Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 3 votes

Tacos Dorados de Pollo (Crispy Chicken Tacos)

Tacos Dorados de Pollo are crunchy on the outside, and cheesy and flavorful on the inside. These crispy chicken tacos are made with tender, shredded chicken in a delicious tomato sauce then stuffed into corn tortillas with cheese. The tortillas are then pan-fried until the cheese is gooey and melted and the outside becomes crispy-golden.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 12 tacos
Calories: 195 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Chicken
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • ½ onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Tomato Sauce
  • 3 roma tomatoes
  • ¼ piece of onion
  • 1 large garlic clove
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ cup water
Tacos
  • 12 corn tortillas or more if needed
  • ½ cup oil for frying
  • 2 cups shredded cheese such as Mexican muenster, Chihuahua, asadero or Oaxaca
Garnishes
  • shredded lettuce
  • diced tomato
  • sour cream
  • salsa

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add chicken breasts, onion, garlic and salt to medium pot and cover ingredients completely with water.
  2. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
  3. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave the covered pot untouched for another 10 minutes.
  4. Drain and discard the onion and garlic.
  5. Use your hands or two forks to shred the chicken.
  6. Boil the tomatoes, onion, and garlic in water until soft, about 8 minutes.
  7. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano and ¼ cup of water to a belnder. Blend until smooth.
  8. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan.
  9. Once hot, add shredded chicken. Sauté for about 3 minutes until the chicken gains a light golden color.
  10. Pour the sauce over the chicken and combine. Cook chicken with the sauce for another 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Turn off heat and set aside.
  11. Heat a comal (griddle) over medium heat. Once hot, warm up each of the tortillas until soft and pliable. Be careful not to let them crisp up or it will not be possible to fold them correctly.
  12. Add about 2 tablespoons of chicken and a sprinkle of shredded cheese to each of the tortillas. Fold each tortilla in half, creating a half-moon shape.
  13. When you have used up all of the chicken, heat about a half inch of oil on medium heat in a heavy medium-size pan or a cast-iron skillet.
  14. Once the oil is hot, but not smoking, it is time to start frying. The oil should be about 350°F. Use an oil thermometer or throw in a tiny piece of tortilla in the oil. If the oil starts bubbling, then it is ready.
  15. Using tongs, carefully place 2-3 folded tacos in the oil at a time. Flip them once and allow them to get golden on both sides. This typically takes about 2-3 minutes per side.
  16. Once they are a light golden color, use tongs to remove them from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate or a wire rack to drain excess oil.
  17. Serve immediately with garnishes such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream and jalapeño salsa. See blog post for more topping ideas and side dishes.

Notes

  • Serve your tacos with the garnishes either placed on top of the tacos or carefully open each one and add the garnishes inside.
  • Keep fried tacos warm while frying the rest by placing the completed ones on a baking rack over a baking sheet. Then, place the baking sheet inside of a 200ºF oven.
  • I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they are easy to cook and shred. However, you can use chicken thighs or even a whole chicken if you prefer. You can also use leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken.
  • These tacos can also be baked if you prefer. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray to avoid sticking. Arrange the tacos on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, being sure they do not touch. Lightly brush or spray them with cooking oil. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tacos are heated through and have become crispy and golden.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 serving Calories 195kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 13.7g (5%) Protein 15.7g (31%) Fat 8.8g (14%) Saturated Fat 4.7g (24%) Cholesterol 46mg (15%) Sodium 568mg (24%) Potassium 293mg (8%) Fiber 2.1g (8%) Sugar 1.5g (3%) Calcium 198mg (20%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12tacos

Amount Per Serving

Calories 195

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 serving
Calories 195kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 13.7g 5%
Protein 15.7g 31%
Fat 8.8g 14%
Saturated Fat 4.7g 24%
Cholesterol 46mg 15%
Sodium 568mg 24%
Potassium 293mg 6%
Fiber 2.1g 8%
Sugar 1.5g 3%
Calcium 198mg 20%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.