Shredded Honey Lime Chicken (with rotisserie chicken)

Shredded Honey Lime Chicken makes ultra-flavorful tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and more! Simply shred a moist rotisserie chicken and toss it in a quick, tasty sauce made with honey, lime, and simple seasonings. In under 15 minutes you have an easy weeknight dinner that is also great for meal prep or the freezer.

Have you ever had one of those nights where you forgot to plan dinner… and you’re just realizing it at 5:00 pm? THIS recipe is for just such an occasion. It is literally the easiest way to make knock-your-socks-off tacos, enchiladas, or Mexican bowls. And although it will taste like you spent hours in the kitchen, in reality it will only take about 15 minutes. (Really!) 

If you have any leftovers, try these Corn Tortilla Quesadillas. It's a 15 minute dinner that's so simple, but so very delicious!

This recipe was inspired by the chicken in Carlsbad Cravings Honey Lime Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas, but we changed up the amounts and added extra lime. Using a rotisserie chicken makes it extra easy, but it’s also a great way to use up other shredded chicken you have on hand. This is also one of my go-to recipes for weekly meal prep or freezing ahead!

🍯 Ingredients

Rotisserie chicken: This is the easiest option, but you can also buy chicken pre-shredded, or cook and shred chicken breasts yourself.
Honey: Adds sweet flavor without being overpowering.
Lime juice and zest: Tonsss of fresh, tangy flavor to complement the honey.
Chili powder: This is one of the main flavor components.
Onion powder: Great way to add onion flavor without the hassle of onions.
Garlic powder: Again, a simple way to add garlic flavor without fresh garlic.
Chipotle powder: Adds a bit of welcome spice.
Smoked paprika: Use smoked paprika specifically, not just regular paprika. It definitely adds a different layer of flavor.
Cumin: A little goes a long way, so we won’t use much.
Salt: Kosher is best.
Pepper: Black ground pepper.

🔪 Instructions

Start by shredding the rotisserie chicken. My favorite way to do this is by removing large chunks of chicken and pulling it apart with two forks. Pro tip: shred the chicken while it is still warm! It is so much easier that way. 

Next, combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk well. Pour the sauce over the shredded chicken and stir to combine. And that’s it! The chicken can be warmed on the stove in a skillet, in the microwave, or in the oven. See the How to Serve section below for ideas on how to use the shredded chicken.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd

If you are serving this to a crowd, just double or triple the recipe based on how much chicken you need. 6 cups of shredded chicken (which is about 1 large, 3 pound rotisserie chicken) usually serves 6-8 people. Of course, this depends on how you use the chicken (i.e. tacos, enchiladas, etc). 

My favorite way to serve this to a crowd is in enchiladas, because I can make and freeze them ahead and bake them off when company comes over. Last time I made this chicken, two recipes (12 cups of shredded chicken) made enough enchiladas for about 15 people.

🌮 How to serve

There are several great uses for Shredded Honey Lime Chicken. My absolute favorite is in enchiladas with green sauce (red sauce is good too!). They also make great tacos, burritos, Mexican bowls, and Mexican salads. 

🐔 Alternatives

If you don’t have a rotisserie chicken on hand, you can always buy chicken pre-shredded. Most grocery stores sell shredded chicken in the refrigerator or freezer section, although I find that it is usually pricier than buying a rotisserie chicken from Sam’s Club or Costco. Another option is to bake some chicken breasts seasoned with salt and pepper and shred them yourself.

🙋 Questions and Answers

📖 Other recipes with rotisserie chicken

• Easy Chicken Tinga Tacos - Shred some chicken, toss it in a simple tinga sauce, and voila! You have delicious tacos in no time!
• Chicken Tortilla Soup - An easy, flavorful, and healthy soup that never fails to satisfy on a chilly night. 
• Greek Quinoa Salad Bowl - A healthy and refreshing dish that can easily be made into a full meal by adding chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken. 

👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks

• Use fresh limes for the juice and zest. I promise it tastes 1000% better than the bottled juice at the store. 
• Shred the chicken while it is still warm. Saves you some hassle and time!
• Remove the skin before shredding the chicken. It doesn’t shred well and tends to fall right off the chicken, so not the best in this recipe. 

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