Description
Chicken Tinga brings Mexican street flavors right to your kitchen with smoky chipotle peppers and tender shredded chicken that’ll make your taste buds dance. Serve this zesty dish over warm tortillas or rice for a quick and satisfying meal that connects you directly to the heart of traditional Pueblan cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds chicken
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 3 large onions
- 4–5 Roma plum tomatoes
- 5 garlic cloves
- 2 bay leaves
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.25 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
- 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.25 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 7 ounces Chipotle chiles in Adobo sauce
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups water or low sodium chicken stock
Instructions
- Submerge 1 ½ pounds of chicken breasts in a large pot with 2 cups of water, 2 garlic cloves, 1 quartered onion, 2 bay leaves, ¼ teaspoon oregano, and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer at medium heat for 35 minutes until chicken becomes tender.
- Remove chicken from liquid and shred it completely using two forks, creating small, uniform pieces.
- Heat 5 tablespoons vegetable oil in a separate skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 large thinly sliced onions and 2-3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 8-10 minutes until they turn golden and soft.
- Combine 4-5 Roma tomatoes, 7 ounces of chipotle chiles in adobo, ¼ teaspoon each of oregano, thyme, and marjoram, 1 ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a blender. Puree until completely smooth.
- Pour the blended chipotle sauce into the skillet with caramelized onions. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add shredded chicken to the sauce, mixing thoroughly. Cook for additional 5 minutes at low heat, ensuring chicken absorbs the spicy sauce completely.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately while sauce is hot and chicken is fully coated.
Notes
- Choose bone-in chicken breasts or thighs for deeper flavor and more tender meat.
- Roast the tomatoes and chiles beforehand to develop a richer, smokier sauce profile.
- When blending the chipotle sauce, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve for an ultra-smooth consistency.
- Dial back the chipotle chiles if your heat tolerance is lower, or add extra for serious spice lovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 243 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 626 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg