These crunchy baked Chipotle Chicken Tacos loaded with smoky chipotle honey flavored chicken, gooey cheese and refried beans are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Our chipotle chicken tacos are ready under 30 minutes, are crunchy and crispy, yet are baked (not fried) for a healthier twist. Make this delicious Mexican inspired taco recipe for dinner today!
Chipotle chicken tacos are inspired by the smokey, spicy and big bold flavors of chipotle peppers and Mexican cuisine. If you love tacos, here are some of my other favorite taco and taquito recipes on the blog: Crispy Beef Tacos, Crispy Baked Chicken Taquitos, Grilled Steak Tacos and Smash Burger Tacos!
Crispy Baked Chipotle Chicken Tacos
In this chipotle chicken tacos recipe, we stuff corn tortillas with cheese, refried beans and chicken that is seasoned with chipotle and honey. Instead of just serving them, we send them into the oven to bake them until tacos are crispy on the outside and the flavors meld together on the inside.
Very similar to my popular Baked Rotiserrie Chicken Tacos, these chipotle chicken tacos are baked (NOT deep fried) until they are slightly crispy and golden brown on the outside. In other words, we get the crunch without all the grease!
In addition to that, chicken stay moist and juicy, and is incredibly flavorful, bursting with that amazing chipotle flavor.
Chipotle peppers are basically ripe red jalapeño peppers that are smoke-dried. They are typically about as hot as a jalapeño pepper, and brings the distinct smoky flavors to the chicken tacos.
Besides awakening your tastebuds and senses, You can have this chipotle chicken tacos meal ready under 30 minutes.
Not only does it make an awesome dinner recipe for busy weeknights, I also love serving this on game day or parties because they are fun and easy to eat. If there’s leftovers, they also reheat easily in the toaster oven or microwave.
Ingredient Notes
Here are the ingredients that go into these chipotle chicken tacos:
- chicken thighs – I personally prefer boneless chicken thighs over chicken breast because it makes juicier tacos! But if you prefer chicken breasts, they work fine in this recipe. If you want to use already cooked chicken such as leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken, you can too – simple toss cooked chicken with spices and honey instead of searing them.
- chipotle chili powder – this is one of the main ingredients in the chicken marinade, imparting the chipotle flavor into the chicken. Alternatively, you can also use chipotle peppers that comes in a can along with adobo sauce. You’ll want to chop up the chipotle peppers and drain the sauce to get rid of the excess liquid. I personally prefer the chipotle chili powder because it’s easier and making the chicken dryer will make it easier to crisp up the chipotle chicken tacos.
- paprika, ground cumin – these additional spices brings additional depths of flavors, and are also common spices used in Mexican cooking.
- honey – the sweetness helps cut down some of the spiciness and brings to whole new level of flavor! If you like the chicken to be spicy, you can omit honey. The sugar from the honey will also provide a nice char to the chicken when seared.
- garlic powder – instead of fresh garlic, we are using garlic powder because it’s the easiest way to marinade the chicken.
- cooking oil – any neutral cooking oil such as vegetable oil, avocado oil or olive oil works for the marinade.
- corn tortillas – I like the texture and flavor of corn tortillas for this recipe but you can use flour tortillas if you prefer. Flour tortillas typically require a longer bake time to crisp up.
- refried beans – this traditional Mexican dish (also common in Tex Mex cooking) is cooked and mashed beans.
- shredded Colby or Monterey jack cheese – any mild cheese that melts easily works! Other options are mozzarella, provolone, swiss, cheddar etc.
- salt and pepper
How to make Chipotle Chicken Tacos
These chipotle chicken tacos are such a breeze to make! There are basically two main components – the chicken and the tacos!
Making Chipotle Chicken
First, we’ll make the chipotle flavored chicken.
Trim fat and cut chicken thighs into smaller pieces and place them in a mixing bowl.
Bring together chipotle chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, honey, oil, salt and pepper and add to chicken.
Toss chicken to combine until it is evenly coated with chipotle marinade.
On a skillet on medium heat, sear chicken until it is browned and caramelized on one side (try not to move it so it gets a nice sear), then flip and cook the other side.
Once internal temperature of all the chicken pieces reaches 165ºF when measured using a meat thermometer, remove from heat promptly to avoid overcooking.
At this point, your kitchen should be filled with the smokey fragrant from the chipotle flavor. It is a pretty irresistible scent I have to say!
Assembling the tacos
Next, we will assemble the chipotle chicken tacos.
Working in batches, cover corn tortillas with damp and heat in microwave for 30 seconds. This will make the tortillas more pliable and prevent breakage when folding them into tacos.
Brush one side of the corn tortilla with cooking oil. This will be the side that will be brown and crispy on the outside.
Flip over to the other side of the corn tortilla, place shredded cheese and chicken on one half of the tortilla.
Spread ~1 tbsp of refried beans on the other half. Fold into a taco.
Place the chipotle chicken taco on a greased or lined baking sheet. Repeat until all the tacos are complete.
After putting together all the tacos, we will bake these chipotle chicken tacos at 425ºF for 13-15 minutes.
When chipotle chicken tacos are done, they will be slightly brown and crispy on the outside.
