Crispy Chicken Tacos with Avocado Tomatillo Sauce

Spice up your taco night with this oh-so crispy baked chicken tacos recipe! They are crunchy, cheesy, packed with flavorful chicken, and served with a creamy avocado tomatillo sauce. It’s a simple weeknight meal that will soon become a family favorite!

about these crispy chicken tacos

If you need a quick and delicious meal the whole family will love, these crispy baked chicken tacos are just for you.

We are all about tacos in our family, but I don’t always have the time to make the filling from scratch! That’s why these tacos are a game-changer. Since they are made with cooked chicken, you can whip them up in no time.

The best part about these tacos is the CRUNCH.

I personally do not like hardshell tacos. Usually those hard taco shells taste a bit stale and they are never as good as making the crispy tacos yourself! This is how I get that crunchy goodness without using those cardboard-tasting hard shells you buy in the store.

With flavorful chicken and cheese on the inside, these baked chicken tacos are ready in just 30 minutes. Plus, you can easily customize them with your favorite toppings and serve them up with a taco bar!

ingredients

oil. You can use either extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil for this recipe.

onion. We like to use yellow onion, but white onion or red onion also work.

chicken. You can use any leftover cooked chicken you have on hand. This could be shredded rotisserie chicken, shredded instant pot chicken breasts, or any other chicken you have on hand. Shredding the chicken is best to ensure that the tacos aren’t too full! You can also use ground chicken or ground beef.

taco seasoning. This is the best chicken taco seasoning recipe! It’s always in our spice rack for weekly use. It lasts up to 6 months! You can also purchase a store bought mix if you prefer.

tortillas. Corn tortillas are best for this recipe, whether you use small tortillas or larger ones.

cheese. We like to use a Mexican blend of shredded cheeses, but you could also use shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

tomatillos. Tomatillos are the base of the sauce. They bring a tangy brightness to the sauce!

avocado. Avocado is what gives the sauce a creaminess! Make sure the avocado you select is ripe.

garlic. Take the shortcut and pick up a jar of minced garlic! We always have it on hand and it really helps cut down on prep time.

lime juice. Fresh lime juice is preferred!

agave. You could also use honey to sweeten the sauce.

greek yogurt. Plain greek yogurt or sour cream can be used in the sauce recipe.

salt and pepper. We recommend fine kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

this recipe’s must-haves

To make these chicken tacos, you only need a nonstick skillet and wooden spoon to make the chicken filling.

For baking, use a rimmed half sheet baking pan lined with either a silicone mat or aluminum foil.

To make the avocado tomatillo sauce, you will either need to use a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or a food processor.

here’s how to make crispy baked chicken tacos

make sauce

Preheat broiler to High.

Place the tomatillos on a lined baking sheet and broil for 10 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove and place in a blender or food processor with avocado, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, agave, and greek yogurt. Process until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Set in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

make filling

In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onion and cook until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in chicken and seasoning, cooking until combined and warmed through. Set aside.

heat tortillas

Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel. Microwave on High for 30 seconds to 1 minute until pliable. Keep the tortillas wrapped in the towel as you assemble the tacos.

assemble

Brush both sides of a warm tortilla with oil. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas, working quickly.

Sprinkle half of each tortilla with a bit of cheese, then top with the chicken and onion mixture. Top with a little more cheese and fold over the tortilla. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

bake

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully flip. Return to the oven and back for another 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crisp.

Let cool for about 2 to 3 minutes to let the tacos get crispier.

Serve with avocado tomatillo sauce.

tips for success

use corn tortillas. Corn tortillas are best for this recipe! We like to use the small corn tortillas, but if you want heartier tacos will more filling, simply use larger tortillas.

warm up the corn tortillas. Make sure that you warm up the tortillas in the microwave! Wrap them in a damp paper towel to ensure that the tortillas are easy to fold. The best thing to do is to prep the elements for the filling first, THEN heat up the tortillas just before assembling. You may need to work in batches to reheat them to keep them malleable.

amp up the flavor of the chicken. Use this Mexican chicken marinade before cooking your chicken to amp up the flavor even more!

More tasty taco recipes to try out: Shredded Beef Tacos | Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken Tacos | Flank Steak Tacos | Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos

are crispy tacos made with corn or flour tortillas?

We use corn tortillas to make our crispy chicken tacos! They have great flavor and crisp up in the oven really well.

can I add anything else to the tacos before baking them?

Yes! You can change these tacos up by adding in some other vegetables with the onion for the chicken mixture. We love to add in diced jalapeño, diced bell pepper, diced green chiles, black beans, and more.

what can I prep ahead of time for these baked chicken tacos?

You can make the shredded chicken up to 2 days ahead of time when stored in the fridge! The avocado tomatillo sauce can also be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.

how do I know when the tacos are done?

When they are slightly golden brown and the edges are a dark brown, the tacos are done! They might not be 100% crispy when you remove them from the oven. Don’t worry, they will get crispier as they cool.

are crispy chicken tacos healthy?

Yes! Since these tacos are baked instead of deep fried in oil, they are much healthier for you.

what taco seasoning should I use?

Homemade chicken taco seasoning is best! You can also use store bought for a shortcut.

Need some inspiration for dinner? Check out my main dish recipes page!

what to serve with crispy baked chicken tacos

There are so many fun toppings to serve with these simple baked chicken tacos. We like to add all your favorite toppings on top, versus trying to stuff them inside. Here’s some ideas to get started with:

• Avocado tomatillo sauce (in the recipe below!)
• Guacamole
• Chunky salsa or pico de gallo
• Any type of salsa! This avocado salsa and this grilled pineapple salsa are personal favorites of ours.
• Chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Sour cream
• Cojita cheese

Of course no drink pairs better with tacos than a margarita! Try a refreshing blueberry margarita for a fruity option. If you like a bit of heat, whip up a spicy mango margarita! You can also simply make a pitcher of limeade margaritas to feed a crowd.

how to store

Store. The avocado tomatillo sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use again. It will stay good for 2 to 3 days. The crispy chicken tacos (if you have any leftover) can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 to 3 days.

Reheat. We recommend using the air fryer! Preheat the oven to 360˚F and reheat the tacos for about 2 to 5 minutes until crispy and warmed through. You can also heat them up in a skillet or in the oven (same temp and time as listed for the air fryer).

more easy chicken recipes for dinner

If you are looking for another way to use leftover cooked chicken, this mango chicken salad is creamy, sweet, and savory. Perfect for sandwiches or lettuce wraps.

Quick and easy gochujang noodles are ready in just 15 minutes! The Korean-inspired flavors give you weeknight dinner just the right touch of spice.

A spicy bbq pulled chicken burger combines tender pulled chicken with fiery BBQ sauce on a fluffy bun.

Love crispy chicken? These sweet and spicy chipotle honey chicken poppers are SO addictive.

Finally, if you make this crispy chicken tacos recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!