Description
These Crispy Shredded Chicken Tacos turn an ordinary weeknight into a mini fiesta with golden, crispy chicken, warm tortillas, and all your favorite toppings. Ready in under 30 minutes, they're a fast, delicious, and satisfying meal the whole family will love.
Ingredients
3 cups Cooked Shredded Chicken (From a rotisserie chicken or leftover baked chicken breast)
12 Corn Tortillas (Flour tortillas also work well)
3 tablespoons Neutral Oil (avocado, canola)
1 tablespoon Chili Powder
1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
Juice from 1 lime
For Serving: Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, avocado or guacamole, and fresh cilantro.
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken: If your chicken isn't already shredded, use two forks to pull it apart into thin, uniform strands. This helps it crisp up evenly.
2. Season Generously: In a medium bowl, toss the shredded chicken with the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Ensure every piece is well-coated with the spice mixture.
3. Heat the Skillet: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add two tablespoons of oil. Let the oil get hot until it shimmers.
4. Cook the Chicken: Add the seasoned shredded chicken to the hot skillet in an even layer. Let it cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes to allow the bottom to become golden and crispy.
5. Create the Crisp: Now, stir the chicken and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for another 5-7 minutes until most of the chicken pieces have crispy, browned edges.
6. Finish with Lime: Remove the skillet from the heat. Drizzle the fresh lime juice over the crispy chicken and give it one final stir. The lime juice will deglaze the pan and add fantastic flavor.
7. Warm the Tortillas: In a separate clean skillet, warm the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Heat each tortilla for about 30 seconds per side until soft and pliable. You can also warm them directly over a gas flame for a charred flavor.
8. Assemble Your Tacos: Place a generous scoop of the crispy shredded chicken into the center of each warm tortilla. Let everyone build their own perfect Crispy Shredded Chicken Tacos with their favorite toppings.
Notes
Pro Tip: Do not crowd the skillet when cooking the chicken; cook it in two batches if necessary for the best crispy texture.
Pro Tip: Pat the shredded chicken dry with a paper towel before seasoning to help it crisp up.
Substitutions: You can use shredded pork or black beans for a vegetarian option. Flour tortillas work well if you don't have corn.
Variations: For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeรฑo to the skillet with the chicken.
Storage: Store leftover chicken and tortillas separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: To restore crispiness, reheat chicken on a baking sheet in a 375ยฐF oven for 10 minutes or in a skillet over medium heat. Avoid using the microwave.
Freezing: The cooked crispy chicken can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg