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Baja Chicken Tacos

Baja Chicken Tacos

The ultimate summer dish, Baja Chicken Tacos are bursting with fresh flavors and vibrant ingredients. With tender, marinated chicken and a variety of toppings, this easy weeknight dinner is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for gatherings or a quick family meal, you'll find yourself craving these tacos again and again!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 480

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 pounds chicken breast boneless, skinless
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice juice of about 2 limes
  • 0.25 cup orange juice juice of about 1 orange
  • 2 jalapeños sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil divided
  • 0.5 cup greek yogurt
  • 0.5 cup salsa verde
  • 0.5 cup cilantro (about ½ bunch)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice juice of about 1 lime
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 12 corn tortillas (or other wrap)
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil vegetable, canola, or similar
  • 0.5 cup pickled red onion prepared
  • 0.5 cup quartered grape tomatoes
  • 0.25 cup feta cheese
  • 1 avocado smashed
  • 2 radishes chopped

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Oven
  • Blender
  • Skillet
  • Cutting Board
  • Chef's Knife
  • Mixing Bowl

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
  2. Place the chicken breast in a zip top bag, or covered container. Add the lime juice, orange juice, jalapeño slices, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, and half of the cooking oil. Mix well.
  3. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes, or up to 3 hours.
  4. Heat the remaining cooking oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium high heat.
  5. Once hot, add the chicken breast to the skillet and let sit on the first side for 2-3 minutes without moving.
  6. Once a nice golden brown sear has formed, flip the chicken and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
  7. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until chicken reaches 165˚F internal temperature.
  8. Let sit for 5 minutes, then dice the chicken.
  9. Place all sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
  10. Heat a little cooking oil in a skillet over high heat. Once hot, add a tortilla and cook on each side for 30-45 seconds until lightly browned.
  11. Repeat with all tortillas to create the taco shells.
  12. Assemble the tacos by layering a taco shell with chicken, pickled onions, tomatoes, feta, cilantro sauce, and top with smashed avocado and fresh cilantro.

Notes

  • Chicken: boneless, skinless chicken thighs will also work.
  • Greek yogurt: sour cream is an acceptable substitute.
  • Tortillas: taco-sized flour tortillas or your favorite flatbread are all fine.
  • Pickled red onion: can sub thinly sliced fresh red onion.
  • Feta cheese: cotija cheese is also good.
  • Avocado: store-bought guacamole will also work.
  • How to Store: Store ingredients separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
  • How to Freeze: The Baja Chicken in this recipe freezes well. It’s best frozen after cooking. Just wrap the cooked chicken tightly and store in the freezer for up to a month.
  • How to Reheat: The chicken and tortillas can be reheated in the microwave in 30 second increments, or cover with tin foil and place into the oven to reheat. Top with fresh ingredients.
  • How to Scale: This recipe can easily be doubled if you are feeding a crowd or halved for smaller portions.