Chile–Marinated Grilled Chicken Tacos Recipe
These Chile-Marinated Grilled Chicken Tacos are a delicious and flavorful twist on traditional tacos. The chicken is marinated in a rich chile sauce, grilled to perfection, and served with all the classic toppings. Perfect for a festive gathering or a casual weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken Marinade:
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 dried guajillo chiles (stemmed and seeded)
- 2 dried ancho chiles (stemmed and seeded)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 white onion (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For Serving:
- 12 small corn tortillas
- 1 cup chopped white onion
- 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Toast the dried chiles in a dry skillet until fragrant. Blend the soaked chiles with garlic, onion, vinegar, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, and oil.
- Marinate the Chicken: Coat the chicken in the marinade and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Grill the Chicken: Grill the marinated chicken until cooked through and charred.
- Assemble Tacos: Chop the grilled chicken and serve on warm tortillas with onion, cilantro, and lime.
Notes
- You can use New Mexico or pasilla chiles as substitutes.
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- Top with avocado, salsa, or pickled onions for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 tacos
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
