Shredded Chicken Tacos

Jan 01, 2023

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Delicious easy green chile boiled chicken, shredded with tons of rich, spices and herbs for a melt-in-your-mouth flavor you won’t be able to get enough of!

These tacos are simple enough to make every night of the week, and the chicken can be used in wraps, sandwiches, burritos, salads – the sky is the limit!

shredded chicken with tomatoes and green chile in a telavera bowl next to chicken tacos in a taco stand and a bowl of jalapeno and carrot salsa, a bowl of crumbled white cheese, some limes, a bowl of diced onions, and a bowl of tortillas on a table

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chicken tacos with shredded chicken, pickled jalapenos, crumbled white cheese, onions, chopped cilantro, diced onion, and pickled carrot in a metal stand

Green Chile Shredded Chicken

If you love tangy, spicy, flavorful shredded chicken in tacos – just like from your favorite restaurant – this recipe is for you. It is simple to make, with very little active time and a super easy hack to shredding chicken – plus it is low carb and low calorie, so it works in a number of healthy eating plans.

This recipe is a knockout with our Pickled Carrot and Jalapeno Salsa or Knockoff Tito’s Tacos Salsa – simple, delicious spicy jalapeño-based salsas with a subtle kick that you’re sure to love! We also love to add our Spicy Garlicky Beans to these tacos to take the flavor over the top – you can’t beat the flavor of pink or pinto beans with tons of garlic! The combination also makes a great taco salad, especially with Blistered Shishito Peppers!

How to Make Shredded Chicken Tacos

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

Chicken breasts
Chicken stock
Adobo seasoning
Ro-tel
Green chiles
Bay leaves
Mexican oregano
Ancho chile
Garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Coriander

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:

Boil chicken. Add chicken breasts, stock, herbs, oil, seasonings to pan with tight fitting lid, and bring to rapid boil, then reduce heat to low simmer, and cook, covered 15-20 minutes, until chicken has reached 165 degrees internal temperature.
Shred. Remove chicken from pot and add to stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high while chicken is piping hot (it is easier to shred when steaming hot) until finely shredded.
Thicken sauce. While chicken is in stand mixer, bring liquid in pot to a rapid boil and reduce by over half. Add chicken back in to absorb liquid and keep from drying out.
Serve. Remove from heat and assemble tacos, adding to tortillas with beans, rice, cabbage, salsa, or any other preferred topping.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Shredded Chicken Tacos

Use a stand mixer to shred chicken. It sounds really weird – but the easiest way to shred chicken is by letting your stand mixer do all the work for you! This method involves placing chicken in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, and slowly increasing the speed to high (go slow or the chicken will fly out of the bowl in large pieces until shredded finely) until shredded to your desired thickness.

Control heat of chiles. We love using green chiles for their tangy, bright flavor – and the variation in heat. Be careful when selecting heat levels to better control how spicy your chicken is – all green chiles will come properly marked with mild, medium, or hot. Pay close attention! Reducing the stock will intensify the heat of spicy chiles, so if you’re a bit nervous, go with a milder heat. You can always add more later with hot sauce or diced jalapeños!

Don’t overcook. Chicken is try and tough when overcooked – cook to 165 degrees internal temperature, not over.

Make in a slow cooker. This recipe can be cooked in a slow cooker for hands-off cooking! Simply add to the slow cooker and go about your day, come home to chicken ready to shred! Cook for 3 hours on high or 4-5 on low.

FAQs

Are chicken tacos keto?

If you pick a keto tortilla (cheese or almond flour are ok options, lettuce is best), chicken tacos work really well in keto and low carb or slow carb diets!

What type of cheese should I use?

If you’d like to add cheese, we recommend Monterrey jack, sharp cheddar, cotija, asadero, or queso fresco.

What tortillas should I use with shredded chicken tacos?

Use whatever tortillas you love – flour, corn, or crunchy! You can also use almond tortillas, cheese tortillas, or lettuce tortillas.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Chicken thighs can be used in place of chicken breasts, but the cook time will be different. Always go by the temperature of cooked chicken – which is 165 degrees regardless of breast or thigh – instead.

What to Serve With Shredded Chicken Tacos

These tacos are delicious with Spicy Garlicky Beans, Avocado Jalapeno Elotes, Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa, Easy Black Bean and Corn Salsa, and our Avocado Tomatillo Salsa Recipe – or stuffed into Cheesy Chicken Taco Salad Stuffed Avocados!

Look for more of our favorite taco dinner ideas here: