5 from 18 votes
5 Ingredient Easy Chicken Carnitas Tacos
This easy recipe for chicken carnitas tacos is the best way to use up leftover or chicken or turkey! They can me made in just 15 minutes with only 5 simple ingredients.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings:
4
servings
Calories:
413 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
For the Turkey or Chicken Carnitas:
- 3 tablespoons neutral oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil, grape seed oil or avocado oil
- 1 lb chicken about 3 cups loosely packed, or turkey meat, cooked and shredded
- salt *see note
- 8 corn tortillas
- white onion diced
- cilantro finely chopped, fresh
For Serving (optional):
- lime wedges
- avocado sliced or guacamole
- hot sauce try my tomato salsa or salsa verde!, or salsa
Notes
- *The amount of salt needed to season your carnitas will depend on how salty your chicken or turkey meat is to start.
- *When adding the meat to the pan, always place it away from your body to avoid hot oil splashing up.
- Use a cast iron or non-stick pan and make sure it's very hot.
- Let the meat sit in the pan, undisturbed for a minute or two before tossing it around. This will allow it to brown and get crisp on the bottom.
- Don't skimp on the salt, but taste the meat first to avoid over salting.
- Add different seasonings to change up the flavor.
- Try them with my Chipotle Guacamole, Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Guajillo Chile Hot Sauce, Easy Tomato Salsa or Salsa Verde!
Nutrition Information
Serving
2g
Calories
413kcal
(21%)
Carbohydrates
27g
(9%)
Protein
28g
(56%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
8g
(47%)
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Trans Fat
0.1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
73mg
(24%)
Sodium
158mg
(7%)
Potassium
760mg
(16%)
Fiber
7g
(28%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
108IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
54mg
(5%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 413
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2g | |
| Calories | 413kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 28g | 56% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 8g | 47% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 73mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 158mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 760mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 108IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 54mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.