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Crispy Chicken Tacos Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 68 reviews

These Crispy Chicken Tacos are a flavorful and satisfying meal featuring tender, seasoned chicken, melted Mexican cheese, and crispy baked corn tortillas. Perfectly seasoned with homemade or store-bought taco seasoning and cooked in a skillet before baking to golden perfection, these tacos offer a deliciously crispy texture and savory flavor that pairs wonderfully with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

  • 1 ½ Tablespoons cooking oil (avocado or olive oil), plus additional for brushing
  • 1 lb (454 g) chicken breast
  • 1 batch taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
  • ½ cup (140 g) salsa
  • ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth, plus additional as needed

Tortillas and Cheese

  • 12 corn tortillas (5–6 inch)
  • 8 oz (226 g) Mexican blend cheese, shredded

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Arrange oven racks to the middle and upper third positions and preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Cook Chicken: Heat 1½ tablespoons of cooking oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add chicken breast to the skillet, sprinkle half the taco seasoning onto one side, and cook until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Simmer Chicken: Flip the chicken, sprinkle the remaining taco seasoning, then add salsa and chicken broth. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook until the chicken is fully cooked and easily shreddable, stirring occasionally.
  4. Warm Tortillas: While the chicken cooks, heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Warm each tortilla for about 10 seconds on each side, then keep warm by covering with a plate.
  5. Reserve Sauce and Shred Chicken: When chicken is done, transfer it to a plate and pour the cooking sauce from the skillet into a measuring cup. If less than ½ cup, add chicken broth to make up ½ cup. Stir and set aside. Shred the chicken using two forks.
  6. Assemble Tacos: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lay 6 warmed tortillas flat on each. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon (8 g) of shredded cheese on half of each tortilla. Add shredded chicken evenly over the cheese, drizzle 2 teaspoons of reserved sauce over the chicken, then top with another 1 tablespoon (8 g) of cheese. Fold tortillas over and brush the top with cooking oil. Use a utensil to weigh down tortillas if they do not stay folded.
  7. Bake Tacos: Place the tacos on the prepared baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Rotate trays and switch oven racks halfway through baking. If baking one tray at a time, bake on the center rack for 15-20 minutes. Close any opened tortillas gently with a spatula.
  8. Serve: Serve the crispy chicken tacos warm with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa for dipping.

Notes

  • If using an instant pot, you can prepare the chicken by cooking it with taco seasoning, salsa, and chicken broth under pressure and then proceed to assembling the tacos.
  • Use avocado or olive oil for a healthier fat option.
  • Warming the tortillas before assembling helps to make them more pliable and less likely to crack when folding.
  • Adjust the amount of reserved sauce depending on your preferred moisture level in the tacos.
  • These tacos can be served with additional toppings like chopped cilantro, lime wedges, or diced onions for extra flavor.

Keywords: crispy chicken tacos, baked tacos, Mexican tacos, chicken taco recipe, easy tacos, homemade taco seasoning

Find it online: https://leofoster.com/crispy-chicken-tacos-recipe/