Baked Chicken Tacos
What is it about tacos? I love ’em like I love me some Tim Riggins. Beef, pork, chicken, veggies… you name it, I’m all over them. Shirt on, shirt off, sober, drunk… I’ll take #33 wrapped up in a tortilla any day of the week. But then again, Mr. Riggins wrapped up in anything is bound to be edible, right?
Man oh man how I miss the time in my life that was Friday Night Lights. My husband and I started watching the series shortly after my second son was born and I’m pretty sure we watched the first 4 seasons in a matter of weeks. We loafed around our house in a post baby slumber taking naps, snuggling the little one and watching what might have been an unhealthy amount of tv. The show sucked us in and we were in the perfect state to be glued to the couch and our tv. Soaking in the newborn baby, spending so much time together… it was a special time for us. Life is usually so on the go for us. I look back at those few weeks and realize how special they were. It was pretty great having the Mr. around for a long chunk of time with no agenda. Just me, my man, my little man, Riggins, Coach and Tammy.
After we devoured the first few seasons, we (not so) patiently waited for the last season to come out and then watched it slowly, savoring each episode as we knew it was quickly coming to an end. For the record, my husband would NEVER use the words ‘devour’ or ‘savor’ when talking about my beloved FNL or anything for that matter but whatever. My point is we loved watching the show together and now that’s it’s long over, we’ve yet to find a series we both really dig. Parenthood is fantastic and we laugh and cried our way through the first two seasons, we bulldozed through House of Cards in just under a week, but nothing has really caught us and as of now we have nothing new to watch together. We’re in a series rut.
We do plenty of other fun things together; we try to have a snowboarding date a few times a week, we play tennis, go out to eat… but sometimes loafing around the house is what the doctor ordered. Now that life has slowed down for me, I want a series where we can pull the blinds, take lunch to bed and watch episode after episode of something. I’m tired of watching poker just as I’m sure he’s tire of Giada and Alton. I’m turning to you folks. What are you watching? Are you loving anything that I don’t know about? WE NEED A MORE TV INTERVENTION. Said no one ever.
So what do these tacos have to do with tv anyway? Nothing expect my love of tacos and Tim Riggins seemed somewhat relative. And these are the perfect lunch/dinner to bring to bed or the couch to watch said series. They’re easy, delicious and maybe my new favorite thing. I got the idea of baking the shells after I saw a post Bree did a month or so ago. She’s onto something, folks. Not rocket science, you can fill these shells with whatever your little heart or bellies desire. I did a riff on my slow cooker chicken and added the same dried spices I use for ground beef tacos. What makes these special is the crispy, golden shells after you bake them. The filling is an afterthought. A really tasty afterthought but still, it’s all about the shells. I don’t think I’ll ever make regular tacos again. Crispy shells = the real deal.
Seriously, what are you watching right now? Please share with me. We NEED a new show.
And?
Where is Tim Riggins? Is he on hiatus? I need him back in my life.
PrintBaked Chicken Tacos
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Pin RecipeDescription
A make ahead dish thanks to the slow cooker. These are some of the best chicken tacos I’ve ever had. Baking the shells makes them toasty and nutty! A perfect weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 lb organic boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 cup organic low sodium chicken stock (or homemade)
- 12 organic corn tortilla shells
- cotija cheese
- smashed avocado or guacamole
- fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Place chicken in slow cooker.
- Mix all dried ingredients into a small bowl; sprinkle over the chicken breasts.
- Pour in the chicken stock.
- Cook on low for 6 hours.
- When chicken is cooked, use two forks to shred chicken. (Chicken can be made up to a day ahead)
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
- Place the taco shells in a oven proof baking dish. Divide chicken among taco shells.
- Top with a sprinkling of cojita cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until shells are toasty and golden brown.
- Remove from oven and top with smashed avocado, fresh cilantro and hot sauce.
31 Comments
I was just thinking about baked tacos this morning, thanks to you. Gonna have to make them soon!
And we are completely hooked on The West Wing right now on Netflix. Completely. Hooked.
My in-laws love(d) that show. Thanks for the rec!
House of Cards in a week? Good Grief! I can’t wait for it to come back on. Have you watched Breakin Bad? So good. Nurse Jackie too. Now I have to go get those shells.
My husband was recovering from a hockey injury so we hunkered down in bed and watched them ALL in a week. It was crazy. But great!!
I am so behind on my TV watching…I haven’t watched a single episode of Friday Night Lights. These tacos look fantastic (shirt on, shirt off…loved that).
I completely missed Friday Night Lights when it was out, but then I bought the whole series and couldn’t stop watching the show! Absolutely loved it. And I have wondered many times why that actor just disappeared after the show.
I do love The Good Wife and Mad Men, but haven’t found anything else that really caught my attention in the newer shows.
BTW, another vote here for The West Wing. Lydia is sharing it with me and right now I’m waiting for her to send me Season 6. BEST SHOW EVER. (Maybe even better than Friday Night Lights.)
Your new site looks great! I’m totally making these tacos this week. The Brussels sprouts look awesome – I have to try them with lemon. I’ve been obsessed too.
Thanks Melissa! I’m eating a ridiculous amount of brussels right now thanks to you! The lemon is a really nice touch.
Try Game of Thrones. My husband and I have been sucked in.
I’ve heard multiple people suggest it, we’ll look into it!
These look awesome! We just started watching that show last week! So good!!!!
Good Wife is definitely a great series to watch, especially if you go back to the start of it! Nothing compares to FNL though!
Good Wife is my favorite show on TV. I’m all caught up. My husband doesn’t watch it with me though. It’s all mine 🙂
These look delicious!! I love baking tacos in the oven for a little bit–it makes them so much better!
Recipe looks great, can’t wait to try it. I could eat tacos every week, but it’s nice to switch the recipe up a bit sometimes.
My husband and I recommend Breaking Bad (all but the last season is on Netflix) and The Americans (on FX).
Thanks for the recommendations! I’ve hear the Americans is really good.
Made these for Cinco de Mayo! Very yummy tacos!
p.s. have you seen The Wire?
I haven’t seen the Wire yet. It’s old, yes? I think my brother really liked it.
If you like detective shows with a twist…there are six seasons of Psych on Netflix..which is hysterical…a fake psychic helps the cops solve crimes.
Girl, you need to start watching “Scandal” ASAP! Season one is good – good enough to get hooked, but what follows is a fun and exciting series with an amazing amount of twists and turns every episode. Get on it! Definitely different than a FNL experience but totally enjoyable.
Thanks for the tip!
Will be trying these soon! Love baked tacos…
We would recommend “Arrested Development” (on Netflix…new season coming soon only on Netflix!). Also, we are HOOKED on all British TV…other than Downton Abbey (highly recommned), we enjoyed Doc Martin, Larkrise to Candleford, Call the Midwife, and Sherlock Holmes… 🙂
I knew we were almost kindred spirits when you loved good food and watching entire series’ in one sitting.
So here is my two cents of shows found on Netflix – Longmire and MI5 (although they do have a tendency to off a character we (read I) love.
Longmire is also A & E but you need to catch up. Nice ruggedly handsome, flawed Montana Sheriff, too cute deputy gunnin’ for Sheriff’s job, not overly cute girl-from-Philly PD-moved bcause of hubby’s job- I like her but can’t quite get over the scrunchies in the first two seasons. Really who still wears a scrunchy and can you still buy them? Poor wardrobing, and a not quite as goofy as he seems other deputy. Good story lines.
P.S. Love your food, have tried several and now that we are an empty nest-working more than full time-couple (YAHOO) I am always looking for slow-cooker recipes I can stand. I DO NOT understand the use of canned soups in slow-cookers. YUCK.
Thanks for the recommendations! Thanks for the kind comment and reading!
Yum! Tacos and Tim Riggins!
I just found your blog and I am looking forward to trying out your recipes! I love that you use fresh, healthy ingredients! I don’t have a slow cooker because most of the recipies I have seen call for canned soups, soda and other ingredients that I don’t want to use. With my very active 13 and 11 year olds, I am thinking it is time to get a slow cooker and find some recipes like these tacos. Do you have a slow cooker you would recomend? What brand, size and features are the best? Thank you!! I am so happy I have found your recipes!
I made these last night and my husband and I loved them. The only change I made was subbing 1/2 tsp garlic powder for the dried garlic flakes. This will be added to our recipe rotation!
So glad you enjoyed them- thanks for the comment and happy Taco Tuesday 🙂
Tacos look great! Mad Men is one of our favorites, sad it it coming to an end. We started watching Fargo. Very good, but not sure how long it will last as it is a mini series.
Game of thrones?
I want to watch breaking bad heard lots of great reviews