These Traditional Chicken Tinga Tacos are a bold and flavorful delight! Tender shredded chicken is simmered in a smoky chipotle-tomato sauce, then tucked into warm tortillas and topped with crisp lettuce and creamy Mexican crema. Simple, authentic, and packed with irresistible flavor—perfect for taco night!
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Ribeyes (2 x 10 oz steaks)
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In a saucepan, add chicken breasts, half an onion, four garlic cloves, 2 bay leaves, and liquid (water or broth).
2
Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked, about 15-20 minutes.
3
Peel and grate the carrot into a bowl. Cut the whole onion in half, slice thinly, and place in a small bowl.
4
Slice the lettuce thinly and set aside in a small bowl.
How to Cook
1
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and set it aside in a bowl to cool for 5-8 minutes.
2
While the chicken cools, cut the tomatoes into quarters, remove the onion from the broth, and cut off the root.
3
In a blender, combine the cut tomatoes, onion, four garlic cloves, chipotle in adobo, and 1/3 cup of the chicken broth. Blend until smooth.
4
Strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve and set it aside.
5
Heat a deep sauté pan over medium heat and add about 1 tbsp olive oil.
6
Add sliced onions and cook until translucent. Add grated carrots and cook until softened.
7
Pour in the strained sauce, stirring occasionally. Cook everything together for about 10 minutes, adding a pinch of truffle salt.
8
Shred the cooled chicken and mix it into the sauce. Continue to cook for 5 more minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
9
Heat up the tortillas on a skillet or comal. Place the chicken tinga onto the tortillas.
10
Top with Mexican cream or crème fraîche and shredded lettuce. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Traditional Chicken Tinga Tacos
By Travis Caraballo·February 16, 2025
Total Time45 min
Servings4
ProteinChicken Breast
These Traditional Chicken Tinga Tacos are a bold and flavorful delight! Tender shredded chicken is simmered in a smoky chipotle-tomato sauce, then tucked into warm tortillas and topped with crisp lettuce and creamy Mexican crema. Simple, authentic, and packed with irresistible flavor—perfect for taco night!
Equipments
Cutting board
Knife
Peeler
Grater
Blender
Sieve (fine mesh strainer)
Small bowls
Medium saucepan for broth
Deep sauté pan
Skillet or comal to heat up tortillas
Spoons to serve
Ingredients
1 lb ButcherBox chicken breast, whole
1 quart of water or chicken broth
1 1/2 medium onions
4 small cloves of garlic
peeled
1 medium carrot
peeled
2 bay leaves
3 Roma tomatoes or 2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes
1 3 oz can of Chipotle in adobo sauce
(or the smallest you can find)
1/2 tbsp salt
A pinch of truffle salt
Toppings
1 spoon of Mexican cream or crème fraîche
1/4 Iceberg lettuce
(or a lettuce of your choice)
Corn tortillas/Flour tortillas
Step By Step
Instructions
Preparation
1
In a saucepan, add chicken breasts, half an onion, four garlic cloves, 2 bay leaves, and liquid (water or broth).
2
Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked, about 15-20 minutes.
3
Peel and grate the carrot into a bowl. Cut the whole onion in half, slice thinly, and place in a small bowl.
4
Slice the lettuce thinly and set aside in a small bowl.
How to Cook
1
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and set it aside in a bowl to cool for 5-8 minutes.
2
While the chicken cools, cut the tomatoes into quarters, remove the onion from the broth, and cut off the root.
3
In a blender, combine the cut tomatoes, onion, four garlic cloves, chipotle in adobo, and 1/3 cup of the chicken broth. Blend until smooth.
4
Strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve and set it aside.
5
Heat a deep sauté pan over medium heat and add about 1 tbsp olive oil.
6
Add sliced onions and cook until translucent. Add grated carrots and cook until softened.
7
Pour in the strained sauce, stirring occasionally. Cook everything together for about 10 minutes, adding a pinch of truffle salt.
8
Shred the cooled chicken and mix it into the sauce. Continue to cook for 5 more minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
9
Heat up the tortillas on a skillet or comal. Place the chicken tinga onto the tortillas.
10
Top with Mexican cream or crème fraîche and shredded lettuce. Serve immediately and enjoy!