Friday, July 29, 2011

Tacos from Leftover Chicken





I've recently posted two recipes for roasted chicken - one in the slow cooker and one in the oven.  I've also posted one of my favorite ways to use the chicken from those roasted chickens.  We're usually able to get 2 or 3 meals out of one chicken, so it's nice to have a little variety, so we're not just eating chicken Caesar salad for a week straight.  Another one of my favorite meals to make with leftover chicken is tacos (or burritos).  You can use store-bought taco seasoning, but I made my own this last time.

Taco Seasoning
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp corn starch

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.



Chicken Tacos
Approximately 2-3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
Taco seasoning (see recipe above)
1/2 cup water
Tortillas
Desired toppings (lettuce, sour cream, cheese, beans, rice, salsa, hot sauce, olives, etc.)

Heat a skillet over medium heat.  Add chicken, taco seasoning, and water.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through and most of the water has evaporated.  The amount of seasoning will depend on your taste preferences.  I ended up adding the whole batch of seasoning, but you can start with less and add more after tasting.  Remove from heat; keep warm.



Warm tortillas in a clean skillet over medium heat.  Place chicken and other desired toppings; fold like a taco.  Note: To make this a cheaper meal, add beans and rice to the tacos.  This will mean you need less meat.  Additionally, make sure the chicken is on sale when you buy it.  I usually pay approximately $3.50 for a 5-lb. chicken and get a few meals out of it.


5 comments:

lisa said...

Does your taco seasoning turn out to be less expensive the the store bought packet?

Kimiko said...

I haven't actually done the math, but I assume it's cheaper than the packets. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the packets and don't want to make your own taco seasoning, I would recommend buying a large container of taco seasoning at Sam's Club or Costco. It's often the same brand as the packets, but you get a large container for the price of 3 or 4 packets.

Anonymous said...

It would be convenient if you stated the quantity of taco seasoning needed if we aren't making our own. Of course, we can add up the 1/4 tsps, etc.,but as I said, it would be more convenient.

Kimiko said...

This makes about 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning.

Anonymous said...

Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

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