• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Proportional Plate
  • RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
  • SUBSCRIBE
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • LIFESTYLE
    • DESIGN
    • ABOUT
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Poultry

    Chicken Tacos with the BEST Marinade

    Published: Apr 19, 2021 Modified: Apr 19, 2021 by Candice

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Close up of three tacos with title text.
    Top view of three tacos.
    Close up of three tacos next to lime wedges.
    Three tacos under title text.

    This delicious and easy way to cook boneless chicken thighs and is just as great as tacos as it is with your favorite side dishes. Marinade overnight, then cook down the marinade for an extra flavorful sauce.

    Top view of three tacos.
    TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
    1 Why You Should Make These
    2 Ingredients & Substitutions
    3 How to Make this Recipe
    4 Roast or Bake
    5 Grill
    6 Pan (Stovetop)
    7 Chicken Tacos FAQs
    8 Chicken & Tacos
    9 Chicken Tacos

    Why You Should Make These

    Marinating the chicken for these tacos the night before means you're only 25 minutes away from dinner.

    The marinade has a great balance of acidic, sweet, and spicy. This not only helps break down the chicken to make it tender, but adds a huge amount of flavor to the chicken.

    Nothing goes to waste! We cook down the marinade while the chicken is cooking and use it as a sauce.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Labeled ingredients on a white countertop.

    citrus - you will need ⅓-1/2 cup of orange juice and ¼ cup of lime juice for this recipe. It is about 1 large orange and 2 limes worth of juice.

    chicken thighs - I love the tenderness of thighs and how quickly they cook compared to chicken breasts. You can also use breasts, but it does yield a less flavorful, and often drier finished recipe.

    chili powder - I love the sweetness of the chili powder in this recipe. If you're looking for more of a kick, cayenne pepper tastes great in this recipe, too.

    oil - you can use olive oil, canola, vegetable, avocado seed, sunflower seed, and many other oils for this recipe. Use what you have on hand.

    agave - you can substitute with brown sugar or honey.

    How to Make this Recipe

    The key step to great tasting chicken tacos is the marinade. Marinate your chicken in the refrigerator overnight in the mixture of orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, agave, minced garlic, oregano, chili powder, and salt. Mix up the ingredients with a whisk and then add the chicken and make sure the marinade covers the chicken.

    Mixing chicken and a marinade in a glass bowl.

    NOTE: Take the chicken out of the refrigerator twenty to thirty minutes before you intend to cook it. This gets the chicken to room temperature so it can cook more evenly.

    Pour the juices from the marinade into a sauce pan. Bring to boil, lower to a simmer, and reduce the marinade by half. Takes 10-15 minutes. You can cook your chicken in the meantime.

    Saucepan with brown sauce.

    There are a few different methods you can use: grilling, broiling, or stovetop cooking in a pan.

    Roast or Bake

    Preheat the oven to 425F. Cook for 20-30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F (check using an instant-read thermometer, link opens in new tab).

    Chicken thighs on a baking sheet.

    Grill

    Grill for 4-5 minutes per side. Cook until the internal temperature reads 165F (check using an instant-read thermometer, link opens in new tab).

    Pan (Stovetop)

    Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side. Cook until the internal temperature reads 165F (check using an instant-read thermometer, link opens in new tab). I use a cast-iron pan.

    Whichever cooking method you choose, set the chicken aside and let it rest for five to ten minutes before slicing.

    Sliced chicken on a plate.

    Assemble your tacos with the cabbage on the bottom, then the chicken, and top with the salsa. For the final touch, add a squeeze of lime and drizzle the reduced sauce on top.

    Chicken Tacos FAQs

    What goes in tacos?

    Tacos usually include a main like meat, chicken, seafood, or a hearty vegetable, and are topped with salsa or onions. They are often served with extra toppings like lime wedges, guacamole, cilantro, diced onions, salsa, cabbage, and cheese.

    How do you cut chicken for tacos?

    You can rough chop or thinly slice chicken for tacos. You can cook them pre-cut, or cut them after they are cooked.

