Description
Mexican Queso Chicken Tacos offer a delightful fusion of spicy chicken and creamy cheese. Tender meat nestles in warm tortillas, delivering complex flavors that satisfy hungry diners searching for a quick, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken breasts or thighs, boneless and skinless
- 1 cup queso dip, store-bought or homemade
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade mix)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas
- 1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1–2 jalapenos, sliced
- 1 cup lettuce, shredded
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2–3 lime wedges
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Coat chicken breasts generously with taco seasoning in slow cooker or Instant Pot, then pour chicken broth over the meat.
- Cooking Process: Simmer chicken in slow cooker on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, alternatively pressure cook in Instant Pot for 12 minutes with immediate pressure release.
- Meat Transformation: Carefully shred chicken using two forks, creating delicate strands and returning meat to cooking liquid to preserve moisture and flavor.
- Queso Integration: Fold queso dip thoroughly into shredded chicken, ensuring complete and uniform coating that enhances overall taste profile.
- Tortilla Activation: Gently warm tortillas in skillet or microwave to increase pliability and optimize texture for taco assembly.
- Final Composition: Layer warm tortillas with queso-infused chicken, garnish with selected toppings, and serve immediately with fresh lime wedges to introduce a bright, citrusy contrast to the rich filling.
Notes
- Optimize Cooking Time: Adjust slow cooker or Instant Pot duration based on chicken breast thickness to prevent overcooking and maintain tender texture.
- Enhance Moisture Retention: Reserve small amount of cooking liquid when shredding chicken to prevent dryness and intensify flavor profile.
- Customize Seasoning Intensity: Modify taco seasoning quantity according to personal spice preference, starting with less and incrementally adding more.
- Accommodate Dietary Needs: Substitute regular tortillas with gluten-free or low-carb alternatives like lettuce wraps for alternative dietary requirements.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg