300 minutes
A flavorful and satisfying taco recipe featuring slow-cooked chicken thighs with chipotle and honey, black beans, and fresh toppings.
tablespoons
teaspoons
teaspoons
teaspoons
teaspoons
Chipotles In Adobo, Finely chopped
0 oz
Adobo Sauce
tablespoons
Black Beans, Rinsed and drained
0 oz
Lime Juice, Juice of 1 lime
tablespoons
Warmed Tortillas
each
to taste
Avocado, Sliced or cubed
to taste
1. Prepare the chicken mixture
Start by placing the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into a 5- to 8-quart slow cooker. Add the honey, onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, kosher salt, finely chopped chipotles, and adobo sauce. Mix everything together until the chicken is well coated in the saucy mixture.
2. Cook the chicken
Set the slow cooker to low and let it cook for 3 to 5 hours. The low heat ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and retains its moisture. You'll know it's ready when the chicken is tender and can be easily shredded with two forks.
3. Shred and mix
Once the chicken is shredded, stir in the rinsed and drained black beans along with the juice of one lime. Let this mixture sit for about 5 minutes to warm the beans through and let the lime juice brighten the overall flavor.
4. Serve
To serve, spoon the chicken and bean mixture onto warmed tortillas. Top each taco with pickled onions and slices or cubes of avocado.
Switch up the toppings to include pickled onions, fresh mango salsa, or creamy avocado-lime sauce.
Substitute chicken with shrimp, fish, or thinly sliced flank steak.
Create burrito bowls, salads with vinaigrette, crispy quesadillas, or wraps using the cooked protein.
Explore using pork loin, beef skirt steak, firm white fish, or tofu/tempeh as substitutes for chicken.
Replace lime juice with different citrus, use maple syrup or agave instead of honey, adjust the heat with different chili peppers.
Start with the best quality chicken you can find. Organic, free-range chicken tends to have a better flavor and texture. For the honey and lime, go for organic and locally sourced if possible. The freshness and quality of your produce will shine through in the final dish.
If you have access to a grill, use it. Grilling the chicken will add a smoky depth of flavor that can't be matched indoors. If grilling isn't an option, make sure to get a good sear on your chicken in a heavy pan (cast iron is excellent) to develop those delicious caramelized edges.
After cooking, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures that your chicken will be moist and tender.
Allow the chicken to marinate for at least an hour, but ideally for several hours or even overnight in the refrigerator. The longer marination time will help the flavors penetrate more deeply into the meat.
Don't skimp on the tortillas. Look for fresh, preferably handmade tortillas from a local tortilleria or the best quality store-bought ones you can find. Warm them up properly on a skillet or directly over the flame until slightly charred for added flavor.
Comments (0)