    How do you know boneless chicken thighs are cooked?

    Chicken thighs are cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165F.

    Do boneless chicken thighs cook faster?

    Yes, all poultry and meat cook faster without the bones.

    Close up of three tacos next to lime wedges.

    Chicken & Tacos

    You can check out all my favorite poultry recipes here, or make my favorite boneless skinless chicken thighs. And here are the best tacos:

    • Quick & Easy Steak Taco Recipe
    • Swordfish Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa
    • Salmon Fish Tacos (Baja-Style)
    • Balsamic Herb Chicken Thighs

    ★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!★

    I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    Top view of three tacos.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 16 votes

    Chicken Tacos

    This delicious and easy way to cook boneless chicken thighs and is just as great as tacos as it is with your favorite side dishes. Marinade overnight, then cook down the marinade for an extra flavorful sauce.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Resting Time2 hrs
    Total Time2 hrs 30 mins
    Course: Main, Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Diet: Gluten Free, Kosher
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 1573kcal
    Author: Candice

    Equipment

    • Thermometer

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 lb. chicken thighs boneless & skinless
    • 1 orange juiced and zested, ~½ cup
    • 2 limes juiced and zested, ~¼ cup
    • ¼ cup oil olive, canola, avocado, etc.
    • ¼ cup agave nectar honey, or 3 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • ¼  teaspoon kosher salt

    Pico de Gallo Salsa

    • 1 large tomato diced
    • ½ red onion diced
    • 1 jalapeño finely diced, seeds removed for a milder salsa
    • 1 lime juiced
    • sea salt to taste

    Tacos

    • 24 small tortillas flour or corn, heated just before serving, use 2-per taco
    • 2 avocados sliced (or smashed if fancy looks don't matter to you)
    • ¼ purple cabbage shredded or thinly sliced
    • limes cut in wedges, for serving
    • hot sauce for serving
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Salsa: Mix ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. Can be made a day in advance.
    • Marinade the chicken thighs in the refrigerator overnight (or minimum 2 hours) in the orange juice, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, agave, minced garlic, oregano, chili powder, and salt. Take it out of the refrigerator 20-30 minutes before you cook it.
    • Pour the juices from the marinade in a sauce pan. Bring to boil, lower to a simmer, and reduce the marinade by half. Takes 10-15 minutes. You can cook your chicken in the meantime.

    ROAST/BAKE

    • Preheat the oven to 425F. Cook for 20-30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F.

    GRILL

    • Grill for 4-5 minutes per side. Cook until the internal temperature reads 165F.

    PAN (Stovetop)

    • Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side. Cook until the internal temperature reads 165F. I use a cast-iron pan.

    To Finish

    • Let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing serving.
    • Assemble your tacos with the cabbage on the bottom, then the chicken, and top with the salsa. A squeeze of lime makes it just right. Drizzle the reduced sauce on top.

    Video

    Notes

    Take the chicken out of the refrigerator twenty to thirty minutes before you intend to cook it. This gets the chicken to room temperature so it can cook more evenly.
    Marinade overnight if you can, 2 hours minimum. I like to take the leftover marinade, bring it to a boil, and simmer it for 20-30 minutes. It reduces down into a delicious sauce.
    Whichever cooking method you choose, set the chicken aside and let it rest for five to ten minutes to rest before cutting.
    Recipe inspired by Giada de Laurentis's fajitas.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1573kcal | Carbohydrates: 174g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 76g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 2052mg | Potassium: 1272mg | Fiber: 31g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1986IU | Vitamin C: 85mg | Calcium: 611mg | Iron: 10mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @ProportionalPlate or tag #ProportionalPlate on Instagram! I'd love to see what you're making!

    This post was originally published in August of 2017 but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, and tips in October of 2020, and with a video in April of 2021.

