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Chicken Tinga Tacos

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Saucy, smoky Chicken Tinga tucked into charred corn tortillas and piled high with creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, red onion and cotija cheese – a 20-minute week-night taco that tastes straight from a taquería.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup roughly-chopped sweet onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 3/4 cup canned crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie works)
  • 10 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed or charred
  • 2 ripe avocados, sliced or mashed
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

  1. Sauté the aromatics: Heat a large skillet over medium, add olive oil and onion; cook 4 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  2. Build the sauce: Add chipotle peppers, oregano and cumin; toast 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, stock and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook 7 minutes.
  3. Blend: Transfer the tomato mixture to a blender and purée until smooth.
  4. Finish the chicken: Return sauce to skillet over low heat, fold in shredded chicken and warm 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  5. Assemble tacos: Spread or layer avocado on tortillas, top with chicken tinga, then garnish with cilantro, red onion and cotija. Serve with lime wedges.

Notes

  • Instant Pot: Blend sauce ingredients raw, add 1 lb raw chicken breasts; cook on high pressure 10 min, natural release 10 min, shred.
  • Spice level: One chipotle = mild, two = medium, three = hot.
  • Avocado mash tip: Mash avocado with lime juice & garlic salt to keep it from sliding out of the taco.
  • Char your tortillas: Pass directly over a gas flame or heat in a dry pan, then keep wrapped in a towel.
  • Pickled onions: Quick-pickled red onions add bright acidity and crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken taco recipe, chicken tinga, chicken tinga tacos, taco recipe

Find it online: https://zesticook.com/chicken-tinga-tacos/