Description
These Crispy Baked Chicken Tacos are a delightful twist on traditional tacos, featuring tender shredded chicken and gooey cheese in a crispy shell. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners, they are customizable and budget-friendly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb. cooked shredded seasoned chicken breast (3–4 cups shredded chicken breast)
- 8 oz. shredded colby jack cheese
- 20–24 street taco corn tortillas
- olive oil or cooking spray
- sour cream
- salsa
- fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). This temperature is key for achieving crispy tacos. While the oven heats, gather all your ingredients.
- Next, prepare your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it with olive oil or cooking spray. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
- Arrange the street taco corn tortillas on the baking sheet, ensuring they are not overlapping. You may need a second baking sheet if you're making a large batch.
- Brush or spray both sides of each tortilla with olive oil. This step is crucial for getting that golden, crispy texture. Be generous, but don’t soak them!
- Now, add a heaping tablespoon of the shredded seasoned chicken to the center of each tortilla. Make sure not to overfill them; too much filling can make folding difficult.
- Top each chicken-filled tortilla with a heaping tablespoon of shredded colby jack cheese. The more cheese, the better, but keep in mind that too much can lead to a gooey mess when folding.
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 2 minutes or until the cheese starts to melt. You’ll know they’re ready when you see the cheese bubbling.
- Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Using a spatula, gently fold each tortilla in half, pressing them together to form a taco shape. Be careful as the cheese can still be very hot.
- Return the folded tacos to the oven and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes. You’re looking for a crispy exterior and a warm filling. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning — the edges should be golden brown.
- Once crispy, remove the tacos from the oven and let them cool for a minute. This helps the cheese set slightly, making them easier to handle.
- Serve warm with your choice of sour cream, salsa, and fresh chopped cilantro. The combination of flavors really brings these tacos to life!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: Don’t skip the oil! Brushing or spraying the tortillas with olive oil not only helps with crispiness but also adds a rich flavor. A common mistake is neglecting this step, leading to soggy tortillas.