Whoa, it’s been awhile since I’ve done a recipe post! Since before Christmas, in fact. Between Christmas, and my little sister’s wedding[!!!], and a quick trip to Chicago with my parents and Ben for New Years’… I’ve been busy. And got sick. 😦 But now it’s back to real life… and that means plenty of recipes! To start off the new year, it seems fitting to begin with a dose of the Secret Recipe Club! We took a break in December, but I’m so happy to be back in the swing of things. I absolutely love being part of the SRC. It’s a fun way to try new blogs and recipes and be part of a great community. If you’ve missed my past SRC posts, the premise is this: you’re assigned a different member’s blog every month. You visit their blog, choose any recipe you want, then make it and share it on your blog… all while keeping your assignment a secret! Everyone else posts about their secret blog the same day. It’s fabulously fun to try out new blogs. If you have a blog, definitely check it out and consider joining! I highly recommend it.
This month, my assignment was for Holly’s blog, PheMOMenon. Holly is a mom of three, and uses her blog as an outlet to “conquer [her] world, one recipe at a time.” Sounds like a good thing, if you ask me!! I had a hard time deciding which recipe to choose, because it’s no lie to say that everything I looked at sounded so amazing! If I had my act together and made this recipe in December, before I OD’d on sweets, I probably would have made these crepes or this Sugar Plum Puff Pastry. YUM. Definitely pinned.
Instead of sweets, I decided to make a flavorful, spicy taco dish as our first home-cooked meal of 2013. Holly’s Chicken Tinga Tacos are absolutely incredible, and so super easy. I had never heard of chicken tinga before, but I had a suspicion that it was something legit, so I turned to the powers of Google to learn that it is a traditional Mexican dish of shredded chicken in a tomato and chili chipotle sauce. The source of that knowledge, Muy Bueno Cookbook, is definitely a site to check out too. But back to Holly.
Normally, to make a shredded/marinated chicken dish like this, I would throw these ingredients in the crockpot to marinate and cook all day long. In fact, I’ve made many similar Mexican-inspired shredded chicken recipes that way…and they are good. But sometimes the crockpot leaves everything tasting kinda the same, if you know what I mean. Or is that just me? Regardless, there’s just something to be gained by preparing this meal on the stove.
Instead of all day like a crockpot would take, the whole meal came together in less than an hour, most of which was idle simmer time. The taco meat was smoky, juicy, and pretty much perfect. And while our first-day tacos were super, I must say the leftovers may have been even better, as these flavors got better over time. As a special bonus, I’ll be sharing one of my leftover recipes on Wednesday… so be sure to come back for Mexican Cornbread Pot Pie. It is so good! Enjoy!
Chicken Tinga Tacos
from PheMOMenon as appearing on Smart Balance’s blogger recipe contest on Facebook
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup chipotle salsa or 2 chipotles in adobo, pureed with a 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts [Holly used thighs]
- tortillas
- lettuce, cheese, sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc. for serving as desired
Directions:
Melt butter in a large skillet or dutch oven set over medium heat. Then add onions and garlic, and season with black pepper before cooking until soft, about 5-6 minutes. Next, reduce heat to low and add salsa and chicken broth. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add chicken to the pan.
Spoon salsa mixture completely over the chicken, then cover pan with a lid. Simmer, covered, for 35 minutes or until chicken can be easily shredded with a fork.
Shred the chicken in the sauce with two forks, then simmer for another 5 minutes. Serve in warmed tortillas with toppings of your choice.
Be sure to check out the other fabulous recipes posted today [click below] for this week’s SRC reveal. Have a great day!
This recipe is also linked up with: Weekend Potluck.
The Pajama Chef 
These tacos look fantastic. Loving them…that sauce on the chicken sounds so flavorful!
LikeLike
the sauce really makes the meal!
LikeLike
Ha! You made me crave making them again asap! I guess I know what’s going into rotation again this week. It’s so fun to rediscover a recipe. We bust through so many recipes around here it’s easy to lose track. Thanks for the lovely write up!
LikeLike
rediscovering recipes is the best! thanks for a great one 🙂
LikeLike
This sounds yummy! I love easy and often throw some stuff in the crockpot to make quick shredded tacos! I’m a fellow SRC member…Group D. I’ve been researching recipes to make for our reveal…can’t wait.
LikeLike
thanks for visiting then! yay SRC 🙂 can’t wait to see what you post.
LikeLike
Looks delish! I love these kind of mexican meals on hot summer nights, always feels so festive.
LikeLike
thanks! i wish it was summer here now… we ate this on a cold winter night, haha.
LikeLike
It’s not just you… I know exactly what you mean about everything kind of tasting the same when using a crock pot. I love my crock pot but only for things I want to taste similar, like stews or chili. This on the other hand looks like it has layers of wonderful flavors! I am bookmarking these to make this week.
LikeLike
definitely. the crockpot has its place, but for layers of flavor, stove top rules! hope you enjoy it- let me know what you think 🙂
LikeLike
I’m always looking for more chicken recipes, this looks perfect!
LikeLike
thanks! it was great. 🙂
LikeLike
This Chicken Tinga sounds tempting as a Game Day treat on a tortilla or in a bowl. This week I’m cooking Tomatillo Pork Tinga – it must be Tinga Week!
LikeLike
ooh yes. i definitely made some burrito-style leftovers. tomatillo pork tinga sounds awesome too!
LikeLike
Oh I love Holly’s blog! Lucky gal! These taco’s look amazing and were the perfect pick!
LikeLike
yes, her blog is fabulous! thanks!!
LikeLike
Oh girl, these look like taco heaven! Hope you’re feeling all better; being sick just sucks!
LikeLike
we are on the mend, thanks! and yes, taco heaven for sure. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, yum! I love anything vaguely southwestern/mexican + these tacos sounds amazing AND look divine. I’ll have to try these for one of our dinners soon!
LikeLike
thanks amy! please do 🙂
LikeLike
These do sound pheMOMenal-lol! Wow, and it’s so pretty too. P.S. I watch one of your blog ads at least once a week–I have no idea if that helps with your earnings but I hope it makes a tiny difference. 🙂
LikeLike
haha. you are so sweet! i have no idea if that does anything, but now i’ll start doing that for other bloggers 🙂
LikeLike
These look great! I wish I had the ingredients right now 🙂 Hope you are feeling better now! I have not posted a recipe in over a month, so you’re way ahead of me 🙂
LikeLike
that’s the way things go sometimes, huh? yes, we are slowly getting better. 🙂 yayyyy!
LikeLike
Yum! These sound like a great choice!
LikeLike
thanks autumn!
LikeLike
I’ve never heard of chicken tinga but it sounds amazing!
LikeLike
it was new to me too…so yummy 🙂
LikeLike
I love the flavors of the Southwest and this sounds delicious.
LikeLike
thank you!
LikeLike