Easy Street Tacos: The Buffalo Wild Wings Copycat Recipe

Buffalo Wild’s wings street tacos bring a carnival of flavor straight to your kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal.

These tacos capture the essence of street-style cooking with bold, vibrant seasonings that dance across your palate.

The magic happens when tender, juicy chicken meets zesty marinades, creating a symphony of taste sensations.

Crisp corn tortillas provide the perfect canvas for this culinary masterpiece, holding each carefully crafted ingredient.

Charred chicken, infused with bright cilantro and tangy lime, creates a flavor profile that feels like a spontaneous street food adventure.

Fresh avocados add a creamy contrast that elevates every single bite, making these tacos irresistibly delicious.

Prepare to impress everyone at the table with this restaurant-worthy recipe that feels like a fiesta:

Why You’ll Want to Try BWW’s Street Tacos at Home

• Quick Flavor Explosion: These Buffalo Wild Wings street tacos deliver an intense burst of zesty, spicy flavors in every single bite, combining lime, cumin, and chili powder for a mouth-watering experience that transforms ordinary chicken into a gourmet street food sensation.
• Effortless Grilling Magic: The simple marinating and grilling method makes this recipe incredibly accessible for home cooks, allowing even novice chefs to achieve restaurant-quality results with minimal cooking skills and under 30 minutes of active preparation time.
• Customizable Culinary Adventure: Packed with flexible ingredients and easy assembly, these tacos invite personal creativity by letting you adjust spice levels, swap toppings, or experiment with different protein options while maintaining the core delicious street taco essence.
• Healthy Weeknight Winner: Featuring lean protein, fresh herbs, and balanced macronutrients, this recipe offers a nutritious meal option that doesn't compromise on taste, making it perfect for health-conscious food lovers seeking a quick and satisfying dinner solution.

Taco Night Ingredients From Buffalo Wild Wings

• Chicken: Lean protein for the main dish, choose boneless and skinless for easier grilling.

• Lime Juice, Olive Oil: Creates tangy and moist marinade base with bright citrus flavor.
• Garlic: Adds deep aromatic flavor to the marinade.

• Cumin, Chili Powder: Provides warm and slightly spicy southwestern flavor profile.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Enhances overall seasoning and balances marinade taste.

• Cilantro: Fresh herb that adds bright, herbal notes to the marinade and garnish.

• Tortillas: Soft corn or flour base for taco, choose fresh and pliable.
• Avocado: Creamy topping that adds richness and smooth texture.
• Red Onions: Provides sharp, crisp bite and fresh crunch.

• Spicy Sauce: Adds extra heat and flavor complexity to the finished tacos.

• Lime Juice: Bright citrus spritz to enhance overall taco freshness.

How to Make BWW-Inspired Street Tacos

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade

• Lime juice
• Olive oil
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• Cumin
• Chili powder
• Chopped cilantro
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 2: Marinate the Chicken

Place chicken in a large resealable bag and pour marinade over it. Seal the bag, removing excess air, and gently massage to coat chicken completely. Refrigerate for 1-6 hours.

Step 3: Preheat the Grill

Heat grill to medium-high temperature (425-450°F). Clean and lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Grill the Chicken

Remove chicken from marinade and place on the hot grill. Cook for 5-6 minutes per side, rotating once halfway through. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F and chicken has slight char marks.

Step 5: Rest the Chicken

Transfer grilled chicken to a platter and cover with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.

Step 6: Chop and Assemble Tacos

Dice the grilled chicken into bite-sized cubes. Warm tortillas on the grill for 30 seconds each side.

• Diced chicken
• Sliced avocado
• Chopped onions
• Fresh cilantro

Step 7: Serve and Finish

Place chicken and toppings on tortillas. Squeeze fresh lime juice over tacos and drizzle with spicy sauce. Serve immediately while warm.

Street Taco Tips Straight From the BWW Flavor Book

• Maximize Marinade Magic: Let chicken soak in zesty flavors for a full hour, ensuring every bite bursts with deliciousness.
• Target Thigh Triumph: Choose chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful meat that'll make guests rave about your cooking skills.
• Grill with Gusto: Crank up the heat and let those tacos char slightly, creating a mouthwatering crunch that elevates the entire dish.
• Rest and Relax: After grilling, let the chicken rest for a few minutes to lock in those incredible juices and flavors.
• Slice with Precision: Cut chicken against the grain for tender, easy-to-eat taco filling that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Storing Street Tacos the Right Way

• Vacuum Seal Method: Extract air completely from specialized bags using a vacuum sealer to prevent moisture and bacteria growth. Protect delicate taco ingredients by creating an airtight barrier that maintains freshness for up to 5 days.
• Glass Container Technique: Transfer cooled tacos into clear glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Stack ingredients separately to prevent sogginess and preserve texture, keeping components crisp and appetizing.
• Quick Wrap Strategy: Individually wrap each taco in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before placing in a refrigerator-safe container. Minimize air exposure and prevent flavor mixing between different ingredients, extending the shelf life to 3-4 days.

Ways to Spice Up Buffalo Wild Wings-Style Tacos

• Spicy Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos: Replace the original spicy sauce with homemade salsa verde, adding roasted tomatillos, jalapeños, and fresh cilantro for a tangy, green-hued kick.
• Korean BBQ Street Taco Style: Swap the marinade ingredients with gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar, creating a sweet and spicy Korean-inspired chicken filling.
• Mediterranean Herb Chicken Tacos: Modify the marinade with oregano, lemon juice, mint, and za'atar spice blend, serving with crumbled feta cheese and tzatziki sauce.
• Smoky Chipotle Chicken Tacos: Incorporate chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into the marinade, adding a deep, smoky flavor profile with a subtle heat that complements the grilled chicken.

What Makes These Tacos a Party Favorite

Culinary adventure seekers will fall in love with these tantalizing street tacos that bring sizzling Mexican flavors right to your kitchen.

Zesty marinade infuses chicken with bold, complex spices that dance across taste buds with each delectable bite.

Grilling transforms ordinary chicken into a smoky masterpiece that elevates simple ingredients into a gourmet experience.

Soft tortillas cradle perfectly charred meat, creating an irresistible combination of textures and temperatures.

Crisp onions and fresh cilantro provide bright, clean notes that complement the rich, spiced protein.

Ready to spark conversation and create memorable meal moments, these street tacos promise to become your new weekend cooking obsession – share this recipe, tag friends who love bold flavors, and let the culinary magic begin!

Buffalo Wild Wings Street Tacos Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Mexican-inspired street tacos bring zesty chicken, crispy toppings, and bold flavors straight from Buffalo Wild Wings’ kitchen. Bold spices and fresh ingredients create an irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) trimmed boneless skinless chicken thighs

Spices and Seasonings:

• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 ½ teaspoons ancho chili powder
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Liquid and Fresh Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) fresh lime juice
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• ¼ cup (15 grams) chopped fresh cilantro

Taco Components:

• 12 mini corn taco shells, warmed (double up if desired)
• 1 large avocado, cored and sliced
• 1 small red or yellow onion, chopped
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges, for serving (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare a 1-gallon (3.8 liters) resealable plastic bag, filling it halfway with chicken pieces.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together fresh lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, chopped fresh cilantro, 1 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon black pepper to create a vibrant marinade.
3. Pour the marinade over the chicken inside the bag, carefully seal while pressing out excess air to ensure complete coating.
4. Gently massage the bag to distribute marinade evenly across all chicken surfaces.
5. Refrigerate the marinating chicken for a minimum of 1 hour and maximum of 6 hours to allow flavors to penetrate deeply.
6. Preheat outdoor grill to medium-high heat, targeting a temperature between 425-450 degrees Fahrenheit (218-232 degrees Celsius).
7. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess liquid drip off, and place directly on clean, preheated grill grates.
8. Cook chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, rotating once midway to ensure even charring and consistent cooking.
9. Verify doneness by checking internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) at the thickest part.
10. Transfer grilled chicken to a serving platter, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices.
11. Dice the rested chicken into bite-sized cubes for taco assembly.
12. Warm tortillas and layer with diced chicken, sliced avocado, diced onions, and fresh cilantro.
13. Finish tacos with a squeeze of lime juice and a drizzle of spicy sauce before serving immediately.

Notes

• Infuse chicken with bold flavors by marinating in lime and spices for a minimum of one hour before grilling.
• Verify chicken’s doneness by checking the internal temperature hits 165 degrees at its thickest point.
• Sprinkle fresh cilantro and diced onions to bring vibrant crunch and authentic street taco essence.
• Opt for corn tortillas, lightly warmed on the grill, to capture the traditional street food experience.
• Slice chicken into small, even cubes for balanced bites and consistent meat distribution.
• Squeeze fresh lime juice right before serving to add a zesty, bright flavor boost.
• Layer creamy avocado slices to complement the spicy grilled chicken and introduce healthy fats.
• Grill at medium-high heat to create perfect char marks and seal in succulent chicken moisture.
• Allow grilled chicken to rest briefly, enabling juice redistribution for maximum tenderness.
• Play with different hot sauces to craft a personalized spice level and unique taco signature.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 532 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 467 mg
• Fat: 35 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 26 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg