Shredded Chicken Tacos
on Jul 10, 2024
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These Shredded Chicken Tacos could not be easier to make. The custom spice blend fills the shredded chicken with flavor and your tacos can be customized with a variety of toppings for a quick, easy meal!
Shredded chicken tacos are the perfect meal when you don’t have a ton of time to make dinner, but want something tasty and filling! It only takes 15 minutes and a few simple seasonings to cook the chicken.
The chicken comes out tender with a savory flavor that pairs well with any toppings you’d like. I like to serve this shredded chicken with a variety of toppings so that everyone can customize their own tacos however they want.
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts—Boneless, skinless chicken is the easiest to work with. You can also use thighs if you have them.
- Spice Mix—A blend of cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried minced onion
- Canola Oil—Can be replaced with olive or vegetable oil.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Shredded Chicken Tacos
Step #1. Slice your chicken breasts in half horizontally and place them in a large pan. Cover the chicken with water and place a lid on the pan.
Step #2. Once the chicken is finished cooking, drain the water and shred the chicken. Return the chicken to the pan and add the remaining ingredients.
Step #3. Fold the ingredients together until evenly distributed on the chicken.
Step #4. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Covering the pan with the lid will trap the heat and water, which will help the chicken cook. Because of this, the outside of the chicken might not look crispy or golden brown, so the best way to tell that your chicken is done cooking is by using a meat thermometer and allowing the internal temperature to reach 165°F. You will also notice that if you cut into it, it is no longer pink in the middle but it is firm and opaque looking. Additionally, the chicken will crisp up slightly as you cook it with the other seasonings!
There are a few different ways to shred your chicken. You can use two forks to gently pull the chicken apart into small pieces. This method is easy but can take a long time if you have multiple pieces of chicken. If you are cooking a larger amount, you can place the chicken in a bowl and quickly shred it by using an electric hand mixer, or use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment on low speed until the chicken is finely shredded.
Make sure your chicken is covered as it cooks, and that you do not overcook it. If your chicken is left uncovered then the water will evaporate before the chicken is finished cooking, causing it to become dry and rubbery. If the chicken cooks for too long then you will have a similar problem. Make sure that your chicken is completely covered by water and doesn’t cook for too long in order to get tender, juicy shredded chicken.
Best Shredded Chicken Tacos Toppings
This chicken is the perfect base for tacos! Use a flour or corn tortilla, and go crazy with your toppings. I like to have everything laid out so people can customize their tacos. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Veggies
- Chopped onion
- Diced avocado
- Corn
- Black or pinto beans
Sauces
- Chunky salsa
- Salsa verde
- Hot sauce
Other
- Fresh lime juice
- Diced jalapenos
- Sour cream
- Fresh cilantro
- Shredded cheese
How to Store Shredded Chicken Tacos
Once assembled, these tacos should not be stored in the fridge because they will lose their texture when reheated. However, you can store the shredded chicken and toppings separately so they are ready to assemble in just a few minutes! If you do have leftover chicken, it can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container.
Expert Tips
- If you are in a time crunch, you can use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own! Simply shred it with some forks, toss it in a pan with the spices and oil, and cook for a few minutes before serving.
- To give your chicken a slightly spicier flavor, you can use chipotle chili powder in addition to other spices.
- Instead of using water to cook the chicken, you can also use chicken broth. This will enhance the flavor of the chicken while still giving you tender and juicy meat.
- You can use this seasoned shredded chicken for more than just tacos! Make burritos, salads, quesadillas, or salads to switch things up.
More Chicken Recipes To Consider
Pasta Dishes
Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Baked Pasta
Soups, Stews & Chowders
White Chicken Chili
Chicken Recipes
Kung Pow Chicken
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Shredded Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- ½ tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ cup canola oil
Instructions
- Slice your chicken breasts in half horizontally and place them in a large pan. Cover the chicken with water and cover the pan with a lid. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes over high heat.
- Once the chicken is finished cooking, drain the water and use two forks to shred the chicken. Return the chicken to the pan and add the remaining ingredients.
- Fold the ingredients together and cook the chicken over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Serve this shredded chicken on flour or corn tortillas. We like to top our tacos with shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.
- You can store your shredded chicken in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container.
- For some spicier chicken, you can use chipotle chili powder in addition to the other spices.
- If you don’t have canola oil then you can use vegetable oil or olive oil instead.
- Make sure that your chicken is covered as it cooks. This will help it cook quickly as well as tenderize so that it is easy to shred.
- You can quickly shred your chicken by using an electric hand mixer on low speed.
