Description
These Chipotle Lime Chicken Tacos are a vibrant and flavorful meal featuring marinated chicken with smoky chipotle peppers and zesty lime. Perfectly grilled or pan-seared, the chicken is combined with fresh toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and cilantro, wrapped in warm tortillas or butter lettuce leaves. This recipe includes an optional mango salsa for an added sweet and spicy twist, making it an ideal meal prep option or a quick, delicious dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce
- Juice & zest of 1 lime
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Serving
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas (or butter lettuce leaves)
Optional
- 1 cup mango salsa for sweet heat
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, mix olive oil, minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, lime juice and zest, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken breasts or thighs, thoroughly tossing to coat all pieces. Cover and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Cook Chicken: Preheat a grill or a skillet over medium heat. Cook the marinated chicken for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat and slice or dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Assemble Meal Prep Boxes: In each meal prep container, arrange the cooked chicken, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and chopped cilantro in separate sections to keep them fresh. Store tortillas or lettuce leaves separately to prevent sogginess.
- Serve: When ready to eat, warm the chicken slightly. Assemble the tacos by placing the chicken in the tortillas or lettuce leaves and topping with desired amounts of lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.
- Add Optional Mango Salsa: For a fresh, sweet, and spicy flavor contrast, add a spoonful of mango salsa on top of the assembled tacos.
- Meal Prep Tip: Always keep the tortillas or lettuce wraps stored separately from the other ingredients to avoid them becoming soft or soggy, ensuring crispiness and freshness when assembling the tacos.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for longer than 30 minutes (up to 4 hours) will deepen the flavor.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream for a lighter option.
- Use corn tortillas for a gluten-free option.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Grilling adds a smoky flavor, but pan-searing is a convenient alternative for indoor cooking.
- Add avocado slices or pickled onions for additional toppings and flavors.
