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    Home » Main Dishes » Poultry » Chicken

    Chicken Street Tacos

    Published: Sep 13, 2015 · Modified: Jan 31, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    Enjoy an easy dinner with this recipe for Chicken Street Tacos. So simple, but so delicious, these tacos can easily feed a crowd or be adapted to a grain-free lettuce wrap.

    two Chicken Street Tacos on a plate this …

    I grew up in Southern California where Mexican food reigns — and for good reason. Made from inexpensive ingredients and packed with flavor, Mexican food is something that I could eat every day of the week.

    And honestly, as fast as we’re going through that ginormous bottle of Cholula, I think we might be!

    My favorite items to order at a restaurant or to make at home are street tacos. Traditionally, made easily portable and often sold on the street, street tacos differ from the crunchy corn or soft flour tacos you might be used to. However, growing up going to Olvera Street, street tacos are the kind of tacos I know well. No shredded cheese necessary!

    And there was never anything easier to make!

    Chicken street tacos at home

    We’ve got an authentic, family-owned Mexican diner around the corner where FishPapa and I often go for dinner on date nights. I often order the street tacos plate, but it’s so easy to make at home!

    By now you’ve heard about my love affair with Trader Joe’s frozen chicken tenders. I just bought seven bags to fill my freezer. They cook up so tender and juicy. And they go great in this dish.

    Chicken street taco ingredients

    • Chicken tenders –  or boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • Taco Seasoning Mix – You could buy it, or save yourself some pennies and make your own taco seasoning mix
    • Corn tortillas – You can use store bought ones, or make your own corn tortillas. You can also use lettuce wraps if you want to cut a few calories. 
    • Sweet Onion –(If you can’t find sweet onions, just be sure to rinse your onions well under cool water; it takes away some of the bitterness.)
    • Cilantro
    • Hot sauce

    How to cook the chicken for the street tacos

    Typically I throw the chicken tenders (still frozen) in the slow cooker with a generous dousing of homemade taco seasoning mix. Within just a few hours, the chicken is fully cooked and easy to shred. A few slashes of the tongs and the meat practically falls apart.

    If you don’t want to wait for the slow cooker, you can also cook the chicken in a bit of oil in a skillet, season, and shred.

    Chicken Street Tacos | Good Cheap Eats

    Which should I use- flour or corn tortilla?

    Corn tortillas are the traditional wrapper for street tacos. It’s best to make your own.

    However, if you’re eating paleo, Whole 30, or grain free, the chicken filling and toppings go great in lettuce leaves. Not quite authentic, but super good.

    How should I serve these street tacos?

    Now, street tacos are typically served quite simply: top with some hot pepper sauce, like Chalula, and diced sweet onions and chopped cilantro. So good! 

    Extra chicken street tacos toppings

    You could also add on some of these extra taco fillings and toppings if you wanted:

    • Pico de Gallo
    • Super Easy Salsa
    • Easy Guacamole Recipe
    • Sour cream
    • Diced tomatoes
    • Shredded lettuce

    What should I serve with these chicken street tacos?

    • Easy Instant Pot Black Beans
    • Healthier Refried Beans
    • Enjoy Homemade Mexican Rice

    More tacos recipes to enjoy

    If you are like our household you can’t get enough of tacos. Taco Tuesday just isn’t enough! So here are a few more recipes to enjoy:

    • Baked Ground Turkey and Black Bean Tacos
    • Pork Carnitas Tacos
    • Shredded Beef Tacos: A Good Cheap Eat
    • Easy Slow Cooker Pork Tacos
    A plate of Chicken Tacos
    Print Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    5 from 2 votes

    Chicken Street Tacos

    Enjoy an easy dinner with this recipe for Chicken Street Tacos. So simple, but so delicious, these tacos can easily feed a crowd or be adapted to a grain-free lettuce wrap.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time2 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 245kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 lb chicken tenders skinless chicken pieces, cut into strips
    • 2 to 3 tablespoon taco seasoning mix
    • 12 corn tortillas or lettuce wraps
    • ½ onion diced
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
    • hot sauce

    Instructions

    • Place the chicken pieces in the crock of a slow cooker. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix. Cover and cook for two hours on high or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
    • If you prefer, you can cook the chicken on the stovetop. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet until shimmering. Add the chicken and seasoning. Cook, turning, until the chicken is cooked through.
    • Shred the chicken and serve in tortillas or lettuce wraps, topped with onion, cilantro, and hot sauce.
    • Cooked chicken meat can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

    Notes

    If you're trying to avoid certain ingredients, like gluten or soy, be sure to read the ingredients label on your taco seasoning as well as the corn tortillas. I make my own whenever I'm concerned about what's inside.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 130mg | Potassium: 214mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tell us what you think!Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

     

     

     

     

    * If you’re trying to avoid certain ingredients, like gluten or soy, be sure to read the ingredients label on your taco seasoning as well as the corn tortillas. I make my own whenever I’m concerned about what’s inside.

    « Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
    Easy Chicken Quinoa Bowl »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carla

      December 16, 2015 at 9:18 am

      This may seem like a silly question but I love street tacos and my big problem is how do they/you get the corn tortillas soft and moist??? I’ve tried wetting them in microwave to no avail, heating in oven in foil, also a taday dry. Help!!!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        December 16, 2015 at 3:11 pm

        The best way is to use homemade corn tortillas. My local taqueria fries them in a bit of oil and drains well. They’re oily obviously, but soft and moist. Other restaurants steam them in foil wrappings.

        Reply
    2. Micha

      October 02, 2015 at 1:27 am

      These look delicious. My crew only like beef tacos for some reason but I think these might win them over.

      Reply
    3. Anna

      September 15, 2015 at 12:34 pm

      I’m making chicken fajitas tomorrow- very similar. 🙂 I like using spices or homemade spice mixes to flavor things. I think they taste better, and you can do without the preservatives.

      Reply
    4. Diana

      September 14, 2015 at 12:17 pm

      We have one restaurant here that serves tacos like this (except I’m not sure they do chicken) and it’s one of our favorites! Do yours come with the onion/carrot/jalapeno pickles? If so, and you like them, this recipe turns out really close to those: http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/minimal-monday-pickled-red-onions/ I do half onions, half carrots and add some cloves (ground or whole).

      I’ll have to try these with chicken soon–thanks for the idea! I bet the cooked filling freezes well too.

      Reply

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