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    Home » Everyday Meals

    Nov 7, 2020 · Modified: Dec 26, 2021 by Melinda O'Malley Keckler · This post may contain affiliate links · this blog generates income via ads.

    Skillet Chicken Tacos

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Skillet Chicken Tacos, are a delicious dinner recipe that's ready to eat in under an hour. The chicken is simmered in a skillet and all you need to add are a few pantry staples. The chicken is seasoned with familiar Mexican spices along with crunchy cabbage, fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. These are so good!

    Small chicken tacos in a serving rack with lime, cilantro and salsa on the side.
    Such great flavor abounds in these tacos! But the bright color and crispy crunch from the cabbage is an added bonus.

    Ingredients to have on hand

    • chicken breasts
    • canned whole kernel corn
    • small call of sliced olives
    • small can of diced green chilies
    • cumin
    • chili powder
    • cheddar cheese
    • red cabbage
    • cilantro
    • limes
    Red cabbage, limes and cilantro in small bowls on a counter.
    This dinner recipe includes gorgeous bright colors and bright flavors thanks to red cabbage, cilantro and lime.

    Recipe Shortcut

    This recipe comes together quickly, which is why it's one of my favorites! Tacos can be a lot of work, but since most all of the ingredients - even the cheese - are stirred together in the skillet, there's less prep work involved. If you are making this on a work night, rinse and chop the cilantro and red cabbage in the morning, cover and store in the refrigerator until you get home.

    • Onions and garlic in a cast iron skillet on the stove.
      Garlic and onions turn softened and fragrant while they cook in the skillet.
    • Diced chicken in a cast iron skillet with onion and garlic.
      Add the diced chicken and simmer until it's nearly full cooked.

    Serving Options

    This is a versatile and delicious filling for anything from street tacos to a topping for fresh salad greens. You can even create a unique entree-style nachos using this recipe! Scroll to the recipe below for all the details on how to serve Skillet Chicken Tacos beyond tortillas.

    Olives, green chilies, corn, spices and chicken cooking in a cast iron skillet.
    Everything simmers together in just one skillet on the stove.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Time needed: 50 minutes.

    With three easy steps this chicken dinner recipe goes from the stovetop to the dinner table.

    1. Stovetop

      Add olive oil. Heat over medium high until the oil starts to shimmer. Add diced chicken, chopped garlic and diced onion. Cook until the chicken is nearly done and the onions and garlic are fragrant and begin to soften.

    2. Add ingredients

      Add olives, green chilis, corn, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Don't cover the skillet, you'll want most of the moisture to evaporate.

    3. Simmer

      Let the mixture simmer for about 15-20 minutes with no lid, or until most of the moisture is gone. (A little moisture is OK.) Remove from heat, stir in cheddar cheese, cover and keep warm until you are ready to serve.

    Chicken, olives, corns and seasonings mixed in a cast iron skillet.
    The flavor and texture of each ingredient blends to create a simply wonderful dinner recipe.
    Can I substitute another meat for the chicken?

    Yes, ground turkey or lean ground beef are equally delicious. But avoid using a ground chuck which tends to have a higher fat content and will add a little too much fat to this recipe, in my opinion.

    Taco Holder

    When it comes to serving these tacos, I love to use a taco holder. Many restaurants serve tacos this way and for a good reason, a taco holder helps keep all the delicious ingredients stacked up together, instead of spilling out onto the plate. Plus, with a taco holder, everything looks great on the plate!

    This chicken dinner recipe photo shows three street tacos in a taco holder with lime and cilantro on the side.
    Fresh, spicy and delicious! These tacos will be a family favorite.

    Related Recipes

    Whether it's tacos or any recipe that includes our favorite Mexican flavors and spices, you can't beat having a side of homemade guacamole. I think you will love this simple and delicious recipe for the Best Guacamole. For another main dish option, try Tamale Casserole. It's filling and delicious and my family thinks it tastes exactly like homemade tamales wrapped in corn husks. But Tamale Casserole is much easier to make.

