Shredded Chicken Tacos
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Shredded Chicken Tacos and so easy to make, rich in flavors and so versatile. Tender and juicy chicken seasoned with an easy homemade taco seasoning and chunky salsa. Serve with warmed tortillas or hard tacos shells to make classic tacos. Top with your favorite taco toppings.
Shredded Chicken Tacos
These Shredded Chicken Tacos are so delicious and super easy to make. This recipe comes with directions on how to easily boil some chicken to shred and make these tacos. If you have leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken, it’s even quicker and easier to make.
What I love so much about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can use this flavorful shredded chicken to make classic tacos with warm tortillas or hard taco shells. However, you can also use this chicken to make some burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, taquitos, etc. These shredded chicken tacos are a greater way to get a nutritious, filling and delicious dinner on the table in to time!
Ingredients needed to make Shredded Chicken Tacos:
- Chicken Breasts– Use large chicken breasts. You can also use chicken thighs if that’s what you have on hand.
- For Cooking Chicken– Pink sea salt, onion, garlic, bay leaves, water.
- Spices and Herbs– Pink sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Salsa– I like using chunky and mild because of my kids. You can use any kind you prefer.
- Chicken Broth– This will help keep the chicken moist and prevent it from drying.
- Olive Oil– For cooking.
- Tortillas or Taco Shells– Either one you prefer to make your tacos.
Equipment needed to make Shredded Chicken Tacos:
- Large Pot– For boiling your chicken. Make sure it has a fitted lid.
- Skillet– Use a large skillet to prep your shredded chicken in.
- Mixing Bowls– For mixing chicken in and a small one to mix spices and herbs in.
- Hand Mixer– This is an easier way to shred chicken. If you don’t have a hand mixer, you can use two forks.
- Tongs– To toss chicken.
How to make Shredded Chicken Tacos:
- Step 1– Add 8 cups of water to a large pot and place on stovetop. Sprinkle in pink sea salt and give it a good stir. Add in chicken breasts, onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Turn heat to high and bring water to a boil. Once water is boiling cover pot with a lid and reduce heat to low. Continue simmering chicken for 30 minutes or until chicken breasts reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Step 2– Once chicken breasts are done, remove from pot and place in a large mixing bowl. Discard water along with aromatics. Use 2 forks or a hand mixer to shred chicken.
- Step 3– Place a skillet on stovetop and drizzle with olive oil. Bring to a heat on medium. While oil heats up, in a small mixing bowl combine all spices and herbs; chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, pink sea salt, and black pepper. Mix until they are well blended together.
- Step 4– Once oil has come to a heat add in your shredded chicken. Immediately sprinkle to mixed spices and herbs. Toss together making sure chicken is well coated with spices and herbs. Add in salsa and keep stirring to combine. Add in chicken broth to combine with chicken. Keep simmering for 2-3 minutes to reduce some of the broth. Remove chicken from heat and set aside.
- Step 5– Heat up tortillas or taco shells. Add chicken to heated tortillas or taco shells and top with preferred taco toppings. We like to use classics such as shredded lettuce, pico de Gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce. This recipe makes enough chicken to make 12 tacos. Enjoy!
Tips and Substitution:
- Boil chicken with aromatics– This gives chicken more flavor and makes for tastier tacos.
- Do not overcook chicken– You don’t want your chicken to get tough and dry.
- Use rotisserie chicken– This is an easier way to make these shredded chicken tacos. You just have to shred the rotisserie chicken and skip the cooking part. It also will make for more shredded chicken. You can freeze to use for later.
- Use any preferred salsa– I usually go for chunky mild salsa. I like chunky salsa and my kids are a hit or miss with spicy foods. If you like more heat, use hot salsa.
How to serve Shredded Chicken Tacos:
You can serve shredded chicken with tortillas or taco shells and make more traditional tacos. This flavorful shredded chicken is also great to make burritos, burrito bowls, or even a quesadilla.
Toppings for Shredded Chicken Tacos:
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt
- Salsa or Hot Sauce
- Shredded Lettuce or Cabbage
- Avocado Slices
What to serve Shredded Chicken Tacos with:
- Grilled Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Easy Homemade Spanish Rice (Made with Banza Chickpea Rice)
- Loaded Guacamole
- Fresh Peach Salsa
- Cilantro-Lime Jalapeño Ranch Dressing
- Pickled Red Onions
Shredded Chicken Tacos FAQ’s:
Can I make this recipe with frozen chicken breasts?
