Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Tinga Tacos

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This chicken tinga recipe is a traditional Mexican dish made with shredded chicken in spicy tinga sauce that can be served in corn tortillas (or flour tortillas) or burrito bowls with fresh cilantro, Cotija cheese, creamy avocado, sour cream, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

chicken tinga tacos with onion and cilantro on a plate

If you love this recipe, definitely try my Mexican chicken next!

⭐ Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Try our juicy Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, classic Taco Soup, Chicken Chili, or Beef Curry next time.

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Ingredients
Instructions
🥗Make It Healthier
Tips
Recommended Equipment
Serving Suggestions
Freezing And Storing Instructions
Common Recipe Questions
More Mexican-Inspired Dinners
Recipe
Comments

shredded mexican chicken tinga in slow cooker

📋Disclaimer - like with many of my Mexican recipes, I do take some liberties to make things The Yummy Bowl appropriate. This is my version of this popular dish and it is not a representation of the authentic Chicken Tinga recipe.

Ingredients

My few comments on the ingredients + don't forget to read the Tips section!

The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.

Boneless skinless chicken breast - Medium to large chicken breasts are best. Use similar-sized chicken breasts so they cook evenly. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used to make these chicken tacos.
Brown onion - Finely diced. Yellow onion can be used as well.
Canned tomato puree - A can of Passata with 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste can be used instead.
Spicy sauce - Add 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (whole or chopped) and 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce.
Bay leaf
Garlic - Minced garlic cloves.
Salt and black pepper - To taste.
Dried herbs - a combination of thyme, oregano, and cilantro works great here but for a quick fix, I like to use a prepackaged Italian herb mix.
Ground cumin - a popular spice used in most the Mexican dishes.

For serving

Warm corn tortillas - I used corn tortillas, but any wheat option is suitable of course for non-gluten-free folks. For gluten-free tortillas, I would rather go for 100% corn tortillas than gluten-free labeled tortillas (these tend to break easily and have ton of fillers).
Cilantro leaves - Use other favorite toppings when assembling your warm tortillas.
Chopped Brown or red onion

Instructions

Spray a 4-quart slow cooker/crock pot (you can use a larger too) with cooking oil and place all the ingredients.

ingredients for chicken tinga in slow cooker

Cook 2-3 hours on HIGH or LOW for 4-5 hours.

Remove the chicken and shred it in a medium bowl. Return shredded chicken filling into the cooker.

Warm the tortillas one by one in a dry pan over medium heat until they begin to char (this will happen very fast, about 30 seconds per side on medium-high heat). Wrap them in foil to keep warm until ready to use.

Stuff with shredded chicken tinga, salsa and toppings. Enjoy!

🥗Make It Healthier

Use organic meat whenever possible - we like turkey or chicken for this recipe. However, pork or beef can also be used instead.
Serve with lots of vegetables or a simple side salad or in lettuce wraps instead of tortillas. Or if possible, make your own homemade tortillas.
When choosing tomato puree and passata, check for the ingredient list that there are no additional not needed ingredients and fillers.

Tips

This classic Mexican dish can either be cooked on LOW cooking for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, depending on your needs.
I’ve used a 4-quart slow cooker for this recipe, but you can use a larger slow cooker too.
Add more flavor to this dish by adding ground paprika (sweet or smoked).
Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are similar in size for even cooking.
If you aren’t sure whether the chicken is cooked through, insert a food thermometer into the thickest section of the meat. It should read 165F for the chicken to be safe to eat.
Add an extra kick of heat to this dish by including chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or jalapeno peppers.
The chicken will be very hot when you remove it from the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred the chicken breasts.
Delicious toppings for this chicken tinga filling include chopped cilantro, diced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, or a squeeze of lime juice.

Recommended Equipment

No fancy equipment is needed. Here are the basics:

Serving Suggestions

Mexican Chicken Tinga is usually served in a soft corn tortilla, and topped with various toppings such as salsa, avocado, onion, cilantro, and lime. We like to serve tinga as tacos or wrapped in a burrito with rice, beans, and cheese.

We love to serve it with side dishes such as:

Salad - quick leafy green salad, Avocado Corn Salad.
Salsas - Pico De Gallo, Mango Salsa.
Rice - regular steamed or boiled white or brown rice, classic Lime Cilantro rice, or Egg Fried Rice.
Beans - try our refried beans from our Tostada recipe, or simply use canned black beans, kidney beans or a mix of beans.
Avocado - either sliced, cubed or in the form of Guacamole or Crema. Guacamole can be made in advance too, read all about it here.
Queso - tangy smooth cheese sauce or queso fresco (white crumbly cheese such as cotija for example).
Vegetables - grilled or steamed veggies, corn on the cob or try our roasted version of Veggie Pan Sheet Dinner.

📋 JULIA'S TIP Use certified gluten-free corn tortillas (look for the appropriate label). Not all of these are GF. Some are actually a blend of wheat and corn flour or made with shared non-gluten-free equipment. Or make your own homemade tortillas.

Freezing And Storing Instructions

To Store. Let the chicken cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. The sauce will thicken and you may need to add some water or broth to return the initial consistency.
To Freeze. Follow the same steps and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
To Make Ahead. Reheat in the microwave or over the stovetop. Stir constantly until warmed through.

Common Recipe Questions

Is it OK to put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

Absolutely! The slow cooker is ideal for cooking raw chicken, creating an environment that kills bacteria while tenderizing the meat and locking in delicious flavor.

What does tinga mean in Mexican food?

“Tinga” comes from the Spanish word “tingado” which means “stained” or “spotted”, referring to how the dish looks with a sauce that is slightly speckled from the chopped chipotle peppers. Tinga chicken is a popular filling for tacos and other Mexican dishes.

What does tinga consist of?

Tinga is a Mexican dish with shredded meat (usually chicken or pork) cooked in a rich sauce made from tomatoes and chipotle peppers.

What is the history of Chicken Tinga?

Chicken tinga originated in Mexico and has since become a popular dish in the United States and around the world.

Does cooking chicken in a slow cooker make it tough?

No. As long as you stick to the slow cooking time in the recipe, the slow cooker is a great way to cook chicken evenly while keeping the meat tender and juicy. It is possible to overcook the chicken in the slow cooker in which case it will become tough and rubbery.

More Mexican-Inspired Dinners

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