Mexican Chicken Strips for Tacos

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Anna Middleton (@chefanna)

Delicious Mexican-style chicken strips perfect for filling tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas.

Prep Time
20min
Cook Time
40min
Total Time
1hr
Mexican Chicken Strips for Tacos recipe

Ingredients

4 Servings
(1 serving = 1 portion of chicken strips with sauce)

Chicken

  • 2cups
    chicken fillet (strips)
  • 2tbsp
    vegetable oil
  • 2cups
    Mexican sauce
  • 2tbsp
    coriander leaves
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Mexican Sauce

  • 1cup
    onion (finely chopped)
  • 2cups
    chopped tomatoes (tinned)
  • 1tsp
    garlic (minced)
  • 1tbsp
    fresh jalapeno (finely chopped)
  • 1tsp
    oregano (fresh or dried)
  • 1 1/2tbsp
    cumin (ground)
  • 1tbsp
    cocoa powder
  • 3tbsp
    vegetable oil
  • Salt & pepper to taste

How to make Mexican Chicken Strips for Tacos

Mexican Sauce

  1. Heat a saucepan and add the vegetable oil. Add the onions and sauté until golden brown.

  2. Add the jalapeno and cumin. Sauté for about 1 minute.

  3. Add the oregano, chopped tomatoes, and garlic. Turn down the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

  4. Add the cocoa powder, salt, and pepper. Mix and continue to simmer.

  5. Add a little water to loosen up the sauce and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.

  6. Blend the sauce until semi-smooth with a stick blender. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set the sauce aside.

Chicken

  1. Heat a medium pan to smoking hot and add the vegetable oil.

  2. Add the chicken strips and brown on all sides, but do not cook through. Brown the chicken in batches and season with salt and pepper.

  3. Return all browned chicken to a larger pan and pour the sauce over. Add a little more water if the sauce is too thick.

  4. Simmer on low heat until the chicken is cooked through and infused with the sauce.

  5. Use the Mexican chicken to fill tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas. Garnish with coriander.

Tips & Tricks

  1. For extra flavor, marinate the chicken strips in lime juice and spices before cooking.

  2. Adjust the spiciness of the sauce by adding more or less jalapeno.

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Anna Middleton

(@chefanna)

I have been a professional South African chef for 18 years, now teaching kids & adults how to cook by using their instincts. I...