Chicken Tacos is a quick way to get your midweek taco fix! Shredded Mexican chicken that comes with its own sauce, a homemade chicken taco seasoning does double duty to flavour the chicken AND make the taco sauce.
This is an easy chicken taco recipe loaded with big, punchy Mexican flavours. No marinating, no fussing with a separate sauce, no need to go overboard with toppings. The only question is – soft tortillas or old school taco shells?? 🤔
Chicken Tacos
This Chicken Taco recipe is intended to be a QUICK recipe with a 2-in-1 chicken plus taco sauce so there’s no need to make a separate sauce.
Tacos always seem to be pitched as a quick ‘n easy dinner. Though cooking the meat might be fast, we need to factor in the extra time to make all the taco fixings: pico de Gallo, guacamole or Avocado Sauce, pickled cabbage, taco sauce, cheese sauce…..
We’re bypassing all of that with this Chicken Taco recipe. Because the chicken is flavoured generously and comes with a sauce, this means:
✅ No need to make a separate sauce of any kind. But if you’re so inclined, dig deep to find the strength to pull a tub of sour cream from the fridge….
✅ Taco toppings can be kept simple. I chopped a tomato, onion, lettuce and onion.
BUT having said that, nobody ever complains about too many taco topping options, so don’t let me hold you back!!
This is a 2-1 chicken taco filling PLUS taco sauce recipe!
Chicken Taco Seasoning
Here’s what goes in my quick chicken tacos:
simple homemade Chicken taco seasoning – made with cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and oregano, the same taco seasoning I use for Beef Tacos and Quesadillas. There’s quite a lot, but we need it because it’s used to season the chicken AND make the sauce. Add cayenne pepper for a hit spiciness;
garlic – it goes in everything around here!
lime juice – loads of sub options here – the main purpose is to turn the spices into a loose paste to coat the chicken. Orange juice or another fruit juice is an excellent sub, lemon juice or even water;
chicken – boneless skinless chicken thighs is always my first choice because it’s so much juicier than breast with just a fraction more calories;
chicken broth/liquid stock and tomato paste – to make the sauce.
The chicken taco seasoning does double duty to flavour the chicken AND the taco sauce
How to make Chicken Tacos
Coat chicken in taco seasoning rub. No need to marinate – it adds little to this recipe because we’re shredding the chicken
Sear and shred – or chop. I like to shred because the chicken strands hold more sauce = juicier eating experience 😂
Into the same pan, add broth and tomato paste. Scrape and simmer, toss chicken back in;
Stuff into taco shells and devour.
Because this is by no means an authentic Mexican chicken recipe, being that the seasoning is a total copycat of Old El Paso (minus preservatives and artificial flavours), the stuffing vehicle of choice here is good ole crispy corn taco shells. You won’t see them anywhere in Mexico…. but we love them anyway!
Today’s Chicken Taco recipe is the quicker version of this Mexican Shredded Chicken which is made with a Chipotles in Adobo based sauce, and does not require marinating like this Mexican Grilled Chicken Tacos (a homestyle version of Sinaloa Chicken, a traditional Mexican recipe).
There’s room for all 3 tacos in my life, but today’s recipe is the one I make most often because I don’t need to plan for it. I usually have all the spices and other ingredients (because taco shells – crispy or otherwise – can always be found somewhere in the dark depths of my pantry), toppings are adaptable and it’s high returns for low effort.
You know I’m a big fan of these type of recipes! – Nagi x
In the mood for Mexican?
I have a few here around here…. just a few… 😂😂
Beef tacos – old school ground Beef Tacos or slow cooked Mexican Shredded Beef
Other Chicken tacos – Mexican Shredded Chicken and Marinated Grilled Chicken
Mexican Pulled Pork – Pork Carnitas, big reader fave!
Fish Tacos – marinated and grilled (also try this same recipe with prawns/shrimp)
Taco fixings – pico de Gallo, Salsa sauce, guacamole or Avocado Sauce, pickled cabbage, taco sauce, cheese sauce
Browse all Mexican recipes
Also, don’t miss Mexican Fiesta – a fiesta menu, starters, mains, sides and dessert!
Chicken tacos recipe
Watch how to make it
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Quick Chicken Tacos – WITH sauce!
Ingredients
- 700 g / 1.2 lb chicken thighs , skinless boneless (or breast)
- 1.5 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 cup (250ml) chicken broth, separated (liquid stock)
HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING:
- 3 tbsp lime juice (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 tsp EACH garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano
- 3 tsp EACH cumin powder, paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust spiciness to taste, can skip)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
To serve:
- Taco shells or tortillas , warmed per packet directions
- Diced tomato , onion, avocado, coriander/cilantro leaves
- Shredded lettuce
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Place Taco Seasoning ingredients in a bowl. Add 2 tbsp of the chicken broth and mix to form a loose paste.
- Add chicken, turn to coat.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook chicken for 3 minutes on each side until lightly seared. (Reserve marinade dregs in bowl)
- Remove chicken into a shallow dish.
- Return skillet to stove, reduce to medium. Add remaining chicken broth, tomato paste, sugar and scrape in any marinade left in the bowl. Mix to dissolve, scraping base of pan, and bring to simmer
- Meanwhile, shred chicken with forks, or chop (don’t worry if raw inside).
- Return chicken into sauce, toss and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until sauce reduces to a thin syrup consistency (add water if reduces too fast). Adjust salt to taste.
- Transfer chicken and all sauce to serving bowl.
Serving:
- Warm taco shells or tortillas.
- Stuff with chicken, making sure it’s soaked with the sauce.
- Top with tomato, avocado, onion, coriander, lettuce and sour cream. Devour!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Dozer with his friends and a lady in black (yours truly! 😂). Between all the cooking/shooting/filming and Dozer, there is not much white in my wardrobe…..
Absolutely incredible! Such wonderful flavors. My husband loved this!
Absolutely Wonderful were the words that came out of my Husband and I agree!!!!! On the Quick Chicken Tacos with Sauce.
Hi Nagi,
The whole family loved this recipe and made us reminisce about a trip to Mexico.
I have a 100% success rate with your recipes.
thanks and say hi to Dozer
Kylie
I’m so glad this reminded you of Mexico! I LOVED Mexico 🙂 Dozer says WOOF! N x
Made this tonight and it was fantastic! I’m new to cooking and this is simply the best website I have found. Everything I have made has been amazing. THANK YOU
So glad you loved this Cat! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it – N x
Yum. Looks great. Love saucy fillings. Been a while since I had hard shell tacos.
Thanks Alberto, you should definitely try it!
Nagi, you’ve done it again! Such a super quick dinner but oh so delicious! I can’t repeat what my husband said, but needless to say he’s a big fan of yours!
We are going to try the sauce with some slow cooked beef as can imagine that would be great too!
Ba ha ha! Potty mouth hubby?? 😂
Hi Nagi
the word “DEVOUR” can not explain what transpired last night at dinner when I got finished with this recipe. Everyone loved it.
We used tortillas last night and decided for next week to use tacos pitas and a local bread here in Jordan called Mashrouh.
Thanks for sharing it and look forward to send photos next week
Hady
Ha ha!! I love hearing that Hady! Look forward to seeing the photo 🙂 N x
Okay so I am a big fan of a double decker style taco at home so soft flour tortilla and hard crunchy shell usually held together by a queso haha! It’s sooo good.
I am TOTALLY trying it next taco night! N xx
Can I substitute another spice instead of cumin?
Coriander will be a fine sub Lynne! N x
Made this for dinner tonight but instead of tacos I made nachos, topped with melted cheese, guacamole and salsa. The chicken was so tender and flavorsome – totally delicious – Thanks Nagi ! 🤗
You read my mind!! I was going to share chicken nachos next month 🙂 Glad you enjoyed this Maria! N xx
They say we eat with eyes, your photos are enough to make you hungry and as for food DELICIOUS,! And Dozer photos are Special. Was down St Kilder beach this week and there is always some one dog that wants to ply or pinch your apple. Loved them all. Over here today steaming 32 C.