Yes. You can use frozen chicken breasts to make this recipe. You just have to boil your chicken longer and add another 15-30 minutes to your total boiling time. So you will have to boil your chicken breasts for a total of 45 minutes to an hour. Depending on how big your chicken breasts are. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your chicken. Once it reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit, that means your chicken is ready.
Are chicken tacos healthy?
These chicken tacos are pretty healthy. They are cooked with fresh and good quality ingredients. They make for a great source of protein and can easily be turned into a wholesome meal.
How do you shred chicken with two forks?
To shred your chicken with two forks, simply hold one fork with each hand. Stick forks into opposite sides of your chicken while making sort of an x with your hands. From there start pulling chicken towards the opposite of each hand while pulling on the chicken.
Meal Prepping it:
These Shredded Chicken Tacos are great for meal prep. Make your chicken ahead of time and keep it refrigerated for up to 4-5 days. Use the chicken to either make tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas or even chicken taquitos . Double the amount of chicken you make for even more easy lunches or dinners for the week.
How to store and reheat Shredded Chicken Tacos:
Place any leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container or zipper bag. Keep shredded chicken refrigerated for up to 4-5 days. To reheat simply pop in the microwave or place back on stovetop.
Can you freeze Shredded Chicken?
Yes. You can freeze shedded chicken which is also another reason why it is so great for meal prep. Place your shredded chicken once it has completely cooled-off in a freezer friendly container or freezer bag. Place in the freezer and keep frozen for up to 3-4 months. To defrost, thaw-out in the fridge overnight. Reheat in microwave or on stovetop.
Did you like this Shredded Chicken Tacos recipe? You may also like these other Mexican inspired recipes:
- Easy Beef Taco Skillet
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
- Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
- Air Fryer Shrimp Fajitas
- Chicken Taco Soup (Crockpot)
- Instant Pot Taco Meat
- Shrimp Fajitas (Stovetop)
- Slow Cooker Carne Asada Tacos
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajitas
Shredded Chicken Tacos
Shredded Chicken Tacos and so easy to make, rich in flavors and so versatile. Tender and juicy chicken seasoned with an easy homemade taco seasoning and chunky salsa. Serve with warmed tortillas or hard tacos shells to make classic tacos. Top with your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients
For Chicken-
- 2 large chicken breasts (1-1.5 lbs)
- 1 tbsp pink sea salt
- 1/2 large yellow onion (or 1 small one)
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 cloves of garlic (peeled)
- 8 cups water
For Tacos:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1.5 tsp pink sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 12 tortillas or taco shells
- preferred taco fixins like pico de Gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream, more salsa, guacamole, etc.
Instructions
Add 8 cups of water to a large pot and place on stovetop. Sprinkle in pink sea salt and give it a good stir. Add in chicken breasts, onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Turn heat to high and bring water to a boil. Once water is boiling cover pot with a lid and reduce heat to low. Continue simmering chicken for 30 minutes or until chicken breasts reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once chicken breasts are done, remove from pot and place in a large mixing bowl. Discard water along with aromatics. Use 2 forks or an hand mixer to shred chicken.
Place a skillet on stovetop and drizzle with olive oil. Bring to a heat on medium. While oil heats up, in a small mixing bowl combine all spices and herbs; chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, pink sea salt, and black pepper. Mix until they are well blended together.
Once oil has come to a heat add in your shredded chicken. Immediately sprinkle to mixed spices and herbs. Toss together making sure chicken is well coated with spices and herbs. Add in salsa and keep stirring to combine. Add in chicken broth combine with chicken. Keep simmering for 2-3 minutes to reduce some of the broth. Remove chicken from heat and set aside.
Heat up tortillas or taco shells. Add chicken to heated tortillas or taco shells and top with preferred taco toppings. We like to use classics such as shredded lettuce, pico de Gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce. This recipe makes enough chicken to make 12 tacos. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitution:
- Boil chicken with aromatics– This gives chicken more flavor and makes for tastier tacos.
- Do not overcook chicken– You don’t want your chicken to get tough and dry.
- Use rotisserie chicken– This is an easier way to make these shredded chicken tacos. You just have to shred the rotisserie chicken and skip the cooking part. It also will make for more shedded chicken. You can freeze to use for later.
- Use any preferred salsa– I usually go for chunky mild salsa. I like chunky salsa and my kids are a hit or miss with spicy foods. If you like more heat, use hot salsa.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
