Chicken Soft Tacos

Soft tacos grew from northern Mexican tables, where warm flour tortillas cradle juicy fillings. Here chicken thighs simmer with cumin and chili powder, then finish with salsa verde, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Serves 4

Estimate for one serving

• 410 cal
• 32g protein
• 35g carbs
• 16g fat
• 4g fiber

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Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 medium white onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt
• 8 small (6-inch) flour tortillas
• 1 cup salsa verde
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime
• 1/3 cup crumbled cotija cheese

Instructions

1. 1Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs and cut each into 3–large pieces.
2. 2Peel and finely chop the white onion; divide in half — half for cooking, half for serving.
3. 3Mince the garlic cloves.
4. 4In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm neutral oil. Add half the chopped onion and all the minced garlic; sauté 2 minutes until fragrant.
5. 5Add the chicken pieces, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and salt. Cook, stirring, 3–4 minutes until chicken is lightly browned on all sides.
6. 6Pour in the chicken broth, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 18–20 minutes until chicken is very tender and pulls apart easily.
7. 7Remove chicken to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred into bite-size pieces. Return shredded chicken to the skillet, stir to coat with the reduced pan sauce, and simmer uncovered 3–5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
8. 8While chicken finishes, warm the flour tortillas in a dry skillet or directly over a low gas flame for 15–20 seconds per side until soft and pliable. Wrap in a clean towel to keep warm.
9. 9Cut the lime into 8 wedges.
10. 10Assemble tacos: place shredded chicken in each warm tortilla. Top with 1–salsa verde, a sprinkle of reserved raw onion, chopped cilantro, and crumbled cotija. Finish with a squeeze of lime.
11. 11Serve immediately with extra salsa verde and lime wedges on the side.