Wow still so hot down there?? WOW!!
Wow these were fantastic! I used 50% more of the spices we like flavor overload. I also used chicken tenderloin rather than thighs. Tenderloins don’t dry out like breasts and we prefer white meat. A must try recipe!
I love that you loaded it up with EVEN MORE seasoning!!!!!! N xx
Hi Nagi, I made these tacos for dinner tonight. I will never purchase taco seasoning again. I have been buying Trader Joe’s because it has no chemicals or preservatives but it is really high in sodium. Your mix is perfect and I can control the sodium. My husband and I both loved these tacos. They are now my go to taco. Thank you so much. Love to you and Dozer.
WOW Becky! That’s such great feedback, I’m so pleased you and your husband enjoyed these so much! Dozer sends furry fluffy hugs back (and you’ll cop a whiff of his stinky sardine breath too 🤢)
Today it was announced thzt Golden Retrievers are the most popular dog breed the 28th year in a row! Congratulations Dozer!
Who would have guessed so many people are willing to put up with all that FUR!! 😂😂😂 N xx
I got a question that bother me for a long time. After searing the meat, the pan has some burnt part and some of them are black in color. Like many other recipes, you continue to use the same pan to make the sauce. Will the sauce taste bitter due to those burnt parts?
Hi!! The key with this recipe is to use a slightly lower heat, and also the pan is pretty crowded because we are using 700g of chicken. So these two factors combined means you don’t get an aggressive charring on the chicken, just a nice light golden sear (see video!), so this way the stuff left in the pan isn’t horribly burnt (again, see close up in video when I scrape the tomato paste in) 🙂 If you’re getting really burnt bits in your pan when you make recipes like this that use the same pan, turn the heat down! N xx
This one will feature this week no doubt. Your recipes are feeding us at least 3 times per week. Quick and yum – as good as the pics suggest. Thanks.
I love hearing that Sue! I always sit here at my computer smiling like a fool when I read messages like this 🙂 N x
I love your recipes-no insane ingredients. I’m 1/2 Japanese, married to a Mexican-so we have a range of likes! My favorite meal in the world is Katsudon and hubby makes a great Gisada. I look forward to every blog!
OMG I would LOVE to be at your dinner table….
Hi Nagi! Like you I always have these pantry items on hand and I always buy boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they taste the best and are economical! I also always have flour tortillas and hard shells. I like to use them as Eva does! Less messy and really tasty! We will be having these very soon my friend! Dozer is adorable, as always 🙂
I bet YOU have a mean go-to taco recipe….
Hey Nagi! Love your site btw! Recently found it and have made a few recipes so far. (Guinness beef stew and soda bread turned out amazzzzing!) Noticed in the upper part of recipe you mention adding lime juice to the spices to create a wet rub. But in the recipe instructions you specify broth! Just thought I’d give you a heads up.
Going to make this, but maybe throw some onions into pan after searing thighs, then create sauce, add back whole thighs, pop into oven to simmer for awhile and cook thru. Shred, stir, serve!
Thanks for the lovely site and recipes. 🙂
So glad you’re enjoying the recipes Steve! thanks for that feedback, let me check how I explained it. I use both lime AND broth to make the wet broth, I just didn’t put broth in both photos.
And I agree – onion is always a good thing for tacos! N x
Nagi..I hate to sound repetitive, but omg u really are a miracle. Every recipe is beyond amazing just as u r, love to read all ur comments n tips…n the icing on top is of course Dozer..need I say more..💞💞👏👏👌👌
Oh no, you will NEVER sound repetitive 😂 I’m so pleased you enjoy my recipes and Dozer, thank you for your lovely message! N x