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Weeknight Chicken Tacos

February 21, 2016 by Mary 21 Comments

Weeknight chicken tacos finished on a white plate.

My parents were traditionalists, especially my father. Dinner was always a protein, a carb and a vegetable, (unless it was a homemade soup or stew that had all of those things). We had to have the three things on the plate and dinner was a sit-down affair, around the kitchen table with no TV. But we always had music. My father played the violin, loud, to Gershwin, André Kostelanetz, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, or show tunes. I know all the lyrics to Camelot, My Fair Lady, Gigi, The Music Man and The Sound of Music songs. (oh yes) This was his way of relaxing while having a cocktail (usually a Scotch on the rocks), when he got home from work. And he always took his shoes off and put on his leather house slippers. I know because I was supposed to fetch them for him. Shoot, we missed having our kids do that for us. 🙂

But I digress. Back to food. We NEVER had takeout or deliveries. We never had pizza or Chinese food or tacos for dinner. We never went to any fast food joint, not even Steak ‘n Shake which was sort of an in-between – in between a restaurant and fast food – in those days. No, we always had a three-item dinner every night.

Our friends’ families had pizza or other fast food at times, which was all fairly new then. We would beg and whine to be able to do that, but no, my mother insisted on a healthy home cooked meal.

So that‘s the way I was raised.

And that’s the way our kids were raised.

Our oldest still proclaims that I used to always say, “It’s not a dinner unless it has a green vegetable.” I don’t remember saying that but it sounds pretty good.

So now the kids are gone and it’s just my husband and me. And I have started making chicken tacos for dinner – with a green vegetable! Yes. All totally homemade, they’re fun and delicious!!!

This dish is roughly inspired by an old Food & Wine magazine recipe and the neatest thing about it is about how to cook the chicken. You roast thighs at a high heat (425 degrees) on a rack, so all the fat drains out. The chicken actually comes out practically fried, with no breading. The original recipe has you rub vegetable oil on the skin of the thighs, before roasting but that makes for a lot of smoke and creates a very messy oven. So I roast without any oil and the chicken has turned out equally good, without the smoke and interior oven splattering.

Roasted chicken thighs on a rack.

The skin gets crispy and is very tempting to eat a bit of it while you shred the meat off the bone. Delicious! – but we all know it’s not good for you.

So what I’ve been doing is roasting my thighs on a Sunday when I have more time, shreding the meat and having it all ready for a quick weeknight meal of amazing tacos. Makes the whole thing easy-peasy on the night you’re serving. I know the toppings take a bit of time to prepare but roasting and shredding the chicken ahead of time makes this doable for a weeknight. I made this last Wednesday night with both boys home (Yes! Zach is visiting from Poland!) and it was a HUGE hit!

Try this – you will LOVE it!!

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN TACOS – serves 4 – 6 – makes about 14 tacos

8 chicken thighs with skin and bones – about 3 lbs.
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 lb. tomatillos, husked, rinsed, cored and finely chopped
4 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 bunch of scallions, trimmed, washed and chopped
11/4 cups vegetable or chicken broth, preferably homemade
Large handful of cilantro, chop the stem portion from the leafy parts, and mince the stems
Warm corn tortillas

Toppings for tacos in small bowls.

FOR SERVING:

Chopped white onion, soaked in ice water for 10 minutes and drained
Sliced radishes – about 3
Thinly sliced jalepeno pepper – 1/2 – 3/4 of one
Feta cheese, broken into chunks
Sour cream or crème fraiche
Diced avocado – we used 1 whole and another half
Cilantro leaves
Salsa – optional or chopped plum tomatoes
Fresh lime wedges

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry chicken thighs, trimming off excess skin and fat. Salt and pepper both sides of the thighs and place on a rack positioned on a rimmed baking sheet.

