Chicken Tinga Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (HOW TO VIDEO) (2024)

Home Chicken Dinners Chicken Tinga Recipe

Becky Hardin

4.67 from 53 votes

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Chicken Tinga is a bold Mexican entree that always impresses! Shredded chicken is made flavorful with an authentic sauce that features chipotle peppers, tomatoes, onions and more.

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Why we love this Chicken Tinga Recipe

When we tested this Mexican chicken tinga, we fell in love with the spicy, savory flavor! Here are just a few reasons I can’t stop making it:

  • So easy. The boldly flavored sauce comes together in just a few simple steps. After that, all you have to do is toss your shredded chicken in it and serve!
  • Flavorful. With ingredients like chipotle peppers, garlic and seasonings, this Mexican chicken tinga is anything but bland.
  • Spicy. The chipotle peppers in the mix give this chicken tinga recipe just the right kick to keep things interesting!

How spicy is chicken tinga?

I would say this chicken tinga is mild to moderately spicy. However, everyone’s spice tolerance is a little different! You can adjust the level of spice by increasing or decreasing the number of chilis you use.

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How to Store and Reheat

Once you have made the chicken tinga, let it cool to room temperature and it will keep in the fridge for about three days. Make sure it’s in an airtight container. You can just reheat it on the stovetop.

How to Freeze

Chicken tinga is freezer friendly, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving chicken tinga on crunchy corn tortillas with some refried beans, avocado slices, lots of cojita cheese and fresh cilantro. Serve it with a Mexican side dish like esquites!

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More Mexican Chicken Recipes We Love

  • Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
  • Crockpot Salsa Chicken
  • Chicken Mole
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
  • Santa fe Chicken

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Easy Chicken Tinga Recipe

This Mexican chicken tinga recipe is so quick and easy to make, it's ready to serve in less than 15 minutes! Full of flavor, this spicy shredded chicken is perfect to serve on tostadas or tacos.

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion sliced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo chopped
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 3-4 cups boneless, skinless chicken thighs cooked and shredded

Optional for serving:

  • 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 salt, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 2 cloves garlic

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  • 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, ½ cup chicken broth

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  • Place the mixture into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

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  • Add the chicken to the skillet, pour the sauce over the chicken, and stir to combine. Let the chicken mixture cook for a few more minutes to soak up all the sauce. Season to taste with salt.

    3-4 cups boneless, skinless chicken thighs

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  • Serving suggestion: Serve the 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

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Notes

Storage: Store Chicken Tinga in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Chicken Tinga Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 378Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 269mg90%

Sodium 542mg24%

Potassium 811mg23%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 55g110%

Vitamin A 365IU7%

Vitamin C 7mg8%

Calcium 47mg5%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Becky Hardin

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:Mexican

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at@easychickenrecipesfor a chance to be featured.

How to Make Chicken Tinga Step by Step

Sauté the onions and garlic:Heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano. Stir in 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook for just 1 more minute.

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Simmer the sauce: Stir in 1 cup of diced tomatoes, 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Let the mixture simmer for about 4-5 minutes.

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Blend the sauce: Carefully transfer the sauce to a food processor or blender. Blend until it’s nice and smooth.

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Combine the chicken and sauce: Add the chicken to the skillet. Pour the sauce all over the chicken and give everything a good stir to combine. Let everything cook for just a few more minutes.

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Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin founded Easy Chicken Recipes in 2018. She has been creating trusted, easy, and delicious recipes on the web since 2012. Becky is known for simple dinner ideas, delicious crockpot recipes, creative chicken meals, and so much more. We have built a team of recipe developers, testers, and writers that love to create trust chicken recipes for every family.

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Chicken Tinga Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (HOW TO VIDEO) (2024)

FAQs

Chicken Tinga Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (HOW TO VIDEO)? ›

If you're new to tinga, it's traditionally made with a chipotle tomato sauce that's seasoned simply with onions, garlic, cumin, oregano and bay leaf.

What is tinga sauce made of? ›

If you're new to tinga, it's traditionally made with a chipotle tomato sauce that's seasoned simply with onions, garlic, cumin, oregano and bay leaf.

What does Chicken Tinga mean in spanish to english? ›

Chicken Tinga (Spanish: tinga de pollo) is a Mexican dish made with shredded chicken in a sauce made from tomatoes, chipotle chilis in adobo, and sliced onions. It is often served on a tostada and accompanied by a layer of refried beans. It can be topped with avocado slices, crumbled cheese, Mexican crema, and salsa.

What does tinga mean in Mexican cooking? ›

Tinga is a Mexican dish of tender shredded chicken in a spicy tomato and chipotle chile sauce served on crunchy tostada shells. This recipe is easy to make and great for feeding a crowd!

How to eat Chicken Tinga? ›

Tinga is great for its versatility. You can eat it simply with a side of rice, or use it as a filling for a variety of Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, burritos, or empanadas. Or, you can do what I've done here and pile your chicken on top of crunchy fried corn tostadas.

What does tinga mean in English? ›

Meanings of "tinga" in English Spanish Dictionary : 6 result(s)
CategoryEnglish
1Generala typical mexican dish made with shredded meat
2Generalargument
3Generalquarrel
4Generaldiscussion
6 more rows

What is Mexican tinga paste? ›

MEXICAN TOMATO & CHIPOTLE TINGA COOKING PASTE – Based on the dish 'Chicken Tinga', a classic shredded chicken dish originally from the state of Puebla. With a smoky flavour and just enough heat from the chipotle married with the sweet tomatoes makes this a real crowd pleaser.

What part of Mexico is Chicken Tinga from? ›

Tinga de pollo or Chicken Tinga is from Puebla, a state in Mexico that is regarded as the birthplace of many of the dishes we consider to be "classic" Mexican fare, like mole poblana and chiles en nogada.

What part of Mexico is Tinga? ›

Chicken Tinga, or tinga de pollo in Spanish, is a traditional dish originating from the state of Puebla, home of the battle that Cinco de Mayo commemorates.

Is Chicken Tinga spicy to eat? ›

Tinga Poblana, or Tinga de Pollo, otherwise known as Chicken Tinga here in America, is a traditional Mexican dish made of shredded chicken that is cooked in a rich and spicy chipotle sauce.

What is Chicken Tinga made of? ›

Chicken Tinga is a popular Mexican dish that has shredded chicken in a delicious homemade sauce made from tomatoes, onions, adobo sauce with chilis, and spices. It is often used for tostadas, but it can be used in a number of your favorite Mexican recipes!

What Mexican food means little donkey in Spanish? ›

If you take it as a literal translation, burrito translates to little donkey with burro being donkey and -ito being little. Where did the burrito come from? We know it as a staple in Mexican cuisine, and we can recognize its characteristic meat, cheese, and bean filling stuffed in a tortilla, but how did it all start.

What can you eat tinga with? ›

You can enjoy chicken tinga on tostadas, in tacos or served in a large platter with tortilla chips garnished with shredded lettuce, crumbled queso fresco, diced avocados, and sour cream. There are no rules here, my Chicken Tinga can also be used as a taco salad, over rice, in a torta, or any sandwich—provecho!

Should you debone chicken before cooking? ›

Deboning chicken thighs is not always necessary. It depends on the recipe and personal preference. Bone-in chicken thighs can add flavor and moisture when cooking, but if you want boneless, you can debone them using a sharp boning knife. Leftover chicken bones can also be used for making chicken stock.

What if tinga is too watery? ›

If your tinga sauce comes out too thin, you can turn your device back to the Saute setting to cook, reduce, and thicken it to suit your taste. Return the shredded chicken back to the pot and toss to coat in the sauce. Serve & Enjoy. Serve chicken tinga with corn tortillas, avocado, cilantro, onion, and cotija cheese.

Is tinga spicy to eat? ›

The overall spiciness of Tinga depends on how much sauce you add. So, if you're concerned about the spice factor, taste the sauce before you add any, then decide how much to add to your chicken (add more for a spicier dish). Keep in mind the sauce tastes spicier alone than when eaten with food.

What is the white sauce at Mexican restaurants made of? ›

Cumin – Cumin adds great flavor to this dip. Milk – Milk helps thin the sauce a bit, use whichever kind you drink. Sour cream – Adds richness and creaminess to the dip. Miracle Whip- Now I know you will want to substitute mayo but the miracle whip has the right amount of sweetness that this dip needs.

What are Mexican sauces called? ›

Pico de gallo, a chunky and raw tomato-based salsa. Salsa verde, a green version made with tomatillos. Guacamoles. Commercially produced bottled sauces (often deep red or orange colored—Valentina, Búfalo, and Cholula are some common brand names)

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