    Small chicken tacos in a serving rack with lime, cilantro and salsa on the side.

    Skillet Chicken Tacos

    This is a delicious dinner recipe that's ready to eat in under an hour. The chicken is simmered in a skillet and all you need to add are a few pantry staples.
    5 from 80 votes
    Print Rate Pin Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 450kcal
    Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

    Ingredients 

    • 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts about three breasts
    • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 3-5 cloves
    • 1 onion diced
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 2.25 ounce can sliced olives drained
    • 1 4 ounce can diced green chilies
    • 1 15.25 ounce can whole kernel corn drained
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
    • 1 cup Cheddar cheese shredded
    • 2 limes cut into wedges
    • 1 cup red cabbage, grated
    • ¾ cup fresh cilantro chopped

    Instructions

    Cook

    • Place a large skillet on the stove, add olive oil. Heat over medium high until the oil starts to shimmer. Add diced chicken, chopped garlic and diced onion. Cook until the chicken is nearly done and the onions and garlic are fragrant and begin to soften. Add olives, green chilis, corn, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Don't cover the skillet. Let the mixture simmer for about 15-20 minutes with no lid, or until most of the moisture is gone. (A little moisture is OK.) Remove from heat, stir in cheddar cheese, cover and keep warm until you are ready to serve.

    Serve

    • Use the skillet chicken taco mixture to fill street taco tortillas - or any size tortilla, or top a bed a salad greens for taco salad, or serve as nachos and top a baking sheet filled with corn tortilla chips.
    • Sprinkle grated red cabbage on each serving, add a squeeze of lime juice and cilantro. As an option, serve with your favorite tomato salsa on the side.

    Variations

    • For skillet chicken street tacos: Allow for about three street tacos per person, and I like to double up the tortillas. Fill each tortilla with the skillet chicken taco mixture and top with shredded cabbage, lime juice and cilantro.
    • For skillet chicken taco salad: Arrange your favorite salad greens on a serving plate, top with 1 cup of skillet chicken taco mixture per serving, add shredded cabbage, a squeeze of lime juice and cilantro.
    • For skillet chicken nachos: Spread contents from 1, 16 ounce bag of corn tortilla chips on a large baking sheet and place in a 375° oven for 10 minutes or until the chips are warm. Top with chicken taco mixture, shredded cabbage, a squeeze of lime juice and cilantro.
    Did you make this recipe? Scroll up and leave a star rating.Tap @crinkledcookbook and follow me today.

    Notes

    Since there are so many variations to this recipe, the nutritional information here was calculated using only the ingredients for Skillet Chicken Tacos, and does not include nutrition details for tortillas, tortilla chips or salad greens. The nutritional details are based on approximately a one cup serving of the chicken taco filling per person. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 39gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 1181mgPotassium: 841mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 827IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 220mgIron: 2mg

    Please note, the nutrition details are estimated using a food database and are offered here only as a guideline for informational purposes.

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    1. Michelle says

      January 21, 2022 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      We added lime as well and it was delicious. Such an easy weeknight dinner!

      Reply
    2. nancy says

      December 03, 2021 at 10:58 am

      5 stars
      Flavorful chicken taco!!! Taco Tuesdays will be awesome!

      Reply
    3. Jeannie says

      December 02, 2021 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      These turned out great, very filling and easy too. Perfect for our dinner nights.

      Reply
    4. Kyle says

      March 22, 2021 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious, very tangy with added lime as we did. Highly recommend using two mini tortillas per taco (gives it a more authentic feel!).

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        March 22, 2021 at 4:32 pm

        I love those limes too! And using two street taco tortillas IS a game-changer with this recipe. Thanks!!

        Reply

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    Hello friends! Welcome. I'm Melinda. I'm a home cook and I've been creating recipes for more than 30 years. I'm excited to share recipes and techniques to help you enjoy cooking too. I'm a former TV journalist and a two-time breast cancer survivor. Stick around and click around and let's make great meals at home!

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