Roast for 40 – 45 minutes. Let cool, remove and discard skin, shred the chicken from the bone. You could make a stock from the bones and skin. This is the step that I do on a Sunday afternoon to have a quick taco meal during the week. Store shredded chicken in the fridge in a covered container and take out the night you’re having the tacos as soon as you start making the rest of the meal to take some of the chill off as soon as you can.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large skillet, heat the 2 Tbs. olive oil. Add the finely chopped tomatillos, garlic and scallions. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until the tomatillos are softened, about 10 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes.

While sauce is cooking, prepare all your toppings in separate little bowls. A hand mandoline is best to thinly slice the radishes and jalepenos. Soak your chopped white onions in the ice water bath for 10 minutes and drain.

Additionally prepare the corn tortillas. Place stacks of 6 tortillas in aluminum foil that is lined with a damp paper towel on the bottom and the top of the corn tortillas. Seal the aluminum foil tightly around and warm in a 350 degree oven for 5 – 10 minutes.

Add the shredded chicken to the tomatillo sauce. Simmer until the chicken is heated through, about 2 minutes. Then fold in the chopped stems of the cilantro and a few whole leaves. Taste to see if it needs any salt and pepper.

Serve everything immediately. I like to assemble my taco with a smear of sour cream or crème fraiche on the corn tortilla first, then the chicken tomatillo mixture, then the cheese, followed by jalepeno, onion, avocados, radishes, a tiny bit of salsa and finished with cilantro leaves.

Total yum.

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Filed Under: Dinner, Poultry Tagged With: chicken in a tomatillo sauce, chicken tacos, corn tacos, tacos

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Comments

  1. Jasline (Foodie Baker) says

    February 22, 2016 at 3:50 AM

    My mom only let us have fast food once in a blue moon, and I grew up to appreciate all her efforts to prepare meals for us everyday without fail. The chicken tacos are so perfect for a weeknight dinner and allows everyone to gather together to make their own tacos, yum!
    Jasline (Foodie Baker) recently posted…One-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)My Profile

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  2. Jovina Coughlin says

    February 22, 2016 at 8:19 AM

    Don’t you just love it, when the kids repeat your sayings of the old days. This looks like a perfectly delicious weeknight dinner.You combined some great ingredients together. This is much more appealing to me than the traditional tacos.
    Jovina Coughlin recently posted…Cooking the Italian Provinces-OristanoMy Profile

    Reply
  3. wok with ray says

    February 22, 2016 at 10:48 AM

    Oh yes I remember those days where we had to fetch our father’s slippers after work. I love taco nights because my kids loved it and even now that they are all adults whenever they come over for dinner.Your post is making me hungry already and it’s only 8 am here. Have a good week, Mary Frances. 🙂
    wok with ray recently posted…Stir Fried Chayote with Hoisin SauceMy Profile

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  4. Bam's Kitchen says

    February 23, 2016 at 4:37 AM

    Mary these chicken tacos look like the perfect mid week escape. I had to laugh at your comment as I lived in one of those family that is was not dinner unless there was a green vegetable on my plate. Seriously, I can count on one hand the number of times we had tacos at our house.
    Bam’s Kitchen recently posted…Korean Beef BBQ KalbiMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    February 23, 2016 at 1:35 PM

    Your father sounds more like a nutritionist :-)) These tacos look very delicious.
    Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted…Whole Baked Romanesco with Ajvar SauceMy Profile

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  6. David @ Spiced says

    February 23, 2016 at 6:26 PM

    Oh man, tacos are the best! I just had tacos last night, and I could totally go for tacos again tonight…maybe some of these delicious looking chicken tacos! 🙂
    David @ Spiced recently posted…Healthy Zucchini BisqueMy Profile

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  7. John/Kitchen Riffs says

    February 23, 2016 at 9:31 PM

    Dinner at the table (sans TV) at our house, too. Never pizza, tacos, or takeout of any kind. Pretty much the same type of menu that you ate — meat (rarely fish), green veggie, and a starch. Anyway, I think I’d rather have had these tacos instead — they look wonderful! Thanks so much.
    John/Kitchen Riffs recently posted…Vegan Mulligatawny Soup with CabbageMy Profile

