My family goes crazy for these grilled chicken tacos, and I love how EASY they are to make! Marinated chicken thighs are grilled to perfection and served with warmed corn tortillas, pico de gallo, and cilantro.
The past two weeks we have been using our grill to make dinner almost every single night. We’re a little obsessed. Nothing says summer to me like kids playing in the sprinklers in the backyard while Jeff and I heat up the BBQ and cook an amazing dinner.
I love all of the fresh foods of summer. We LOVE any type of kebabs on the grill (these Cajun Chicken and Sausage Kebabs are Jeff’s all-time favorite). A huge family favorite are these Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki Bowls and we also love making grilled pizza or grilling steaks and hamburgers.
These chicken tacos are also at the top of our list of favorites. They are so incredibly flavorful and EASY to make. You can make the marinade several days in advance, if you want, and you could even marinate the chicken the night before.
What are street tacos?
Mexican street tacos are smaller tacos, typically served on corn tortillas. They are small in size, making it easier for a “street traveler” to enjoy a quick meal. The filling is served on two small corn tortillas so that they don’t rip or tear when piled high with toppings.
Some tips for this recipe:
Grill with chicken thighs.
I like using chicken thighs because they’re a little more forgiving on the grill–they are super flavorful and don’t dry out as easily as chicken breasts. That said, you can definitely use chicken breasts for this recipe, just be careful not to cook them too long.
Let the meat rest.
Whatever cut of chicken you decide to use, let the meat REST for a few minutes before chopping it up. This is super important in allowing the meat to absorb all of the yummy juices before you cut into it. (The same goes for pretty much any other meat/steak you cook).
For the Tortillas:
Corn tortillas are the BEST to use for these chicken street tacos. I love these mini corn tortillas that are specifically intended for street tacos, but you can use regular corn tortillas instead. I usually heat my corn tortillas on a griddle or skillet for a few minutes on each side.
You could even throw them on the grill for a few seconds. The microwave is my least favorite way to warm corn tortillas because they stay soft and flimsy, allowing them to fall apart easier when you add all of your taco toppings.
Fresh pico de gallo is a must!
As with most tacos, the toppings are a key part of the awesomeness, and this homemade pico de gallo is the perfect accompaniment to these! It’s incredibly easy to make yourself, or you can even buy a small container from the grocery store (usually in the produce section).
As a last resort you can substitute regular salsa, but these really are soooo good with fresh pico.
Hope you enjoy these AMAZING grilled chicken street tacos as much as we do! We love them with a side of authentic Mexican rice (of course!), grilled corn on the cob and fresh watermelon. That’s a five star meal right there!
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Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
Video
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 20-22 mini white corn tortillas , warmed on a skillet*
- Pico de gallo
- 1 /2 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
- fresh lime juice
- hot sauce , optional (our favorite for Mexican food is Valentina)
- sour cream , optional
For the Marinade:
- 4 Tablespoons orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1½ Tablespoons lime juice
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1½ Tablespoons ancho chili powder or chipotle chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Make chicken marinade by combining all marinade ingredients in a large ziplock bag. Add chicken thighs.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat grill over medium-hight heat. Oil the grill with canola oil or spray generously with cooking spray. Remove chicken with marinade and place on hot grill.
- Cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, flipping once (thickest part of the chicken thigh should register about 165 degrees).
- Transfer to a plate and allow to rest for a few minutes before chopping into small pieces.
- Layer two warmed mini corn tortillas together. Top with chopped chicken, pico de gallo, cilantro, hot sauce, and sour cream (optional). Spritz with a little bit of lime juice. Serve immediately.
- Serve with a side of Mexican Rice or another Mexican side dish.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
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suraj kowe says
I’ve seen (and eaten) a lot of tacos and these are the best tacos ever!! The flavors are spot on and I think I’ll take you up on the recommended margarita!
Christopher says
Could i bake the chicken after marinating instead of grilling?
Lauren Allen says
Sure! Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes.
Michelle says
Great recipe. The little bit of cinnamon and apple cider vinegar really make this a winning marinade. I like my chicken pieces crispy in texture on all sides. So I grill it not quite 100%. Then cut it up and finished it in a very hot skillet with a little of the left over marinade. Absolutely wonderful.
Stephanie W says
We’ve been having Taco Tuesdays for some time. This is by far the best tacos I’ve ever made. Our youngest son uses the chicken to make fajita nachos and OMG! Thee best! Thank you for sharing. It’s forever a winner in my house.
Josee says
Just finished dinner. The chicken was amazing!!! So delicious. Will be our go to recipe now too. Going to give pork a try also with this marinade. Thank you!
Inna says
Amazing! Made it for dinner… everyone really enjoyed it. Thank you.
Jeff says
I made my tacos with this marinade, and it was OUTSTANDING!! Paired with my homemade tortillas and fresh Pico. Wow!! Made them for Cinco de Drinko and they were a huge hit. Didn’t even get any leftovers to take home. Gotta make more next time.
Sean says
I just made this for the family and they all loved it. My new go to for street tacos. My daughter has been living in Mexico for the past year and even shes says these were amazing.
julie says
can I use chicken breast?
Lauren Allen says
Yes, you can.
Craig says
This was overall a great recipe we will try again. I found the Pico de gallo had a better flavor after mixing and letting set for 24 hours in the refrigerator. One change though, we were not impressed with the cinnamon. That flavor lingered throughout and to us didn’t mix well in the flavor profile. We use mild sauce rather than hot, so maybe that is a difference maker where the heat of the hot sauce blends better with cinnamon, but to us the cinnamon was too strong. Next time we make this we will not use cinnamon at all and likely to add just a bit of heat with some cayenne pepper, and possibly some agave nectar.