Chicken Tacos With Sauce Recipe

Get ready for flavor-packed chicken tacos, but what's the one secret ingredient that elevates them to legendary status?

tacos chicken sauce recipe

Ready to ditch boring tacos for a flavor fiesta?

This recipe unveils the secret to unbelievably delicious chicken tacos, starting with a simple yet powerful spice blend that will transform your weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

write simple recipe instructions

To start this awesome Chicken Taco recipe, I'm gonna walk you through gathering all our ingredients – it's super easy, trust me!

First, you'll need about 1.2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (breasts work too, but thighs are juicier!). Then, grab 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil to get things sizzlin'.

Next up, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste that'll add a rich flavor, and don't forget 2 teaspoons of sugar. It balances out the savory – kinda like adding a pinch of fun to serious business!

Now, pour 1 cup (250ml) chicken broth, then 3 tablespoons of lime juice. To create a similar dish using a burrito, you could use cooked rice to add a different texture.

For serving, I use taco shells or tortillas – warm 'em up for yumminess, ok? Then, there's diced tomato, onion, avocado, coriander (or cilantro, if you're fancy!), shredded lettuce and cheese! And finally, we absolutely can't skip the sour cream. Trust me – it's a must!

Taco Seasoning

spice for tacos

Now, let's whip up some taco seasoning – it's way easier than you think! I'm gonna show you the simple yet flavorful blend that'll make our chicken tacos sing!

I love this homemade mix because I know exactly what's going in it – no weird additives! You'll need 3 tsp of cumin powder, 3 tsp of paprika, 2 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano. Then add 1 tsp of salt, ½ tsp of black pepper, and a touch of heat with ½ tsp of cayenne pepper—adjust to your liking! This seasoning, much like the kind used in chicken nachos, adds a wonderful depth of flavor to the chicken.

I'm telling you, this is such a versatile blend – keep it on hand for other recipes. It's gonna deliver that authentic taco flavor we all crave!

Instructions

brief question concise answer

With our awesome taco seasoning ready, let's get cooking! First, I combine the seasoning with 2 tablespoons of chicken broth to make a paste. Then, I coat the chicken in this flavorful mix, ensuring every piece is covered.

Next, I heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. I sear the chicken—3 minutes each side—reserving any leftover marinade. Now, I remove the chicken and set it aside.

  • Reduce the heat to medium.
  • Add the remaining broth, tomato paste, and sugar to the skillet.
  • Scrape up every bit from the bottom; that's where the flavor is!
  • Bring to a simmer, stirring until it's all dissolved.
  • Shred the chicken and return it to the skillet.

I simmer everything for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens—like a thin syrup. If it reduces too quickly, add a splash of water. I taste and adjust the salt as needed. Finally, I transfer the chicken to a bowl, making sure it's swimming in that delicious sauce!

Recipe Notes

recipe details instructions and notes

Let's talk notes! I wanna run through some important recipe notes to make your taco night awesome.

First—the lime juice. Don't stress if you're out! You can totally swap it with lemon juice, cider vinegar, or even apple juice. Seriously, any juice works! If you're using fruit juice, you can probably skip the sugar in the sauce—easy peasy!

Next, the nutrition info. I've listed it for the chicken filling and sauce only, assuming you're making about 12 tacos. Each taco, with about 1/4 to 1/3 cup filling, comes in around 103 calories. If you use chicken breast, it drops to about 100 calories. Not bad, huh?

Short Recipe Version

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs chicken breast

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

12 corn tortillas

1 avocado

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped onion

Instructions:

  1. Cut chicken into small pieces.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
  4. Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine and cook for another minute.
  5. Warm tortillas.
  6. Fill each tortilla with chicken.
  7. Top with avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, and onion.
  8. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):

Calories: 350

Protein: 30g

Fat: 15g

Carbohydrates: 25g