Healthy Chicken Tacos (Soft Chicken Tacos)

These Healthy Chicken Tacos are the best quick and easy weeknight dinner option.  A one-pan dish that's on the table in 25 minutes and full of flavour.  Cook them in the oven or on the stovetop.  Fill soft tortillas with this delicious chicken and your favourite fix-ins.  The whole family will love these soft chicken tacos.  

If there's one recipe on the blog that I've made the most, it's these healthy chicken tacos.  I make them at least once a week, sometimes twice.  They are a weeknight wonder - ready in just 25 minutes and completely stress free.

When I first posted this recipe back in January 2018 I would make them on the stovetop.  These days I make them in the oven.  Both ways work just fine, but I find oven baking the easier of the two given it makes it a one-pan dish and is less hands-on.

My favourite way to assemble the tacos is to spread some mashed avo and greek yoghurt on the tortilla, then cover with salsa, a little cheese, the chicken mixture and lettuce.  SO GOOD.

I’ve made servings for 4 here but you could easily double or triple the recipe to feed a larger crowd.  Throw all the fix-ins on the table and let everyone build their own.  Perfect particularly if you have some fussy eaters to please.

WHAT IS A SOFT TACO?

The "soft" in soft taco is referring to serving the tacos in a soft shell.  You can have either soft flour or corn tortillas, and both work well in this recipe.  They are very similar to wraps.

HOW MUCH CHICKEN DO I NEED FOR TACOS?

We use skinless and boneless chicken breasts to make these healthy chicken tacos.  The chicken is cut up into small chunks, and a little goes a long way when filling soft tortillas.

I recommend getting 700grams / 1 ½ lbs of chicken breast for 4 people.  This will yield approximately 8 tacos.  Feel free to scale the recipe up or down to feed more or less people.

HEALTHY CHICKEN TACOS INGREDIENTS LIST

Here's what you'll need to make these Healthy Chicken Tacos at home...

• Chicken Breast
• Olive Oil
• Paprika 
• Cumin
• Cayenne Pepper - OR you can use chilli powder if you'd prefer.
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Red Capsicum / Red Bell Pepper - OR you can use a mix of green / yellow / red.
• Brown Onion
• Tortillas - Corn, flour, soft or crunchy - whatever you prefer!

WHAT TO PUT ON A SOFT CHICKEN TACO? 

Feel free to assemble the tacos however you like with you favourite fix-ins.  I've added some popular serving suggestions below so you can mix and match.

• Lettuce
• Avocado
• Salsa
• Shredded Cheese
• Sour Cream / Greek Yoghurt
• Lime Wedges 
• Chopped Coriander 

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CHICKEN TACOS - STEP BY STEP

You can make these tacos two ways - in the oven or on the stovetop.  I prefer making them in the oven.  It's less hands-on, and the chicken is always lovely and juicy.

OVEN METHOD

First, preheat the oven to 180C / 350F.  Place chicken, capsicum / bell pepper and onion on a baking tray.  Sprinkle spices and oil on top, then mix well with your hands until all pieces are coated.

Then, pop the tray in the oven for 15-20 minutes, giving the tray a stir half way.

Assemble tacos with your favourite toppings and enjoy.

STOVETOP METHOD

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SOFT CHICKEN TACOS

Serve soft chicken tacos with your favourite fix-ins.  I recommend serving lettuce, salsa, sour cream or Greek yoghurt, cheese and healthy guacamole.

Why not make it a complete Mexican feast and serve some Mexican Shredded Beef too?

TIPS FOR MAKING SOFT CHICKEN TACOS

• Cook either via oven or stovetop method.  Both work well - stovetop will be faster but require more hands-on time.
• Use flour or corn tortillas here - either works fine.
• Serve with your favourite fix-ins.

MORE DELICIOUS DINNER RECIPES

• Grilled Chicken Burger
• Vegetarian Mexican Pizza
• Impossible Quiche
• Air Fryer Quesadillas
• Beef Chow Mein
• One-Pan Crispy Chicken Thighs and Vegetables
• Bacon and Mushroom Pasta
• Grilled Sausage and Veggie Skewers
• OR see all Dinner Recipes

If you’ve tried these Healthy Chicken Tacos I’d love to hear how you enjoyed them! Pop a comment and a star rating below!

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Healthy Chicken Tacos

Yield: 8 tacos

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

These Healthy Chicken Tacos are the best quick and easy weeknight dinner option.  A one-pan dish that's on the table in 25 minutes and full of flavour. 

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Ingredients

• 700 grams / 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, more if you love heat
• 1 red capsicum / bell pepper, diced
• 1 onion, diced

To serve

• 8 tortillas (flour or corn), heat to packet instructions

Optional Toppings

• Lettuce
• Avocado
• Salsa
• Shredded cheese
• Greek yoghurt
• Lime wedges
• Chopped Coriander

Instructions

Oven Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F.
2. Place chicken, capsicum / bell pepper and onion on a baking tray.  Sprinkle spices and oil on top, then mix well with your hands until all pieces are coated.
3. Pop the tray in the oven for 15-20 minutes until chicken in cooked through, giving the mix a stir half way. 
4. Assemble the tacos as you wish and enjoy! 

Stovetop Method

1. Add spices, oil and chicken into a bowl and mix until chicken is evenly coated.  Heat a frying pan on medium-high heat.  Cook the chicken in two batches, turning each batch halfway, until the chicken is cooked through (approx. 5-8 mins each batch).  Place cooked chicken in a clean bowl.  
2. Pour a little more oil to then pan, then add onion and capsicum and cook, stirring regularly, until onion is softened (approx 1-2 mins).  Add cooked chicken back to the pan, mix together with onion and capsicum then remove from heat.  
3. Assemble the tacos as you wish and enjoy! 

Notes

TIPS FOR MAKING SOFT CHICKEN TACOS

• Cook either via oven or stovetop method.  Both work well - stovetop will be faster but require more hands-on time.
• Use flour or corn tortillas here - either works fine. 
• Serve with your favourite fix-ins.  

UPDATE

• First Published - Jan 15 2018.  Last updated March 22, 2019.  Recipe adjusted slightly in accordance to rigorous recipe testing (e.g. eating these tacos every week for a year).  Photos updated.  Oven cooking method added.  

NUTRITION

• Nutrition information is a rough estimate for one taco without toppings.  

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Cholesterol: 56mgSodium: 115mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 20g

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