Chicken Street Tacos
Chicken Street Tacos are a quick and delicious meal featuring juicy, tender chicken seasoned with warm spices, served in soft corn tortillas and topped with fresh onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. This recipe brings the vibrant street food culture to your kitchen with minimal ingredients, customizable options, and ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for casual gatherings or a flavorful weeknight dinner.
- Author: Lilly
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 tacos 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Protein
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs
Tortillas
Seasonings & Oils
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Toppings & Garnishes
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Lime wedges, for serving
- Prep the Chicken: Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts or thighs, then pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix together minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Rub this spice blend evenly over both sides of the chicken to fully coat.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the seasoned chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, until fully cooked through with a golden crust. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes before slicing thinly into bite-sized pieces.
- Warm the Tortillas: Place corn tortillas directly on a dry skillet or griddle over medium heat. Warm each tortilla for about 30 seconds on each side until soft, warm, and slightly charred to enhance flavor and pliability.
- Assemble the Tacos: Lay warm tortillas flat and pile on the sliced chicken. Top generously with diced onions and chopped fresh cilantro. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lime juice to brighten all the flavors before serving.
Notes
- Use warm tortillas to make them more pliable and tastier.
- Marinate chicken with spices for 20-30 minutes if time allows to intensify flavor.
- Avoid overcooking chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
- Use freshly diced onions and chopped cilantro just before serving for crispness and freshness.
- Do not skip fresh lime juice—it adds the perfect balanced zing to the tacos.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken street tacos, Mexican tacos, quick tacos, easy chicken tacos, gluten free tacos, street food, chicken recipe, party appetizer