Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 25 mins | Total Time: 40 mins| Servings: 6
These are not your average tacos. It’s filled with the most scrumptious chicken mixture and top with the freshest cilantro lime ranch. Baked until crisp and served with all your favourite toppings. Get ready to be blown away with these spicy and cheesy Baked Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch!
Ingredients
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2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 lb ground chicken, beef, or turkey
1 yellow onion, chopped
2-3 tsp chipotle chilli powder, use to your taste
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, use to your taste
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
12 hard shell tacos
2 c. shredded Mexican cheese
Cilantro Lime Ranch:
1 c. sour cream or plain Greek yoghurt
3/4 c. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 c. pickled jalapeños, chopped + 2 tbsp brine
juice from 2 limes
1 tsp kosher salt
How to make Weeknight Cheesy Baked Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 425 degrees F.
Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the ground chicken and onion to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking the meat as it cooks until the chicken is brown. Add the chipotle chilli powder along with the paprika, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and 3/4 cup water. Adjust the heat to medium and simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat, stir in the cilantro.
Step 3: On a sheet pan or in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, line the taco shells up. Place in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes. Among each taco shell, evenly distribute the meat and top them with cheese. Return to the oven and resume baking until the cheese has melted.
Step 4: In the meantime, place the Cilantro Lime Ranch in a glass jar and shake until creamy.
Step 5: Remove the dish from the oven when done and serve the tacos with ranch, avocado, red onion on top. Or top them with your favourite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes:
To make homemade Hard Shells, first warm 8 to 12 corn tortillas in the microwave for about 30 seconds to a minute until pliable. Rub the tortillas with olive oil, then lay them flat on a baking sheet. Evenly layer the tortillas with cheese and chicken. Over the filling, fold the other half of the tortilla, pushing gently to adhere. Place in the oven and bake for about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn the tortilla on the other side and continue to bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese has melted and the tortillas have crisp.
Nutrition Info:
Calories Per Serving: 436 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb ground chicken, beef, or turkey
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2-3 tsp chipotle chilli powder, use to your taste
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, use to your taste
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
- 12 hard shell tacos
- 2 c. shredded Mexican cheese
- Cilantro Lime Ranch:
- 1 c. sour cream or plain Greek yoghurt
- 3/4 c. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 c. pickled jalapeños, chopped + 2 tbsp brine
- juice from 2 limes
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 425 degrees F.
Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the ground chicken and onion to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking the meat as it cooks until the chicken is brown. Add the chipotle chilli powder along with the paprika, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and 3/4 cup water. Adjust the heat to medium and simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat, stir in the cilantro.
Step 3: On a sheet pan or in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, line the taco shells up. Place in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes. Among each taco shell, evenly distribute the meat and top them with cheese. Return to the oven and resume baking until the cheese has melted.
Step 4: In the meantime, place the Cilantro Lime Ranch in a glass jar and shake until creamy.
Step 5: Remove the dish from the oven when done and serve the tacos with ranch, avocado, red onion on top. Or top them with your favourite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
To make homemade Hard Shells, first warm 8 to 12 corn tortillas in the microwave for about 30 seconds to a minute until pliable. Rub the tortillas with olive oil, then lay them flat on a baking sheet. Evenly layer the tortillas with cheese and chicken. Over the filling, fold the other half of the tortilla, pushing gently to adhere. Place in the oven and bake for about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn the tortilla on the other side and continue to bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese has melted and the tortillas have crisp.