    « Quick & Easy Steak Taco Recipe
    Peruvian-Style Chicken with Aji Verde »
    221 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Heidy Linn

      November 09, 2020 at 3:05 am

      5 stars
      I came across this recipe on Pinterest, and WOW!!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! I am so glad I did! This chicken Taco recipe was to die for delicious! The marinade gave them the perfect flavor and made the chicken so juicy! Great recipe.

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 10, 2020 at 4:12 pm

        That makes me so happy to hear, Heidy... thank you for letting me know!

        Reply
    2. Moop

      November 08, 2020 at 11:20 pm

      5 stars
      These tacos are so colorful and flavorful- definetly making this again for my next week night meal!

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 10, 2020 at 4:13 pm

        I'm so glad to hear it, Moop!

        Reply
    3. Dennis

      November 08, 2020 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      your chicken tacos have certainly raised the bar for taco night!

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 10, 2020 at 4:15 pm

        I'm so glad to hear it, Dennis!

        Reply
    4. Ramona

      November 08, 2020 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      These chicken tacos are sensational and super refreshing! I made something similar and I would definitely make it again using your recipe as it is amazing. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 10, 2020 at 4:16 pm

        You're so welcome, Ramona!

        Reply
    5. Kushigalu

      November 07, 2020 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      Love tacos in any ways. This recipe is loaded with full of flavors and is so delicious. Making it for dinner again soon.

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 10, 2020 at 4:16 pm

        So glad to hear it, Kushigalu!

        Reply
    6. Veronika

      November 07, 2020 at 8:44 pm

      These are amazing omg., I love tacos so much, I was at the farmers market this morning and bought a bunch of tacos haha. Such a coincidence, can't wait to make these again!

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 12, 2020 at 11:02 am

        So glad you enjoyed them... tacos are the best!

        Reply
    7. Nicole

      November 07, 2020 at 8:14 pm

      Taco is one of my n favorite things to eat. Your recipe is scrumptious’

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 10, 2020 at 4:17 pm

        Glad to hear it, Nicole!

        Reply
    8. Denise

      November 07, 2020 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      Your chicken tacos are absolutely perfect! Fresh and flavorful! I can't wait to give your marinade a try on other things.

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 12, 2020 at 11:02 am

        So glad to hear you liked it, Denise!

        Reply
    9. Sharon

      November 03, 2020 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      These chicken tacos are a step above other tacos out there. Using the chicken thighs and the marinade makes them so delicious.

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 03, 2020 at 4:18 pm

        I'm so glad to hear you loved them, Sharon... Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    10. Gloria

      November 02, 2020 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      We often have Mexican themed dinner nights. This wasa nice change of pace. We love tacos of all kinds.

      Reply
      • Candice

        November 02, 2020 at 3:30 pm

        I'm glad to hear it, Gloria. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Woman with a flower.

    Candice Walker

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire it. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

    READ MORE

    Follow

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Winter Recipes

    • Persimmon Pancakes
    • Saffron Bamieh
    • Potato Knishes
    • Matcha Lace Cookies (like Florentines)

    As Featured In

    Collage of logos.

    Fan Favorites

    • Persimmon Bread & Baking with Persimmons
    • Dalgona Matcha Latte
    • Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
    • Easy Homemade Gnocchi

    SUBSCRIBE w/EMAIL

    6 Healthy & Plant-Centered Trends for 2020, Meal Plans, & So Much More!




    Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Woman with a flower.

    Candice Walker

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire it. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

    READ MORE

    Follow

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Winter Recipes

    • Homemade Pita Bread
    • The Ultimate Crispy Latke Recipe
    • Irish Matcha & Baileys Irish Matcha
    • Matcha Irish Cream (Like Baileys!)

    As Featured In

    Collage of logos.

    Fan Favorites

    • Pasta Puttanesca
    • Cardamom Krumkake with Mascarpone Filling
    • Cranberry Orange Scones
    • How to Make Bubble Tea with Any Tea

    SUBSCRIBE w/EMAIL

    6 Healthy & Plant-Centered Trends for 2020, Meal Plans, & So Much More!




    Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Candice
    • About Food Guilt

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Proportional Plate LLC

    221 shares