Healthy Chicken Tacos
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These healthy chicken tacos come together in about 30 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights. They’re packed with flavor and totally customizable!
I LOVE tacos. Fish tacos, cauliflower tacos, shrimp tacos… if it has the word taco in the name I’m here for it! That said, I figured it was about time to share my go-to healthy chicken taco recipe.
These tacos are so flavorful and delicious and the entire recipe comes together in 30 minutes from start to finish, which is ideal when you’re wanting to make a healthy dinner during those busy weeknights!
Table of Contents
“Yum! Entire family is asking me to make again and again! Thank you – easy and healthy!!”
Why I Love These Chicken Tacos
- Perfect for busy weeknights: These tacos come together in about 30 minutes.
- Simple but flavorful: The lime, garlic and chili powder marinade gives the chicken tons of flavor.
- Easy to customize: Use your favorite tortillas and pile on whatever toppings you love.
- Family-friendly: These tacos are always a hit and easy to adjust for picky eaters.
Ingredients Needed
- chicken – I love using chicken thighs because they are fattier so have more flavor, but boneless skinless chicken breasts will also work and still be delicious.
- olive oil, lime juice, garlic, sea salt, cumin and chili powder – all these ingredients combine to make a super simple marinade for the chicken.
- tortillas – I used small corn tortillas to keep this recipe gluten-free, but feel free to use flour tortillas or your favorite style of tortilla.
- toppings – my go-to taco toppings are red onion, cilantro, avocado, pico de gallo (or salsa), queso fresco, and sour cream (or Greek yogurt), but feel free to use your favorite toppings!
How to Make Chicken Tacos
Step 1: In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, salt and cumin.
Step 2: Pour the marinade over the chicken thighs and let them marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Step 3: Cook the chicken on a grill or in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until cooked through.
Step 4: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes, dice into pieces and serve in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings.
Tips for the Best Chicken Tacos
- Use chicken thighs if you can: Chicken thighs stay much juicier than chicken breasts and have more flavor, which makes a big difference in tacos.
- Don’t skip the rest time: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before chopping it. This helps keep the juices inside the meat instead of running out onto the cutting board.
- Warm and wrap the tortillas: Warm the tortillas in a skillet or microwave, then stack them and wrap them in a clean kitchen towel. This keeps them warm and prevents them from drying out while you build the tacos.
How to Serve
These chicken tacos are delicious on their own, but they’re even better with a few sides to round out the meal. Here are some of my favorite pairings:
- Classic taco sides: Serve with chips and salsa, black beans, refried beans or Mexican street corn salad.
- With dips: Add a bowl of healthy guacamole, black bean dip or cottage cheese queso for a fun taco night spread.
- With a fresh salad: A simple avocado salad or crunchy vinegar coleslaw pairs perfectly with the warm tacos.
- A festive drink: If you’re hosting, a skinny paloma or skinny margarita is always a good choice.
- Toppings: Feel free to switch up the toppings to your liking. Some ideas: jalapeño slices, pickled red onions, fresh tomatoes, hot sauce, pineapple salsa or shredded lettuce.
How to Store Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken in an air-tight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Store any leftover toppings in separate containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. For reheating, I recommend warming the chicken over the stovetop to crisp it up a little.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken thighs are my favorite because they stay juicy and flavorful when cooked. Chicken breasts will also work, just be careful not to overcook them so they stay tender.
You can cook the chicken up to 3–4 days in advance and store it in the fridge. Reheat the chicken in a skillet before assembling the tacos.
The chicken should reach an internal temperature of about 170–175°F and should be fully opaque with no pink in the center.
More Mexican Favorites
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Easy Lime Garlic Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice, juice of 1 lime
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Flour or corn tortillas
- Chopped red onion, for serving
- Cilantro, for serving
- Avocado or guacamole, for serving
- Salsa or pico de gallo, for serving
- Queso fresco, for serving
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt, for serving
Instructions
- Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, salt and cumin in a small bowl.1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 Tablespoons lime juice, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Pour marinade over chicken thighs and let marinate for 15-30 minutes.1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Grill chicken thighs using an indoor or outdoor grill or cook on the stove top in a cast iron skillet over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until cooked throughout (internal temperature should be 170-175°F). Once cooked, pull chicken from heat and let rest for 3-5 minutes.
- Dice chicken thighs into cubes. Place chicken into warm taco shell and add toppings of choice.
Video
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store toppings separately and reheat the chicken in a skillet before assembling tacos.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
Love these tacos! This has become a family favorite with some pico de gallo and avocado! YUM!! Thanks so much!
Oh yay! That makes me so happy to hear. I’m so glad this recipe has become a hit with your family. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I appreciate it!
Yum! Entire family is asking me to make again and again! Thank you – easy and healthy!!
Yay! So glad these tacos were a hit with your whole family, Lynn. Thanks for making the recipe and for coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
SO GOOD!!! Chicken came out great 🙂
WOO! Glad you are loving this recipe, Katie. Thanks so much for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!