos, but you’ll want leftovers (trust me). This salsa verde gets even more delicious after sitting overnight, and it’s perfect for snacking with chips the next day.
- Prep everything before you smoke. If you’ve got everything ready ahead of time, assembly will go that much easier. The key is getting your freshly-shredded chicken on warm tortillas with crisp toppings at the same time for that perfect bite.
- Work with what you’ve got. Listen, I love making a whole meal from scratch as much as anyone, but sometimes you don’t have the time (or the ingredients, or patience). That’s okay! You can use a simple taco seasoning and your favorite toppings and still turn out some amazing tacos your family will love.
Even More Awesome Taco Recipes
Once you master these chicken tacos, you’ll be craving tacos all the time. Luckily, I’ve got a variety of taco recipes to round out your menu. You can find them all here on the site, as well as in the Hey Grill Hey App. In the meantime, here are some Hey Grill Hey favorites to try next:
Easy Smoked Chicken Taco Recipe
Follow the recipe card below to make some seriously delicious chicken tacos. If your family loves this recipe as much as mine does, tell me about it! Head to the comments section below so you can share your thoughts and give this recipe a 5-star rating.
If you want even more easy-to-follow recipes, video tutorials, or pro tips, make sure you’re following me on Facebook, Instagram, and my YouTube channel. Now get outside and become a Backyard BBQ Hero!
Smoked Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 Tablespoons Chicken Taco Seasoning recipe link in notes section
- 12 soft flour or corn tortillas
Smoked Salsa Verde
- 4 tomatillos skins removed
- 2 Serrano peppers sliced in half
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ yellow onion
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 lime juiced
- Kosher salt to taste, or a little taco seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker. Set your smoker up for 275 degrees F with your favorite hardwood. I like maple or alder for this recipe, but any wood you love using will work.
- Smoke the veggies. In a grill basket, add the tomatillos, Serrano peppers, garlic, and onion. Drizzle with the avocado oil and toss lightly to coat. Place the basket on the smoker grates and close the lid. Cook for 30-45 minutes, flipping the vegetables occasionally.4 tomatillos, 2 Serrano peppers, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ yellow onion, 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- Season the chicken. Once you have the veggies smoking, season the chicken thighs on all sides with Chicken Taco Seasoning.2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 2 Tablespoons Chicken Taco Seasoning
- Smoke the chicken. Place the seasoned chicken thighs on the smoker grates, close the lid, and smoke for 35-45 minutes until an internal thermometer reads 175 degrees F. Remove the vegetables and chicken from the smoker and set aside to cool. Tent the chicken lightly with foil and rest for 10 minutes before shredding or chopping.
- Prepare the salsa verde. Transfer the smoked and cooled vegetables to a blender or food processor. Add in the fresh cilantro and lime juice. Puree to your desired consistency and add Kosher salt to taste. Transfer to a serving dish.1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, 2 lime, Kosher salt
- Assemble the toppings. Prepare your avocado slices, cilantro, and lime wedges.
- Heat the tortillas. Warm the tortillas on the hot smoker grates until they're soft and pliable.12 soft flour or corn tortillas
- Assemble and enjoy. Load the warm tortillas with smoked chicken, salsa verde, and all of your favorite toppings before serving.
Notes
- Make your own following the recipe here
- Make your own following the recipe here
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
