Fried Chicken Tacos

30 years living in Los Angeles solidified my love for Mexican and Tex-mex food. Fried chicken tacos were my standing order at our fave Mexican restaurant. They were super simple, just crispy chicken layered with slaw and picked onions. I crave them to this day, but never thought to try to make them at home for dinner because…fried chicken (who has the time?)

But last week I figured out a delicious shortcut ~ frozen chicken tenders (uncooked, not pre-cooked) make the perfect stand in for those crispy little strips of fried chicken and the result is pure fried chicken taco bliss, on a weeknight! The key is to buy uncooked tenders so they bake up nice and crisp and juicy.

what you’ll need for fried chicken tacos

If you ask me the protein component of any taco is only half the fun ~ it’s all the extras that really pile on the flavors.

• frozen (uncooked) breaded chicken tenders
  • I use Bell & Evans brand.
• corn tortillas
  • use flour if you prefer but I go for the more flavorful corn every time. I even make my own homemade corn tortillas when I have the time.
• red cabbage
  • look for the smallest red cabbage in the produce section, even a tiny one shreds up to a mountain of slaw. If you have extra, make a batch of Red Cabbage and Dill Slaw.
• red onion
  • we’re going to quick pickle it in lime juice! Quick pickling red onions is super easy, but we’re making it even easier by just squeezing fresh lime over diced onions. The acid is just enough to reduce the onion’s pungency, make them even crisper, and add that pop of citrus flavor.
• limes
  • you’ll need at least 4 limes for this recipe.
• mayonnaise
• sour cream
• buttermilk
• cilantro
  • cilantro is so good here, but if you absolutely hate it I suggest subbing chili powder in the crema sauce.
• olive oil
  • to give the frozen tenders a little extra crunch I brush them with olive oil before baking.
• salt

of course add some salsa!

Probably my favorite part of any taco is the salsa. Yes, go ahead and buy some, no worries, but if you love it like I do you might want to make it from scratch if you have the time. Here are a few homemade salsas that would go nicely with fried chicken tacos…

• Strawberry Salsa
• Mango Salsa
• Fire Roasted Salsa Negra (black salsa)
• Pineapple Salsa
• Watermelon Salsa
• Cowboy Caviar Recipe
• Better Than Restaurant Salsa
• Sweet Corn and Hatch Chile Salsa

Get a head start and prep all the extras in the morning before work. With that done all you have to do to get this vibrant meal on the table is slide the tenders into the oven, pop open a beer, and wait for the timer to ding. But even if you don’t do a thing ahead, everything comes together in the time it takes the chicken to bake (or air fry, or pan fry!) Below are instructions for frozen uncooked chicken tenders, but be aware that your particular brand may vary.

oven baked fried chicken taco instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. Arrange your tenders on a baking sheet. (Optional: brush with olive oil and season lightly with salt.)
3. Bake for 25 minutes until golden and crisp and registers 165F inside.

air fryer chicken taco instructions

1. Set your air fryer to 400F.
2. Arrange the frozen tenders in a single layer in the basket.
3. Cook for about 12-15 minutes, flipping once after 6-8 minutes.

pan-fried chicken taco instructions

1. Heat 1/8″ vegetable oil in a large skillet until hot.
2. Fry the tenders over medium heat for about 10 minutes, then flip and finish cooking for another 5 minutes until golden on both sides.
3. Chicken should register 165F internal temperature when done.

how to prep corn tortillas for fried chicken tacos

Corn tortillas can be dry and brittle, so we heat them briefly to soften and add a bit of charred flavor.

1. Heat a cast iron skillet or comal over medium high heat for several minutes until quite hot.
2. Working one at a time, place a corn tortilla onto the skillet and leave just long enough to scorch in places, about 5-15 seconds. Lift one corner to check the progress.
3. Pile the tortillas on a plate and cover with a cloth to keep warm while you assemble your tacos.

how to get tacos to sit upright on your plate

You can use a long toothpick or skewer, like I did. Just pierce it through one, two, or three tacos on the plate.

You can purchase special taco holders like this.

It’s also perfectly appropriate to assemble the tacos flat on the plate.

why we love it (and you will too!)

The hot crispy chicken with the cool crema, the crunchy cabbage, and the pop of those quick pickled onions is hard to beat. It’s a versatile idea that will work with different kinds of cabbage or slaw (thinking Cabbage and Fennel Slaw with Creamy Jalapeño Dressing.