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Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga (Authentic Mexican Tinga De Pollo)

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Chicken Tinga Recipe or Tinga De Pollo is a classic shredded chicken taco or tostada filling prepared with sliced onions and a tomato chipotle sauce is a full-flavored crowd pleaser. It has a smoky flavor with just enough heat from the chipotle. This recipe is so good that you may want to make a double batch to keep in the freezer.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Chicken Tinga is exceptionally quick and easy to make in a matter of minutes and tossed in the best smoky, savory, slightly sweet tomato sauce.

Cook onions with olive oil, add chipotle and adobo sauce, tomato paste, chicken stock, and shredded chicken.

Serve this recipe in tacos, tostadas, burritos, quesadillas, or anything else you can think of. Eye-catching colors!

Weekend guests will be all smiles when they enter your home to the amazing aroma of this dish as you get it ready. Try serving it in tacos, burritos, quesadillas — yum!

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Why You’ll Love This Chicken Tinga

  • The ingredients are simple to come by.
  • A fun way to have an appetizer or snack.
  • Can be served for various occasions. 
  • The ingredients are easy to find.
  • The recipe is easy to follow.

Looking for a delicious and easy chicken dish? Look no further than this authentic Mexican tinga de Pollo.

Tinga de pollo is made with shredded chicken, onion, and tomato, and it's quick and easy to prepare.

You can serve it with tortillas or rice for a satisfying meal. So give this tasty dish a try today!

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

The full ingredient list and directions are in the printable recipe card below.

Equipment Needed to Make Chicken Tinga

Ingredients For Your Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga
  • Shredded Chicken Breast
  • Olive Oil
  • Red Onion
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Chili Powder
  • Dried Oregano
  • Adobo
  • Ground Cumin
  • Salt
  • Chipotle Peppers
  • Tomato Sauce 

How To Make A Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Step 1: Sauté

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the onions and cook until translucent.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Blend them together with the remaining sauce ingredients.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Add the smoked paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, adobo, cumin, salt, and chipotle peppers and stir to combine.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Cook for 1 minute. Cook until the sauce has reduced and it's fragrant.

Step 2: Toss the Chicken

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Toss the sauce with the chicken for about 5 minutes or so, to help all those delicious flavors blend.

Step 3: Season

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

As always, don’t forget to taste and season the chicken to see how much salt and pepper it needs. 

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

In the last step, serve the chicken warm however you would like, garnished with lots of fresh toppings. Serve and enjoy.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

What to Serve with Your Chicken Tinga

Sides

This is the perfect appetizer or snack. It is easy to prepare which makes it ideal to serve for any occasion. Serve with tacos, tostadas, burritos, quesadillas and more.

Desserts

The savory taste of Chicken Tinga goes well with any dessert that you will pair with it.

Cocktails

This recipe is a popular option to go well with any type of cocktail. 

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Popular Substitutions & Additions

To counteract the savory and smokey flavor of the dish, try adding a dash of honey.

This may be unconventional to the traditional Chicken Tinga, but the honey adds a flair of flavor to the dish.

Tinga is generally seasoned with ground cumin, Mexican oregano, and, on rare occasions, bay leaf.

The Mexican oregano gives the sauce a little extra citrus and licorice flavor, but if you don't have any, regular (Italian) oregano would suffice.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

How To Store Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Best Way To Store Chicken Tinga Leftover

This dish is the perfect choice for a meal that can be made in advance and is easily reheated for a quick dinner for your family.

Allow the leftovers to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container.

How Long Will Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga Last In the Fridge?

Chicken Tinga is very simple to whip up with chicken and canned tomatoes as the base, which makes it a great dish for beginners.

This recipe will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Pro tip: Make a double batch, freeze this dish, and you’ve got yourself a quick go-to meal on those busy nights.

Can I Freeze Chicken Tinga

Leftover Chicken Tinga can be frozen in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Can I Reheat Chicken Tinga

Gently reheat the Chicken Tinga in a large pot over medium heat until warmed through, adding splashes of broth or water if it becomes too thick, it can also be reheated in the microwave.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Chicken Tinga FAQs

Is it possible for me to prepare this ahead of time?

Yes. Chop the peppers and onions.

Store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook, up to 1 day in advance, and when ready to prepare, finish cooking as directed. You may also shred the chicken in advance, then add it off when cooking with other ingredients.

Is it possible to freeze it?

Yes. Chicken Tinga freezes extremely well and is ideal for last-minute preparations. Allow it to cool before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for 3 months, covered.

Is Chicken Tinga healthy?

Chicken is high in protein, which helps keep you full and your body strong. You can make it healthier by swapping chicken with tofu instead.

Can I add toppings to my Chicken Tinga?

Yes. You are free to add any toppings you like.

For extra creamy and healthier texture, try adding chopped avocado on top and lime wedges to garnish. Some add beans, tomatoes, and even corn on top.

Can I add tofu to my Chicken Tinga?

Yes. For vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike, tofu is safe to consume on a daily basis. This delicious plant-based protein may be added to this dish and is a great meat substitute for vegans.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Other Appetizers Recipes You’ll Love

A full-flavored crowd-pleaser is Chicken Tinga, a classic shredded chicken taco or tostada filling cooked with sliced onions and a tomato chipotle sauce.

The chipotle adds just enough heat to balance out the smokey flavor.

This dish is so excellent that you might want to double it and freeze half of it.

The best smoky, delicious, somewhat sweet tomato sauce is tossed with chicken Tinga, which can be made in a matter of minutes.

Add chipotle and adobo sauce, tomato paste, chicken stock, and shredded chicken to onions cooked in olive oil.

Serve this recipe with tacos, tostadas, burritos, quesadillas, and whatever else comes to mind.

When your weekend guests walk into your home and smell this dish cooking, they will be overjoyed.

Serve it in tacos, burritos, and quesadillas for a delicious meal.

Aside from tasty quick and easy Chicken Tinga, you may try these fun and exciting recipes below:

Whether you’re looking for a new go-to recipe to add some variety to your Taco Tuesday nights or you want something special to take to a potluck, this Chicken Tinga is sure to be a hit.

The smoky, slightly spicy flavor is perfect for satisfying any cravings.

So what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga

Chicken Tinga Recipe

Chicken Tinga

Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga
Chicken Tinga Recipe or Tinga De Pollo is a classic shredded chicken taco or tostada filling prepared with sliced onions and a tomato chipotle sauce is a full-flavored crowd pleaser. It has a smoky flavor with just enough heat from the chipotle. This recipe is so good that you may want to make a double batch to keep in the freezer.
84758d602cdcd90fa2a5d32530aef165?s=30&d=mm&r=gKelly Reci
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Pound chicken breast cooked and shredded
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Red onion chopped
  • 1 Tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 Tsp chili powder
  • 1 Tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 Tsp adobo
  • 1/2 Tsp ground cumin
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/4 Cup chipotle peppers in adobo chopped
  • 1 Cup tomato sauce

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent.
  • Add the smoked paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, adobo, cumin, salt and the chipotle peppers and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Pour the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sauce has reduced and it's fragrant.
  • Add the chicken and cook for 5 more minutes.

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WHAT’S NEXT

Do not forget to come back and let me know your thoughts and experience on how your Quick and Easy Chicken Tinga turned out!

If you get a chance to try it, let us know! Leave us a comment below, or share it with a picture on Instagram or Facebook! Don’t forget to tag us @sweetandsavorymorsels and use the hashtag #sweetandsavorymorsels so we can see what amazing meals you are cooking!

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