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  8. Raymund says

    February 24, 2016 at 1:19 AM

    One day I will visit your place on a weeknight! nice dish to serve, I love it
    Raymund recently posted…Avocado Chicken Suiza EnchiladaMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Vicki Bensinger says

    February 24, 2016 at 11:51 AM

    I love tacos and for some reason they must be the rage right now because I’m seeing them posted everywhere. Your version sounds terrific and one I’m sure would be gobbled up quickly in my home. I like that you used tomatillos in this recipe Thanks for sharing!
    Vicki Bensinger recently posted…No Noodle – Butternut Squash LasagnaMy Profile

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  10. Eva @ Eva Bakes says

    February 24, 2016 at 8:55 PM

    We didn’t get take out either. My mom cooked dinner every single night. Your roasted chicken tacos look spectacular!
    Eva @ Eva Bakes recently posted…Event Recap: Chocolate tasting partyMy Profile

    Reply
  11. sippitysup says

    February 24, 2016 at 9:45 PM

    Family traditions that revolve around food make me feel warm and loved. I can tell from your words you feel the same way. XOGREG

    Reply
  12. marcie says

    February 25, 2016 at 1:18 PM

    Tacos are one of my favorite meals to make because they’re always a hit, and they’re so easy and fresh! These look just perfect for busy weeknights!
    marcie recently posted…Key Lime Cheesecake Bars with Coconut Macadamia CrustMy Profile

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  13. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    February 25, 2016 at 4:21 PM

    Can you believe I’ve never had a chicken taco?! I need to do something about that! These look scrumptious!

    Reply
  14. Julie at Hostess At Heart says

    February 25, 2016 at 10:00 PM

    Mary Frances, we grew up not even knowing what tacos were! Once I did though I couldn’t get enough of them. We did make tacos for dinner when our kids were young. Your tacos look just delicious. I love all of the fresh ingredients and roasted chicken!
    Julie at Hostess At Heart recently posted…Easy Meatloaf RecipeMy Profile

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  15. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

    February 26, 2016 at 3:38 AM

    These do look yum. I have never made tacos before but we do try and eat different styles of food every night 🙂
    Tandy | Lavender and Lime recently posted…Recipe For Paul Hollywood’s PastryMy Profile

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  16. Kelly says

    February 26, 2016 at 5:24 AM

    Our parents always insisted on a green vegetable at every meal too 🙂 These tacos look fantastic!

    Reply
  17. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    March 1, 2016 at 6:49 PM

    We grew up in similar homes. My father wanted potatoes a couple of veg and a piece of meat. Every single day. He would put up with the occasional pot of spaghetti or stew but everyone knew he didn’t think it was much of a meal.

    I much prefer a meal like this where I can pick and choose what I want to put in. Lovely.
    Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted…In My Kitchen – March 2016My Profile

    Reply
  18. Amira says

    March 1, 2016 at 8:12 PM

    “It’s not a dinner unless it has a green vegetable.” I like that!!! might use it with my kids too hahaha. I highly admire the way you were raised, specially the NO TV part during dinner time. Actually dinner time should be family time and talking to each other about how our day went and connect with each other away from cell phones, TV, and all electronics. Your tacos look delicious specially with all these toppings.
    Amira recently posted…Magic flan cakeMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Traditionallymodernfood says

    March 5, 2016 at 1:44 AM

    Looks yum..perfect for weekday finner
    Traditionallymodernfood recently posted…Shorba| Sherva| Tomato Kurma | Plain SalnaMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Natasha @ Salt and Lavender says

    March 23, 2016 at 11:42 AM

    These do look fun and delicious!! I love chicken tacos… definitely one of my favorite ways to make chicken less boring!

    Reply
  21. Riya says

    April 4, 2016 at 7:53 AM

    Looking so yummy… My family love tacos..I think my family will also love it. I am going to give it a try…

    Reply

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