How to Make Mexican Shredded Chicken

This Mexican Chicken is going to blow your mind – and change your life. It’s quick, easy, healthy, exploding with flavor and did I say done in LESS than 10 minutes already? It’s the ideal weeknight meal and incredibly versatile.  You can make chicken tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, enchiladas, salads, etc. all with this easy recipe!  It also freezes and reheats beautifully for prep ahead dinners you will CRAVE!

 

Mexican Style Chicken

This Mexican Chicken is the epitome of huge flavor with little effort.  How you might ask?  This recipe starts with shredded chicken, then is generously seasoned with your favorite fiesta seasonings so you get the juicy shortcut of rotisserie chicken with added fiesta flavor.  It’s a win-win with an  unbelievably satisfying payout!  

This recipe belongs with my easy Turkey Tacos as the answer to all those busy nights, lazy nights, don’t want to cook nights, “what should I make for dinner?” nights, need something NOW nights but something everyone will LOVE nights.  Check, check, check and check. 

I am so excited for you to try this recipe!  And just a note, my favorite way to serve them is piled on corn tortillas with Greek yogurt, salsa and hot sauce – SO easy, so can’t-stop-eating, need 5, 10 delicious! 

Mexican Chicken Ingredients

Aside from the chicken, the rest of the ingredients are pantry staples.  And you can even keep shredded rotisserie chicken on hand in your freezer! This Mexican Chicken recipe is an easy blending of:

• Chicken: Use rotisserie chicken or make your own shredded chicken.
• Chicken broth: Use low sodium chicken broth so we can control the salt.
• Fire roasted diced tomatoes: These tomatoes have been roasted which gives them a complex smokiness and removes the acidic bite. Fire roasted tomatoes are located next to the traditional diced tomatoes – just make sure you purchase the ones without any added seasonings. You can use plain diced tomatoes if you can’t locate fire roasted.
• Canned mild diced green chilies:  Make sure you purchase mild green chiles – I have accidentally used the hot chilies before and they are HOT!  Mild green chiles, however are more tangy than hot so you don’t have to worry about them making your soup spicy.
• Tomato paste:  This adds concentrated tomato flavor that combines with the chicken broth to create a flavorful sauce.
• Chili powder:  This is where most of the flavor comes from so please use a quality brand such as McCormick.  INTERNATIONAL WARNING: American Chili powder is a blend of chilies, cumin, garlic powder, and herbs with a ratio of one-part cayenne to seven parts the other spices.  Chili powders sold in other parts of the world, however, are 100% chile pepper and 8X hotter than chili powder! So, please use American-style chili powder to make this recipe or your mouth will be on FIRE!
• Ground cumin:  Warm, earthy, nutty, with a hint of both sweet and bitter.
• Smoked paprika: Rich, mild, sweet, and smoky made from smoked pimento peppers dried over oak fires.
• Garlic powder:  Dehydrated garlic for better distribution; is pungent, aromatic, and spicy.
• Onion powder:  Aromatic with a spicy bite. 
• Dried Oregano: aromatic, earthy, minty notes.
• Salt and pepper:  Enhance all of the flavors.
• Cayenne pepper: Brings the heat! Use more or less to taste.

What Chicken is Best?

You can use either rotisserie chicken or make your own shredded chicken with chicken breasts, or chicken thighs.

• Rotisserie Chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken is my first choice because it is a mixture of light and dark meat so it’s extra juicy and flavorful.  It is also beautifully tender, delicately seasoned and delicious plain, so it makes a fabulous starting point for our recipe.
• Chicken Breasts or Thighs:  You can make your own shredded chicken with either chicken breasts or chicken thighs so you can always make this recipe with what you have on hand.  Chicken thighs will give you juicer, more flavorful chicken, but chicken breasts will work as well. 

How to Make Mexican Chicken

Now for what you’ve been waiting for! Let’s see just how easy it is to make this Mexican Shredded Chicken!

1. First, add shredded chicken to a skillet along with seasonings and stir to evenly coat. 

2. Stir in diced tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste and green chilies.  The chicken broth infuses the chicken with moisture and combines with the tomato paste to create a light saucy coating. 

3. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until heated through.  Add additional chicken broth for moister chicken if needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cayenne pepper or hot sauce to taste if desired.

That’s it for the easiest Mexican Chicken of your life!

Easy Mexican Chicken Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Rotisserie Chicken: I like to purchase my rotisserie chicken from Costco because you get almost twice the amount of chicken on one bird for the same price. If you have leftover shredded chicken that you aren’t going to use in this recipe, you can freeze it for later.
• Different Protein:  Although this is called “Mexican Chicken,” these seasonings and ingredients work well for ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken as well.
• Tomato Paste: This recipe only calls for 2 tablespoons tomato paste.  I often don’t use a whole can of tomato paste in a week, so I always freeze it by the tablespoon.  To do this, place parchment paper on a small baking sheet or plate – something that can easily fit in your freezer.  Drop tomato paste by the tablespoon on parchment paper a few inches apart in rows then freeze until solid, about 1 hour.  Cut a grid around the tomato paste so each tablespoon has its own parchment square.  Wrap up the parchment paper around the tomato paste and place in a plastic bag.  Freeze for up to 6 months, taking out one tablespoon of tomato paste as needed.
• Salsa:  If you’re in a bind and don’t have tomato paste, you can replace the chicken broth and tomato paste with salsa, but you’ll want to use less cayenne pepper and possibly other seasonings so the flavor isn’t too strong/spicy.  
• Spice it up. The spice level as written is not very spicy, just flavorful. If your Mexican Chicken feels like it’s missing something, it is probably a depth of heat.  You will want to taste the chicken once it’s done and add hot sauce to taste or individuals can add hot sauce to their own servings. I personally love additional hot sauce and add it directly to my tacos as opposed to the chicken, and really think it makes all the flavors pop.
• Double Batch:  This is a fabulous recipe to double, or break out your Dutch oven and triple!  Freeze leftovers in portion size bags for a quick thaw and heat dinner.

Mexican Chicken Variations

There are so many recipe variations when it comes to Mexican chicken. Here are just a few ways to make it your own:

• Add Beans. Add your favorite beans – some refried beans, black, pinto, etc. are all fabulous.  You may need to add additional salt to taste.
• Add Veggies. You can add any veggies your heart desires from corn, bell peppers, zucchini, sweet potatoes, spinach etc.  You may want to add additional water and tomato paste to coat the veggies as well.
• Add More Green Chiles: This recipe calls for 2 tablespoons mild diced green chiles but you are welcome to add more – even the whole 4 oz. can if you want tangier chicken.
• Add Salsa: You can add salsa or salsa verde to your chicken for even more flavorful chicken. Just be aware salsa will make your chicken “wetter” which will work better in some applications than others.
• Add heat: If you want to spice up your chicken other than just adding cayenne pepper or hot sauce, try chopped jalapenos!  For milder heat, you can add poblano peppers and for FIRE heat, you can add habaneros.
• Add Enchilada Sauce. Add some enchilada sauce at the very end and heat through for saucy chicken.
• Add cheese. Stir in shredded Mexican cheese blend, cheddar or pepper Jack cheese for CHEESY Mexican Chicken.
• Add rice or quinoa. Stir in cooked rice or cooked quinoa for added texture. If you do this, you may also want to add additional salt and salsa as well.
• Toppings! Serve with all your favorite toppings from avocados/guacamole to chopped tomatoes, salsa, salsa verde, pico de gallo, chopped lettuce cilantro, hot sauce, etc.

How to use this Easy Mexican Chicken

The uses for this chicken are endless!  Here are just a few ideas – but remember, it can be as simple as piling on a tortilla with sour cream!

• Chicken Tacos: Layer tortillas with cheese and melt in the microwave or oven. Top with black or pinto beans, chicken, lettuce and desired toppings such as chopped lettuce, pico de gallo, fresh guacamole, salsa, cotija cheese, sour cream and hot sauce.
• Baked Chicken Tacos: Line a 9×13 baking dish with hard taco shells and fill each shell with 2 tablespoons refried beans (optional), followed by chicken and cheese (like this recipe).  Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.  Top chicken tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, etc.
• Chicken Salad: Add chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, fresh corn, black beans, cheese (pepper Jack, Mexican Cheese blend or cotija), pepitas or sunflower seeds to large bowl. Serve with Tomatillo Avocado Ranch or Cilantro Lime Dressing.
• Chicken Burrito Bowls: Layer cilantro lime rice with cheese, black beans or pinto beans, chicken, chopped lettuce, and your favorite toppings including crushed tortilla chips and either sour cream/Greek yogurt or I highly recommend either Tomatillo Avocado Ranch or Cilantro Lime Dressing.
• Chicken Burritos: Layer a burrito size tortilla with cilantro lime rice or Mexican Rice, black or pinto beans, cheese, chicken, guacamole, sour cream and lettuce.  Serve with additional sour cream and either pico de gallo or homemade salsa.
• Smothered Chicken Burritos:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and add a baking rack on top. Prepare burritos by adding a heaping ½ cup chicken to each burrito size tortilla, top with desired amount of cheese and roll up burrito style. Place burritos on the baking rack and brush both sides lightly with olive oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Cook for 18-20 minutes or until golden. Broil to desired crispiness, flip over and broil the other side until golden.  Remove baking rack and top burritos with your favorite enchilada sauce and cheese and bake until cheese is melted as described in my Wet Burritos or my wildly popular Cheesy Green Chili Sour Cream Sauce like in my Crockpot Smothered Burritos.
• Chicken Enchiladas:  Fill tortillas with layers of cheese and chicken and a generous amount of sour cream. Roll up and place in a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish. Top with red or green enchilada sauce and cheese and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees F.  
• Chicken Quesadillas:  Layer a burrito size tortilla with Mexican cheese and Mexican Shredded Chicken and grill until golden, cheesy perfection.  Serve with your favs of sour cream, salsa, chopped lettuce, guacamole, etc.
• Chicken Nachos:  Pile thick restaurant style tortilla chips with cheese and beans and bake.  Top with chicken and toppings such as jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, etc.
• Chicken Fajitas: The last few minutes of cooking, add sliced bell peppers and sauté until crisp tender, about 2 minutes. You may want to add additional seasonings for the added peppers. Pile in a tortilla and top with sour cream, guacamole, lime juice and cilantro.

What to serve with Mexican Style Chicken

The Mexica Chicken will likely be the main attraction and you will want some easy sides to go with it.  I like to serve it with beans, either Mexican Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice (both can be made in the rice cooker), a big green salad or Corn Salad or Southwest Salad and either Perfect Fruit Salad or Pina Colada Fruit Salad.   For a full Mexican fiesta, serve with homemade Churros for dessert!

How to store Mexican Chicken

To store leftover chicken, allow the chicken to cool completely before placing it in an airtight container. If you’re planning to use it within a few days, store the container in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.

HOW TO FREEZE MEXICAN CHICKEN

This recipe makes great freezer meals!  To freeze:

1. Prepare Mexican Chicken according
   to directions.
2. Cool to room temperature.
3. Add chicken to a freezer
   size plastic bag OR portion into smaller size sandwich bags.
4. Press bag flat, squeeze
   out excess air to prevent freezer burn.
5. Seal, label and freeze for
   up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Mexican Chicken

1. When ready to use, defrost chicken in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Remove chicken and reheat in a skillet or in a microwave-safe container in the microwave.
3. If your chicken seems dry, stir in some salsa.

Looking For More Mexican Dinner Favorites?

• Slow Cooker Carnitas
• Beef Barbacoa
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
• Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad
• Tacos Al Pastor
• Cheesy Taco Soup

WANT TO TRY THIS MEXICAN CHICKEN RECIPE?

PIN IT TO YOUR CHICKEN, MEXICAN OR EASY DINNER BOARD TO SAVE FOR LATER!

FIND ME ON PINTEREST FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES!  I AM ALWAYS PINNING :)!

©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Easy Mexican Chicken Recipe

Mexican Chicken on your table in 10 minutes! This Mexican Chicken is going to blow your mind – and change your life. It’s quick, easy, healthy, exploding with flavor and did I say done in LESS than 10 minutes already? It’s the ideal weeknight meal and incredibly versatile. You can make Mexican Chicken tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, enchiladas, salads, etc. all with this easy Mexican Chicken! It also freezes and reheats beautifully for prep ahead dinners you will CRAVE!

Servings: 6 servings

Total Time: 7 minutes mins

Prep Time: 2 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box

You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!

Print RecipePin RecipeSave RecipeSaved!

Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (I love rotisserie chicken)
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tsp EACH ground cumin, garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp EACH onion powder, smoked paprika dried oregano, salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more to taste
• 1 14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes, (may use regular)
• 1/4 cup water or chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons canned mild chopped green chiles (from 4 oz. can green chiles)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add chicken along with seasonings and stir to evenly coat. Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and green chilies. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through. Add additional water/chicken broth if chicken seems dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cayenne pepper or hot sauce to taste if desired.
• Use chicken in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salads, nachos, burrito bowls, etc.

Notes

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE MEXICAN CHICKEN:

• Add Beans. Add your favorite beans – some refried beans, black, pinto, etc. are all fabulous.  You may need to add additional salt to taste.
• Add Veggies. You can add any veggies your heart desires from corn, bell peppers, zucchini, sweet potatoes, spinach etc.  You may want to add additional water and tomato paste to coat the veggies as well.
• Add More Green Chiles: This Mexican Chicken recipe calls for 2 tablespoons mild diced green chiles but you are welcome to add more – even the whole 4 oz. can if you want tangier chicken.
• Add Salsa: You can add salsa or salsa verde to your Mexican Chicken for even more flavorful chicken. Just be aware salsa will make your chicken “wetter” which will work better in some applications than others.
• Add heat: If you want to spice up your Mexican Chicken other than just adding cayenne pepper or hot sauce, try chopped jalapenos!  For milder heat, you can add poblano peppers and for FIRE heat, you can add habaneros.
• Add Enchilada Sauce. Add some enchilada sauce at the very end and heat through for saucy Mexican Chicken.
• Add cheese. Stir in shredded Mexican cheese blend, cheddar or pepper Jack cheese for CHEESY Mexican Chicken.
• Add rice or quinoa. Stir in cooked rice or cooked quinoa for added texture. If you do this, you may also want to add additional salt and salsa as well.
• Toppings! Serve with all your favorite toppings from avocados/guacamole to chopped tomatoes, salsa, salsa verde, pico de gallo, chopped lettuce cilantro, hot sauce, etc.

WHAT TO MAKE WITH MEXICAN CHICKEN:

The uses for this Mexican Chicken are endless!  Here are just a few ideas – but remember, it can be as simple as piling on a tortilla with sour cream!

• Mexican Chicken Tacos: Layer tortillas with cheese and melt in the microwave or oven. Top with black or pinto beans, Mexican Chicken, lettuce and desired toppings such as chopped lettuce, pico de gallo, fresh guacamole, salsa, cotija cheese, sour cream and hot sauce.
• Baked Mexican Chicken Tacos: Line a 9×13 baking dish with hard taco shells and fill each shell with 2 tablespoons refried beans (optional), followed by Mexican Chicken and cheese (like this recipe).  Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.  Top chicken tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, etc.
• Mexican Chicken Salad: Add Mexican Chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, fresh corn, black beans, cheese (pepper Jack, Mexican Cheese blend or cotija), pepitas or sunflower seeds to large bowl. Serve with Tomatillo Avocado Ranch or Cilantro Lime Dressing.
• Mexican Chicken Burrito Bowls: Layer cilantro lime rice with cheese, black beans or pinto beans, Mexican Chicken, chopped lettuce, and your favorite toppings including crushed tortilla chips and either sour cream/Greek yogurt or I highly recommend either Tomatillo Avocado Ranch or Cilantro Lime Dressing.
• Mexican Chicken Burritos: Layer a burrito size tortilla with cilantro lime rice or Mexican Rice, black or pinto beans, cheese, Mexican Chicken, guacamole, sour cream and lettuce.  Serve with additional sour cream and either pico de gallo or homemade salsa.
• Smothered Mexican Chicken Burritos:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and add a baking rack on top. Prepare burritos by adding a heaping ½ cup Mexican Chicken to each burrito size tortilla, top with desired amount of cheese and roll up burrito style. Place burritos on the baking rack and brush both sides lightly with olive oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Cook for 18-20 minutes or until golden. Broil to desired crispiness, flip over and broil the other side until golden.  Remove baking rack and top burritos with your favorite enchilada sauce and cheese and bake until cheese is melted as described in my Wet Burritos or my wildly popular Cheesy Green Chili Sour Cream Sauce like in my Crockpot Smothered Burritos.
• Mexican Chicken Enchiladas:  Fill tortillas with layers of cheese and Mexican Chicken and a generous amount of sour cream. Roll up and place in a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish. Top with red or green enchilada sauce and cheese and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees F.
• Mexican Chicken Quesadillas:  Layer a burrito size tortilla with Mexican cheese and Mexican Chicken and grill until golden, cheesy perfection.  Serve with your favs of sour cream, salsa, chopped lettuce, guacamole, etc.
• Mexican Chicken Nachos:  Pile thick restaurant style tortilla chips with cheese and beans and bake.  Top with Mexican Chicken and toppings such as jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, etc.
• Mexican Chicken Fajitas: The last few minutes of cooking, add sliced bell peppers and sauté until crisp tender, about 2 minutes. You may want to add additional seasonings for the added peppers. Pile in a tortilla and top with sour cream, guacamole, lime juice and cilantro.

HOW TO FREEZE:

1. Prepare Mexican Chicken according to directions.
2. Cool to room temperature.
3. Add chicken to a freezer size plastic bag OR portion into smaller size sandwich bags.
4. Press bag flat, squeeze out excess air to prevent freezer burn.
5. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months.

HOW TO REHEAT:

1. When ready to use, defrost chicken in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Remove chicken and reheat in a skillet or in a microwave-safe container in the microwave.
3. If your chicken seems dry, stir in some salsa.

Want To Make This Recipe?

Follow Me On Pinterest!

Never Miss a Craving

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs

Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!