Chicken Tacos

Our chicken tacos recipe makes a meal that’s light, refreshing and bound to please just about everyone. This recipe includes an incredibly simple avocado salsa, which is the perfect topping for deliciously seasoned chicken tacos.

Ingredients for Chicken Tacos

• Boneless chicken breasts: Buying them boneless cuts down on prep time.
• Seasonings: Seasonings such as chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano and cumin bring a powerful flavor blend to these tacos.
• Avocado: Avocado adds a nice creamy and fresh element.
• Corn: Corn brings a little crunch, color and sweetness.
• Lime juice: The lime juice helps keep the avocado green; without it, avocados tend to brown quickly.
• Taco shells: Taco shells add an excellent amount of crunch to this dish. They’re like edible food holders.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the chicken

Place a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Cut chicken into strips and brown on both sides. Add water, sugar and seasonings, then cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink inside, stirring occasionally.

Step 2: Make avocado salsa

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, gently mix the avocado, corn, tomatoes and lime juice. Spoon the chicken mixture into taco shells; top with avocado salsa.

Recipe Variations

• Make soft tacos: Use soft flour tortillas instead of hard taco shells for an equally tasty dish.
• Create quesadillas: Cut the chicken strips into thin, small pieces, place them on flour tortillas and add your favorite cheese blends. Fold over and press in a panini press or heat in a skillet, then serve with the avocado salsa on top.
• Add taco toppings: Sometimes, the messier the taco, the better it is! Offer an assortment of toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce and diced tomatoes to go along with the avocado salsa.
• Make guacamole: If you prefer guac to a a chunky avocado salsa, just mash the avocado with some lime juice and salt, to taste. Here’s a guacamole recipe that’s delish on chicken tacos; make extra to enjoy with tortilla chips!

How to Store Chicken Tacos

Store chicken tacos in the refrigerator once the chicken strips have cooled down. It’s best to store the chicken on its own in airtight containers, rather than in assembled taco form. The cooked chicken will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Avocado salsa is most appealing when it’s made fresh.

Can you freeze chicken tacos? 

The cooked chicken freezes well; just store it in airtight freezer containers or zippered freezer bags once the chicken cools. Thaw the chicken in the freezer overnight before reheating it.

Can you make chicken tacos ahead of time?

Absolutely! Prepare the chicken strips a night or so ahead of time, then make the tortillas and avocado salsa fresh, or a little ahead of time on the same day it’s needed.

Chicken Tacos Tips

How do I pick a perfectly ripe avocado?

There’s an art to choosing a ripe avocado! A little too soon and it feels like a rock, a little too late and it’s mushy. A ripe avocado is dark green, almost black, and gives just a little when you press on it. Push on several avocados in a store and you’ll discover the differences in ripeness. Here’s how to cut an avocado.

What other types of salsa can I make for chicken tacos?

Other salsas we recommend are the jicama, bean and corn salsa from this chicken street tacos recipe, a peach-avocado salsa, a mango-cucumber salsa or a peach-cucumber salsa. Each salsa is refreshing and light, and perfect for a delicious chicken taco meal.

Can I make a vegan version of chicken tacos?

Yes, to make this recipe vegan, use vegan chicken-style strips (the unbreaded kind) and cook them according to package directions, then follow this recipe from the point of adding the water and seasonings. Tofu is another vegan chicken substitute that tastes delicious with the seasonings and salsa from this recipe.