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Chicken Tinga Tacos

Smoky, saucy, and slightly spicy Chicken Tinga Tacos made with pantry-friendly ingredients, perfect for a quick weeknight meal that satisfies everyone.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons oil For cooking
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 to 2 peppers chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped Adjust according to heat preference
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • 1 can fire roasted tomatoes, 14 ounces
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar or honey, optional
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lime juice
For the Tacos
  • 2 to 3 cups cooked shredded chicken Use poached, rotisserie, or grilled chicken
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • Corn or flour tortillas, warmed Choose based on preference
  • Favorite toppings: diced onion, cilantro, avocado, cabbage, queso fresco, lime, sour cream

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion with a pinch of salt and cook until soft and lightly golden.
  2. Stir in the minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Building the Sauce
  1. Add chopped chipotles, adobo sauce, oregano, cumin, and the can of tomatoes. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
  2. If your tomatoes taste sharp, add brown sugar. Blend the sauce smooth with an immersion blender or transfer to a blender and return.
  3. Stir in the vinegar or lime juice. Taste and adjust salt.
Cooking the Chicken
  1. Add shredded chicken to the skillet and stir until everything is coated and glossy. If it looks too thick, splash in a few tablespoons of water or chicken broth.
Warm the Tortillas
  1. Toast tortillas in a dry skillet until soft and spotty or wrap a stack in a damp towel and microwave for 30 seconds.
Assembly
  1. Pile the saucy chicken into tortillas and top with onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and something creamy for contrast.

Notes

To reduce spice, start with one chipotle pepper. Char onions before adding tomatoes for deeper flavor. Leftover sauce can be kept for future meals.