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–+ servings
three chicken tinga tacos on a plate with lime wedges

Easy Chicken Tinga Tacos

Skip the ground beef and level up with this easy recipe for Chicken Tinga Tacos! Tender, smoky, perfectly spiced shredded chicken—but in a quicker, weeknight-friendly way.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: tacos
Servings: 4 people
Author: Ainseanlea @ The Stush Kitchen

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Equipment

Ingredients

Taco Seasoning

For the Tacos

  • 1 lb boneless chicken
  • 1 cup chicken broth or stock
  • 2 TBSP tomato paste
  • corn tortillas
  • lime wedges

Topping Ideas (As Desired)

  • diced fresh jalapeños
  • diced red onions
  • guacamole
  • black beans or refried beans
  • Cotija cheese

Instructions

Making the Shredded Chicken

  • Trim the chicken of any excess fat or cartilage and then add all the seasonings except the salt & cayenne pepper. Toss to evenly distribute.
  • Bring a large skillet to medium-high heat add oil. Cook the chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is completely cooked through.
  • Add the tomato paste & chicken broth to the pan to deglaze and shred the chicken. You can shred the chicken using 2 forks or in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on low-medium with a flat beater attachment.
  • Reduce heat to low-medium and allow the shredded chicken to remain at a gentle simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Add the salt & cayenne pepper to taste. While the chicken simmers, prepare the tortillas.

Preparing the Corn Tortillas

  • Lightly brush or spray each side of the corn tortillas with oil (I used olive oil). Heat up the corn tortillas on the comal, cooking briefly on each side for 20-30 seconds or until bubbles/air pockets start to form. 
The goal is not to crisp the tortillas, only to lightly caramelize and heat them. They should still be flexible and you should be able to make a fist with them in your hand without them crumbling.
  • Wrap the tortillas in a clean kitchen towel so you have soft & warm corn tortillas when you are ready to assemble your chicken tacos.

Assembling your Chicken Tinga Tacos

  • Gather all your desired toppings and your warm tortillas. Start by spreading a topping that has creamy or paste-like consistency like refried beans, guacamole or sour cream.
  • Add the shredded chicken from earlier and layer on the rest of your desired toppings. Using a lime wedge squeeze lime juice on each tortilla before eating. Enjoy hot!
  • Store any leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container.
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