Description
Pulled chicken tacos bring Mexican street fare magic right to home kitchens with tender, spice-infused meat nestled in warm tortillas. Crisp toppings and zesty salsa complete this simple yet irresistible meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (700 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Cooking and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) salsa or enchilada sauce (optional for extra flavor)
Serving Ingredients:
- Small corn or flour tortillas
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Diced red onion
- Crumbled queso fresco or shredded cheese
- Sliced avocado
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Create a flavor-packed spice blend by combining cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Coat chicken pieces thoroughly with the prepared spice mixture, ensuring even coverage.
- For stovetop method, warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature.
- Sear seasoned chicken for approximately 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and slightly crisp.
- Pour chicken broth and salsa into the skillet, completely covering the chicken pieces.
- Cover the skillet and reduce heat, allowing chicken to simmer gently for 20 minutes until fully cooked.
- Alternatively, for slow cooker method, transfer seasoned chicken into the appliance.
- Add chicken broth and salsa, then cover and cook on low setting for 6-7 hours or high setting for 3-4 hours.
- Once chicken is tender, carefully remove from cooking liquid using tongs.
- Utilize two forks to meticulously shred the chicken into soft, stringy pieces.
- Return shredded chicken to the remaining cooking liquid, stirring gently to incorporate flavors.
- Splash fresh lime juice over the chicken, allowing it to marinate for several minutes.
- Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until slightly pliable.
- Generously pile shredded chicken onto each tortilla.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, thinly sliced red onion, creamy avocado slices, and crumbled cheese.
- Finish with an additional squeeze of lime for brightness.
- Serve immediately alongside complementary sides like rice, black beans, or crispy tortilla chips.
Notes
- Master the seasoning blend by toasting whole spices before grinding for an intensely aromatic flavor profile.
- Experiment with different salsa types like roasted tomato or verde to create unique taste variations.
- For a leaner version, use chicken breast instead of thighs and remove visible fat before cooking.
- Prepare extra pulled chicken and store in airtight containers for quick meal prep throughout the week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg