Quick Chicken Tinga Recipe
My quick and easy chicken tinga recipe turns leftover shredded chicken into something deliciously bold, smoky, and spicy in just 20 minutes! A simple tinga sauce plus cooked chicken equals the perfect filling for tostadas.
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 378kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion sliced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes *
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce chopped
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 3-4 cups shredded cooked chicken **
For Serving (optional):
- corn tortillas
- black refried beans
- avocado
- cotija cheese
- cilantro
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, salt, cumin, and oregano; cook for a couple minutes until the onions have softened. Add in the garlic, cook for another minute.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small onion, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, chipotle peppers, and broth. Let the mixture simmer for 4-5 minutes.1 cup canned diced tomatoes, 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, ½ cup chicken broth
- Place the mixture into a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth.
- Add the shredded chicken to the skillet, pour the sauce over the chicken, and stir to combine. Let the mixture cook for a few more minutes, until chicken is warmed through. Season to taste with salt.3-4 cups shredded cooked chicken
- To make tostadas, serve the tinga chicken atop crispy corn tortillas. Add on toppings such as refried beans, avocado, cotija cheese, and cilantro.corn tortillas, black refried beans, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro
Video
Notes
*Use plain diced tomatoes. If you prefer to use something like Rotel, you may want to omit the other spices.
**I prefer to use shredded thighs, but any shredded, cooked, or leftover chicken works great. If you don't have any on hand, Instant Pot shredded chicken cooks fast!
Becky's Top Tips:
- For a less spicy sauce, reduce the amount of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- For saucier tinga, add more broth; for thicker, simmer longer after adding chicken.
- Use this shredded chicken to make tostadas (as instructed), tinga tacos, or anything you like!
- Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 269mg | Sodium: 542mg | Potassium: 811mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 365IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg