Easy Chicken Tacos
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With a simple spice rub, the chicken is cooked quickly on the stovetop! Serve with pico de gallo, avocado + lime wedges!
Featured Comment
I’ve made this recipe at least 5 times now for family and friends and each time has been so delicious! I like to use thinly sliced chicken breast and they always come out juicy and not dry with this rub. I 100% recommend this!!!
I think this will be my go-to weeknight meal for the next few weeks. No, wait, months probably. Because, guys, we just brought home a little baby corgi brother for Butters. So to say my hands will be full with these two little buggers is clearly an understatement.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken Tacos Recipe
- Truly the easiest weeknight chicken tacos ever (also great for lazy weekends)
- Includes a simple make-ahead spice rub using pantry ingredients already on hand (chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano and garlic powder), no marinade involved here
- So customizable – can be served in warm tortillas as tacos or burritos, and leftovers can be served as bowls, quesadillas or salads – the sky is the limit!
Tips for Perfect Easy Chicken Tacos Every Time
- Use a cast iron skillet for the best sear and juicy chicken. High, even heat locks in flavor so your easy chicken tacos cook fast and stay tender. Allowing for even cooking and a better sear. For the juiciest chicken taco recipe, use chicken thighs. They stay moist and flavorful compared to breasts, making this the best chicken taco choice for weeknights.
- Grill outdoors. When the weather permits, use an outdoor grill for even more smoky, charred flavors.
- Mix a bigger batch of the homemade spice rub and store it as your go-to chicken taco seasoning. It cuts prep for taco night and guarantees consistent flavor in every chicken tacos recipe. Prepped and stored in an airtight container ahead of time, cutting prep time even more. Season the chicken with the spice mixture when ready to cook. The spice mix doubles as homemade chicken taco seasoning, so you can prep jars in advance for faster taco night.
- Let your meat rest. For the juiciest chicken taco recipe, choose thighs and rest 5 minutes before dicing. The spice rub + cast iron skillet combo keeps every bite tender.
- Use flour or corn tortillas. Tacos are traditionally made with corn tortillas but small flour or corn tortillas can be used depending on personal preference.
- Double up the tortilla. Street tacos are typically served on two tortillas, known as la copia or “the copy”. This practice helps keep the filling together, and if the first tortilla breaks, the back up tortilla can be used for the rest of the filling.
- Serve with your favorite toppings. Serve with pico de gallo, salsa verde, guacamole, avocado, cilantro, cotija cheese or lime.
Best Sides to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Tools For This Recipe
Large cast iron skillet
Easy Chicken Tacos: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken breasts?
Yes, chicken breasts can be used in this chicken tacos recipe, but thighs make juicier, more flavorful easy chicken tacos.
Can I make chicken tacos in the Instant Pot?
Yes, we have a recipe for that here.
How can I store leftovers?
Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Easy Chicken Tacos
With a simple spice rub, the chicken is cooked quickly on the stovetop! Serve with pico de gallo, avocado + lime wedges!
Video
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 12 mini flour tortillas, warmed
- 1 cup pico de gallo, homemade or store-bought
- 1 avocado, halved, peeled, seeded and diced
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Equipment
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Season chicken with chili powder mixture.
- Heat canola oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Working in batches, add chicken to the skillet in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 4-5 minutes per side. Let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces.
- Serve chicken in tortillas, topped with pico de gallo, avocado, cilantro and lime.
Did you make this recipe?
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I cannot even believe how amazing this recipe is!!! Especially for how quick simple it was. I levelled up and added Tex mex cheese by melting it on the tortilla prior to adding the toppings. Also only had guacamole instead of straight avo. INCREDIBLE!!!!!
Very good recipe! Worth the smoke alarm going off a couple times
Taste amazing every time!! Thank you so much for the recipe :))
We make these tacos frequently! They are so good!
This was amazing! I added a few more seasonings with fresh squeezed lime juice, a dash of tequila and a freshly whipped up batch of cilantro sauce and these tacos were THE BEST chicken tacos I have ever tasted! I was pleasantly surprised by the first bite.
If I may share what I added, feel free to try this recipie with this alternative addition!
Seasonings I added: garlic powder, cherry soaked sea salt, rib rack spice rub: CAJUN…and to top it off once seasoned and grilled; I added fresh squeezed lime juice and tequila, let it simmer on low heat.
I topped mine off with this amazing cilantro sauce:
1/4 cup of olive oil mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
3 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
1/3 cup favorite coconut yogurt
3 tbsp freshly minced cilantro
1/4 or less tsp table salt….
Added this sauce to the top of the taco
Soft taco shell, chicken, dash of sour cream, shredded lettuce, minced onion, tomatoes, cilantro sauce and shredded Mexican cheese
……..This was a delicious, quickly prepared dinner that left us very satisfied. Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing your ideas/recipies…….YOUR CUISINE IS DAMNDELICIOUS!
Delicious! My new taco Tuesday!
Love it! A staple in our rotation!
can this recipe be made with ground chicken just as well?
This was soooooo good and so simple! Chicken was seasoned perfectly. Highly recommend! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Damn delicious. I used New Mexico chili powder, chipotle powder and cayenne to up the heat
Favorite chicken tacos that I made for my family! Everyone loves them!!!!!
These are delicious and everyone always asks how I made the chicken! The only thing is the 2 teaspoons of chili powder… I like spice but that seems like too much. I do 1/2 and it’s perfect.
Amazing recipe taste was perfect for not to hot or no taste also easy to make in a short time period
Tasted very good
These are awesome. I cook breasts on the George Foreman and they are incredible. Our go-to chicken taco recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Delicious, but didn’t use flour shells, use corn tortillas. But, very good otherwise.
We needed a quick meal and used canned chicken, stirred in the spice mix and heated it through. Couldn’t believe how well this worked and how good it was!
Best recipe ever. Chicken is absolutely delicious. Could eat it right out of the bowl!! My daughter’s favorite!!
I have made these at least 6 times and they are always a hit. I serve them like you with pico, avocado, cilantro, and lime. Serious wow factor that have elevated my status with friends and family. Thank you for sharing this incredible recipe.
They are so delicious! It took me almost 2 hours to make but it was definitely worth it, now that I know how to make them it probably won’t take me as long to make them next time. I followed the recipe but I did add some sour cream on the tortilla and it came out perfect.