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Chicken Street Tacos

Tender, seasoned chicken wrapped in soft tortillas with fresh lime, onion, and cilantro for authentic street-style tacos in under 30 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 285

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1.5 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 0.75 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • Juice of 2 fresh limes
  • 8 small corn or flour tortillas
  • 0.5 cup diced white onion
  • 0.5 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • Extra lime wedges for serving

Equipment

  • Sharp knife
  • Cutting board
  • Large skillet or cast iron pan
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Meat thermometer
  • Lime squeezer or juicer
  • Tortilla warmer or clean kitchen towel

Method
 

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture for a better sear.
  2. In a small bowl, mix cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne, salt, and black pepper, then rub evenly over both sides of each chicken breast.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for one minute, then add vegetable oil and heat until shimmering.
  4. Place chicken breasts in the hot skillet and cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes to form a golden crust.
  5. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  6. Squeeze the juice of two limes over the chicken in the pan, remove from heat, and let rest for 2 minutes to reabsorb juices.
  7. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and shred with two forks or chop into bite-sized pieces.
  8. Warm tortillas by holding each directly over a gas flame for about 5 seconds per side or wrapping in a damp towel and microwaving for 30 seconds.
  9. Assemble tacos by placing shredded chicken on each warm tortilla and topping with diced onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the lime juice after cooking; it brightens the spices and keeps the chicken tender and flavorful.