It’s simple, delicious, and a cleaner, healthier way to enjoy crispy chipotle chicken tacos…yet every bite is just as delicious!
We have been eating these a lot lately because we have been so busy and it’s one of those super simple meals I can throw together quickly without much fuss. And most importantly, they are so good!
And honestly, I make them even when I’m not busy because I’m just simply addicted to their deliciousness!
Serving Suggestions
One of my favorite things about these crispy chipotle chicken tacos is all the yummy items I get to pair with it. Here are some great ways to serve them:
- With sauces and dips such as hot sauce, sour cream, queso, guacamole, salsa etc
- Top with garnishes such as cilantro, jalapeño, pickled onions etc
- Sides such as Mexican Rice, Pineapple Mango Salsa, Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Serve with lime wedges on the side
- A personal favorite…a margarita! 🙂
Make Ahead/Storage/Reheat Instructions
Make ahead: Chicken can be marinated and then cooked a day ahead of time. Store chicken in refrigerator in an airtight container if making ahead, and assemble and sear tacos just before serving for optimal freshness and taste.
Storage/Reheat: Chipotle Chicken Tacos taste best when fresh out of the oven because they are the crispiest at that point. If you are heating leftovers, in order to crisp them up again, reheat in the oven or toaster oven. You can use the microwave to quickly reheat them, but it will not be crispy.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few tips and tricks to make the process easier and more flavorful:
- Marinate the Chicken: Let your chicken pieces marinate longer in the chipotle seasoning to enhance the flavor. Ideally, you should do this for at least an hour, but overnight if possible for the best taste. Keep in mind chipotle seasoning is pretty spicy so the longer it sits, the spicier the chicken will be.
- Avoid Overcooking Chicken: To ensure chicken stays moist and juicy when searing, use a meat thermometer to check on chicken. Once the internal temperature reaches 165ºF, remove from heat promptly.
- Cheese Variety: While Monterey Jack cheese is typically used, feel free to mix it up with other kinds of mild cheeses like cheddar, swiss, or queso fresco for added flavor.
- Prevent Soggy Tacos: If you want to keep your tacos crunchy, consider brushing a little bit of oil between each layer of tortilla to seal out moisture before assembling them.
- Prevent Tortilla Breakage: In order to prevent tortillas from breaking (corn tortillas break easily), heat tortillas in microwave for 10-20 seconds so they are more pliable before filing them.
- Adjust Spice Levels: Control the level of spiciness according to your preference by either adding extra chipotle peppers or reducing them. If it turns out too spicy, balance it out with some honey.
- Use a Non-Stick Baking Tray: Prevent your tacos from sticking to the baking tray by using a non-stick spray or parchment paper.
- Toppings & Sauces: Add guacamole, salsa, or chopped cilantro to bring freshness into to this flavorful taco dish. Lime wedges work great as well!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas. Flour tortillas work well and can easily be substituted if you prefer their texture or flavor. You may need to adjust the cooking time up slightly to achieve the desired crispness.
Chipotle peppers have a moderate level of heat, similar to jalapeño peppers. To control the spice level:
Adjust the Quantity: Use less of it to make it less spicy.
Dilute with Other Ingredients: Pair with milder ingredients like sour cream, guacamole or yogurt to balance out the spiciness.
Use Chipotle Powder Sparingly: Chipotle powder can be strong, so start with a small amount and increase gradually to taste. Remember, you can always add more but you can’t take it away once added.
Heat tortillas before filling them – cover corn tortillas with a damp paper towel and heat in microwave for 30 seconds. Doing so will make tortillas more pliable and help prevent breakage.
Yes, chipotle chicken tacos can be made without an oven. Both the chicken and tortillas can be cooked on a stovetop griddle or frying pan using medium heat. This method ensures even cooking and prevents burning, while still delivering crispy tortillas and flavorful chicken. It’s a flexible approach for those without access to an oven.
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More Mexican Inspired Recipes
- Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice
- Crispy Beef Tacos
- Chili Cheese Dip
- White Chicken Chili
- Beef Burrito Bowl
- Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada
Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs
- 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp cooking oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 12 corn tortillas
- 15 oz refried beans
- 2 cups monterey jack cheese shredded
- sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉.
- Prepare chicken thighs by trimming off the fat and cutting into small pieces. Place in a bowl.
- Add chipotle chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, honey, salt, pepper, and cooking oil to the bowl. Toss to fully coat the chicken thighs.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, drizzle with cooking oil. Add the chicken thighs to the skillet. Make sure to spread out the thighs and prevent overlapping. Avoid moving chicken thighs and let it cook until it browns slightly. Flip the thighs over and allow the meat to cook all the way through. Remove from heat promptly once internal temperature for all the pieces reaches 165℉.
- Working in batches, cover corn tortillas with a damp paper towel and heat in microwave for 30 seconds.
- Brush one side of the corn tortilla with cooking oil. Flip over. Place shredded cheese and chicken on one half of the tortilla. On the other half, spread ~1 tbsp of refried beans. Fold into a taco and place onto a greased baking sheet.
- Repeat until all the tacos are prepared.
- Place tacos in the preheated oven. Cook for 13-15 minutes or until the tacos are crispy.
- Serve and enjoy!
