Description
These Garlic Butter Honey BBQ Beef Tacos combine savory ground beef cooked in a rich garlic butter and sweet honey BBQ sauce, topped with a creamy honey BBQ mayo, sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh cilantro. Ready in just 25 minutes, this flavorful taco recipe is perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef or beef strips
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Taco Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Assembly
- 6 soft taco tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Garlic Butter: In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic as it can become bitter.
- Cook Beef: Add the ground beef or beef strips into the skillet. Cook thoroughly until browned, breaking up the meat if using ground beef. Drain excess fat to prevent greasiness in the tacos.
- Add Sauce and Simmer: Stir in the honey, BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the cooked beef. Mix well to coat the beef and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors and slightly thicken the sauce.
- Prepare Taco Sauce: While the beef simmers, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, BBQ sauce, and smoked paprika in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside for topping the tacos later.
- Assemble Tacos: Warm the soft tortillas until pliable using a skillet or microwave. Spoon the saucy beef mixture onto each tortilla, drizzle with the prepared honey BBQ mayo sauce, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese, and finish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired. Fold and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use either ground beef or thin beef strips depending on your preference.
- Adjust the amount of honey and BBQ sauce to your taste for sweetness and tanginess.
- To make the tacos spicier, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the beef or mayo sauce.
- For a lighter option, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Warming tortillas makes them easier to fold without cracking.
- Fresh cilantro is optional but adds a nice fresh flavor contrast.
- Drain excess fat from beef to avoid greasy tacos and keep flavors balanced.
