Healthy, Easy and Delicious, Chicken Tacos Are Basically the Best
Taco night is not to be missed in our homes—it’s a weekly event that we all look forward to. Whoever does the cooking likes it because tacos are so easy to make, and the eaters like it because tacos are so delicious and so adaptable. You get to get them with your hands! You get to top your taco with whatever you like (and with nothing that you don’t!). While we mix up the taco fillings a bit week to week, this chicken taco recipe is a perennial favorite. A killer orange-and-lime marinade makes the chicken thighs insanely tender, juicy and flavorful, and a crunchy, quick mango slaw takes the chicken tacos from yummy to seriously restaurant-level.
The Best Chicken Taco Marinade on the Planet
There are a few things that make the chicken that fills these chicken street tacos particularly delectable. First, we use chicken thighs, which are naturally richer and juicier than chicken breast. Secondly, a wonderful marinade that just bursts with flavor. After all, chicken tacos are only as good as the marinade that the chicken has soaked in, and this one is truly magical. Many of the ingredients for this chicken marinade show up in the mango slaw, too, so your grocery list shouldn’t get too unwieldy. In addition to salt and pepper, you’ll just need:
Boneless skinless chicken thighs
An orange
A lime
Fresh garlic
Ancho chili powder
Onion powder
Smoked paprika
A Crunchy, Sweet, Tangy Lime-Mango Slaw Take These Chicken Street Tacos Over the Top!
With satisfying crispness, big flavors and gorgeous colors, this mango slaw is the thing that makes this chicken taco recipe really special. The fact that it adds some veggies (read: fiber + major nutrition) to the dinner plate? Well, that’s just icing on the cake! And don’t feel limited to making this slaw only for chicken tacos—it’s terrific with fish tacos, veggie tacos, tofu tacos, and even all on its own as a side dish. All you’ll need to make this simple taco slaw recipe is:
Mangos
Red onion
Red cabbage
Cilantro
Limes
How to Make Chicken Tacos
Alright! Time to get cooking. For this chicken taco recipe, we’ve opted to bake the chicken thighs for super easy clean up, but you could easily cook your chicken on the grill for a little extra flavor (and still a pretty darn easy clean-up!). Here’s how to make the best chicken street tacos ever:
Marinate the chicken thighs at least 30 minutes, but ideally overnight.
Roast or grill the chicken thighs at 425° F until they’re cooked through.
Make the slaw! Toss together the mangos, red onion, red cabbage, cilantro, lime juice and salt.
Assemble the chicken tacos! Or, better yet, let everyone DIY! Lay out an assembly line of warm tortillas, mango slaw, sliced chicken thighs, extra limes, tomatillo salsa, and avocado slices.
Eat the chicken tacos! The best part!
Tools You’ll Need
More Taco Recipes to Try
A Healthier Taco Night
This chicken street taco recipe will prove to your family that healthy dinners can be just as exciting and delicious as their less-healthful counterparts. Yay for that! Try the recipe, and let us know how everyone likes it, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!
