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!
- Fajitas – Chicken and Beef
- 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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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…..
Another amazing recipe by Nagi. As I said to my wife “she’s just perfect”. Pretty quiet meal yo be honest 😂
If anything I’d cook the chicken a little longer before shredding. I found much of it raw and difficult to shred.
I’m so glad you loved it James, definitely cook it more until done so you can shred easily – N x
How can I make this in a crockpot? Make sauce first to thicken? I work all day and need something ready (or nearly done) when I get home. Thanks!
Hi Dana, yes you sure can, just reduce the sauce on the stove after to thicken it 🙂
This is one of my favourite recipes of yours! My husband and I devoured it…a bit ‘spicy’ for our toddlers even with cayenne omitted but that pleased us as we could finish all there’s off. Soo good. Making this often now. I’ll NEVER buy Old El Paso again.
Wahoo, and it’s so much better to do homemade anyway!
I have made this multiple times and it is fantastic. But I can never get the sauce to thicken up. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Kristin, sorry you are having problems here, just bring it to a simmer and it will thicken (alternatively you can add 1 tsp cornflour mixed in 1 tbls water and add it to the sauce)
Oops, forgot to do the stars.
Thanks Kim!
Yum, yum, my fussy family of 5 adults, really enjoyed this recipe. I have made lost of your recipes, and they are always awesome.
I love hearing that Kim, thanks so much ❤️
Oh…my…God – this is an incredible recipe. Lip smackingly brilliant!
Mic Drop 🎤 Nagi
😂 Thanks so much Paula!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. It’s my daughter’s birthday and she’s chosen this for her birthday dinner – along with your apple crumble recipe.
Your recipes are amazing and haven’t failed me yet! Thanks for an awesome site.
That’s so great Nina, I hope she has a fabulous Birthday!
I cook mostly from scratch for years and these are the best chicken taco’s with sauce I ever made. Thank you!
Woot! Terrific Nicole!
This is the first time I am using chicken thighs (boneless) and using homemade taco seasoning…..it is out of this world……just delicious…..I had flour tortillas in the fridge…it came in handy.
A quick and easy dinner meal…
My daughter and husband loved the sweet and sour taste with a bit of heat from the cayenne pepper….we all loved it…. another great recipe Nagi.
Thanks
Wahoo! I’m so happy it was a hit Leisel!
Nagi, this was absolutely spectacular! I don’t think I’ve tried a duff recipe from you, yet! You’re on the meal planner another two times this week, the Vietnamese Shredded Beef, and the Curried Sausage (in the UK and I have never heard of it, but I can get behind it!). Husband also thanks you 🙂
Wooo that’s awesome Michelle, thanks!
Thank you for this recipe. Made this for dinner with your Mexican red rice recipe, sooooo delicious! 😋😋😋 My husband and I ate too much! 🤣😂 Will definitely make this again
Awesome Azalea, I’m so happy you loved it! You can go have a siesta now 😂
Yet another of your superb recipe!
I made this tonight and it was really delicious.
It is hard to believe that one can make this flavourful dish with such simple ingredients and method.
You are a star, Nagi-san! My big star, anyway.
I also made flatbread using, of course, your recipe.
This site of yours is my go-to site!
I appreciate your great work!
Thanks so much Kumiko, I truly appreciate the greta feedback ❤️
I made this for dinner, and OH MY GOSH. That chicken and sauce… SO perfect!! Our whole family were devouring it like it was our last supper! I don’t think I’ll ever do the usual minced beef now when we have taco night. (I’m thinking of using the leftover chicken and making a pie with it, which I think will also work really well… yum!). Thanks for this superb recipe!
Wahoo! Thanks so much for letting me know Esther!
I made this last night and it was fantastic! And it was actually on the table in 30 mins. I made it with the pickled cabbage from your fish taco recipe, and sour cream with crunchy shells, delicious.
This recipe sounds great, my 15 yo daughter are not fans of chicken thighs, will be using breast, would really love to do this in the electric pressure cooker? Any tips? Btw: Have made lots of your recipes and LOVE them!!! Dozer is GORGEOUS!!!
Hi Maz, I honestly haven’t done this in a pressure cooker because you want to sear the chicken and reduce the sauce, it’s such a quick recipe I wouldn’t bother with the pressure cooker! – N x