Can we have tacos? Can we have tacos? Can we have tacos?!?!
This is the question asked by my kids seemingly every night (or for sure every single week). Don’t get me wrong, tacos are amazing and delicious, and I could also eat them every week. But it is nice to eat other meals, and I am sure you all don’t want to see me post tacos all the time…or do you?
Enter this meal—Honey BBQ Tacos—an alternative option to answer the question and keep the kids happy. They are sweet, can be a little spicy (if you make them that way), and you can add an easy and delicious crema to top them off to perfection.
Now, one thing to consider with this variation is that some of the traditional toppings won’t pair as well. Salsa doesn’t do too well, and the same goes for guac. Sub out for tomatoes, corn (elote even better), caramelized onions, and black beans. Pretty much anything that pairs well with BBQ will work here!
Another side note (it seems obvious, but I will say it anyway), if you don’t like BBQ sauce, this is not a meal for you!
As always, I will now walk through a few of the key ingredients and cooking tips to help you crush this meal and be the dinner time hero:
- Ground Beef – Not too much need to explain here. I like to go with an 85/15 ratio here. Makes for nice tender meat, just make sure to drain the grease before adding the seasoning.
- Tortillas – Have a preference? No problem! Go with corn, go with flour, make it over nachos, or even use the meat for a salad. This stuff would be delicious on anything!
- Toppings – As I briefly mentioned above, the toppings you use for these will stray a little from traditional toppings. While you can use tomatoes and avocado, salsa and guac don’t quite fit. Cheddar cheese works, but Monterey Jack is better. Try new things, and let me know what works and doesn’t!
- Crema – Yes, it is easy to make, yes, it is worth it. So just make it!
See below for full measurements and cooking instructions!


Honey BBQ Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 ¼ lb. ground beef
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 tsp. minced onion dried
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- Tortillas and toppings
- For the Crema:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1 Tbsp. Sriracha
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Instructions
- Find a high rimmed pan and heat on medium heat.
- Add the butter to the pan. As it melts, mince the garlic.
- Once melted and hot, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Next, add in the ground beef and break it apart into chunks. Add salt and pepper and cook through (draining grease after).
- Add the honey, minced onion, cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Mix well, cooking for a minute or two.
- Pour in the BBQ sauce and mix to coat. Heat a little longer, and the meat should be ready.
- For the Crema:
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a small dish or bowl.
- Add to a squeeze bottle for topping. Alternatively, add to a ziploc bag and cut a small piece off of one corner (much easier cleanup!)
- Enjoy!



