This simple hen tacos recipe is full of taste and prepared in half-hour! It’s a enjoyable dinner concept starring juicy hen and contemporary toppings: a easy recipe everybody will love.
Want a straightforward flavor-packed dinner that’s prepared in half-hour? We’ve discovered it’s deceptively difficult to seek out dinnertime hits, however this one appears to please everybody each time we serve it! The juicy hen strips are seasoned to perfection, nestled right into a tortilla with guacamole, cheese crumbles and topped with a zingy lime crema.
Why we love this recipe: We may (and do!) eat this again and again. The hen works on the stovetop or grilled, and it comes collectively merely. We simply made it for a cocktail party with ranch water and black bean and corn salad, and everybody raved. You can too make it as a taco bowl for gluten-free eaters. It’s completely versatile!
“Made the hen tacos for dinner tonight. These are so so good! Nice taste they usually come collectively so shortly. I respect how easy but tasty the lime crema is. The youngsters had the hen inside quesadillas and liked them. These are undoubtedly going into the month-to-month rotation!” -Tanvee
Key components for hen tacos
Tacos are the place it’s at for weeknight dinners over right here (particularly with children!), and we love how this model could be both pan fried or grilled so you can also make it in any season. Listed here are the important thing components you’ll want:
- Boneless skinless hen breasts: Attempt to discover natural hen if in any respect doable, for the most effective taste and most sustainable choice. You should buy both hen breasts and butterfly your personal, or cutlets.
- Seasonings: Our selfmade seasoning mix consists of smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, black pepper, celery seed and cayenne. You possibly can substitute candy paprika for the smoked, however it’s properly well worth the buy for the smoky taste it infuses (you may additionally discover it labeled pimentón).
- Lime crema: Combine up your personal lime crema utilizing bitter cream, lime juice and zest, garlic and salt.
- Taco toppings: We like utilizing guacamole for a base for the hen strips, then topping with contemporary cilantro, queso fresco or feta cheese, and minced crimson onion. You probably have time to make them, pickled crimson onions take the flavour excessive.
- Tortillas: We like flour tortillas, however corn works too. You can too use any kind of grain free tortilla.
Professional tip
We like utilizing mini tortillas (4.5 inch) if we are able to discover them! They’re usually simpler to eat and bonus: you’ll be able to eat extra tacos.
Tips on how to make hen tacos: step-by-step
These hen tacos come collectively merely: you’ll season the hen, pan sear it on the stovetop, then slice it into strips for the tacos. Right here’s the fundamental define of steps:
Step 1: Butterfly the hen (if not in cutlets) by slicing in half horizontally, then opening it up and chopping alongside the fold to separate the 2 halves. Pat it dry and season with salt. In a small bowl, combine the seasonings, then sprinkle on each side of the hen.
Step 2: Add olive oil to a big skillet and warmth over medium warmth. Add the hen and cook dinner till browned on each side, 4 to five minutes per aspect. When the inner temperature is 165°F, take away to a plate and relaxation for 3 minutes. Then slice into strips.
Step 3: Make the lime crema by stirring collectively the bitter cream, lime juice and zest, garlic and salt in a small bowl.
Step 4: Heat the tortillas. To make the tacos, unfold guacamole onto a heat tortilla, then high with hen strips, crimson onion, cilantro, cheese, and lime crema.
Alternate methodology: grilled hen tacos
This hen tacos recipe works grilled, too! We’ve made it each methods and it comes out unbelievable.
For grilled hen tacos, preheat a grill to excessive warmth (450 to 550°F). Grill the hen till grill marks seem and it releases from the grates, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook dinner one other 2 to 4 minutes till the inner temperature is 165°F. Take away to a platter and canopy with foil. Permit to relaxation for five minutes for optimum juiciness, then slice.
Hen tacos toppings
The very best a part of any tacos recipe is the toppings, after all! For these hen tacos, we like to verify there’s a good combine of soppy and creamy textures to offset the feel of the hen. We just like the hen strips on a mattress of guacamole, however you’ll be able to combine and match toppings right here. Listed here are just a few extra hen tacos toppings we love:
Sides to serve alongside
Hen tacos are a enjoyable simple dinner concept to serve any time of 12 months! We like them particularly in the summertime as a patio celebration meal, however they work in any season. (In fact, they’re at all times nice with a margarita, too!) Listed here are just a few sides we prefer to serve alongside:
Storing leftovers
Leftovers of this meal carry on giving! Leftover cooked hen lasts as much as 3 days refrigerated. Leftover lime crema shops as much as 2 weeks refrigerated.
Just a few extra hen recipes
We hope you like these hen tacos as a lot as our household! Our youngsters particularly gobble this one up. Tell us within the feedback what you suppose. Listed here are just a few extra hen dinners you would possibly get pleasure from:
Dietary notes
This hen tacos recipe is gluten-free with corn tortillas (or serve it in a bowl for a hen taco bowl), and dairy-free with cilantro sauce, omitting the cheese.
Incessantly requested questions
Listed here are some concepts:
Taco seasoning: A fast and simple choice with a mix of chili powder, cumin, paprika, and different spices.
Fajita seasoning: Much like taco seasoning, however usually with a smokier taste profile.
Adobo sauce: For a Latin twist, marinate the hen in adobo sauce for daring and flavorful tacos.
DIY spice rub: Get artistic with your personal mix of spices like chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or cayenne pepper.
All of the basic taco toppings work nice! Listed here are some concepts:
Shredded cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican cheese mix.
Salsa: Select your favourite, from delicate to spicy.
Lettuce and pico de gallo: Add freshness and crunch.
Bitter cream and guacamole: Creamy toppings for further richness.
Cilantro and lime wedges: A squeeze of contemporary lime and a sprinkle of cilantro brighten up the flavors.
Completely! You should use lettuce wraps as a substitute of tortillas, or strive cauliflower rice tortillas for a lower-carb choice.
Listed here are some concepts:
Cilantro lime rice: A refreshing and basic pairing.
Mexican corn: Candy corn with a kick of spice.
Refried beans: A hearty and filling aspect dish.
Guacamole and chips: A crowd-pleasing appetizer or aspect.
Chopped salad: A lightweight and wholesome choice.
You should use leftover hen taco meat in some ways! Listed here are just a few concepts:
Taco salad: Toss the hen with lettuce, tomatoes, beans, cheese, and your favourite dressing.
Burrito bowls: Serve the hen over rice or quinoa together with your favourite toppings.
Quesadillas: Fill tortillas with cheese and leftover hen, then cook dinner on a griddle till golden brown.
Nachos: High nachos with leftover hen, cheese, beans, and your favourite toppings.
Description
These simple hen tacos are full of taste and prepared in half-hour! It’s a enjoyable dinner concept starring juicy hen and contemporary toppings: a easy recipe everybody will love.
For the hen
- 2 boneless skinless hen breasts or 4 cutlets (1 to 1 ½ kilos, natural if doable)*
- 1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or candy paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon celery seed
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the lime crema (or cilantro sauce or chipotle sauce for dairy-free)
- 1 cup bitter cream or Mexican crema (or ¾ cup Greek yogurt plus ¼ cup mayonnaise)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, plus the zest of ½ lime
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For the tacos
- Guacamole
- Pink onion, minced (or pickled crimson onions)
- Cilantro, finely chopped
- Shredded lettuce or slaw (elective)
- Cotija, queso fresco, or feta cheese, crumbled (elective)
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas
- Pat the hen dry with a paper towel. Season the hen with the salt (for those who’re utilizing 1 ½ kilos, use 1 ¼ teaspoons salt). In a small bowl, combine the seasonings collectively. Sprinkle each side of the hen with the seasoning combine. (If desired, you are able to do this as much as 12 hours upfront and permit the hen to take a seat marinate earlier than cooking.)
- Stovetop directions:** Add the olive oil to a big skillet and warmth over medium warmth. Add the hen and cook dinner till browned (and seasoning is beginning to blacken), on each side, about 4 to five minutes per aspect. When the inner temperature is 165°F or the middle is not pink, take away to a plate and relaxation for 3 minutes. Then slice the hen into strips.
- Make the lime crema by stirring all components collectively in a small bowl. Refrigerate for as much as 2 weeks.
- If desired, char the tortillas by putting them on an open fuel flame on medium for just a few seconds per aspect, flipping with tongs, till they’re barely blackened and heat. Or heat them in a skillet or within the oven (see Tips on how to Heat Tortillas).
- To make the tacos, unfold guacamole onto a heat tortilla, then high with hen strips, crimson onion, cilantro, cheese, and lime crema. Leftover hen shops as much as 3 days refrigerated.
Notes
*If you happen to purchase the hen as breasts that aren’t already butterflied or cutlets, butterfly the hen: Place your hand excessive of every hen breast. Use a pointy knife to fastidiously slice the breast horizontally, leaving the sting intact so it will probably open up like a guide (or butterfly!). Unfold the breast like a guide, then reduce alongside the fold to separate the 2 halves.
**For grilled hen tacos, preheat a grill to excessive warmth (450 to 550°F). Grill the hen breasts till grill marks seem and it releases from the grates, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook dinner till not pink within the middle and the inner temperature is 165°F, 2 to 4 minutes. Take away to a platter and canopy with foil. Permit to relaxation for five minutes for optimum juiciness, then slice.
- Class: Foremost dish
- Technique: Stovetop
- Delicacies: Hen
- Weight-reduction plan: Gluten Free