Our Chicken Poblano Tacos are a delicious blend of grilled chicken, smoky poblanos, and fresh pipicha, all garnished with cilantro and cotija cheese.
Our neighborhood Farmer’s Market opened this past weekend, so we picked up some goodies. I brought home fava beans, Mexican mint, and pipicha (pictured at the top of the photo above). While I had never heard of pipicha before, the farm owner explained that it is an herb commonly used in Mexican cooking.
It tastes like a cross between cilantro and mint, with hints of lemon and anise. I brought home a bundle and had to try it out right away. I also used some of my mints to make drinks I’ve dubbed “Brazilian Mojitos.”
Table of Contents
Reasons to Love These Chicken Tacos
- The combination of cilantro, pipicha, and lime in Chicken Poblano Tacos adds a fresh, zesty taste.
- Chicken Poblano Tacos recipe makes fantastic leftovers, perfect for next-day lunches or quick dinners.
- This recipe is straightforward, making it easy to whip up a delicious meal in no time.
Recipe Ingredients
- Poblano Pepper: Smoky and mildly spicy, these chiles bring a rich, earthy flavor and a slight crunch when roasted, adding depth to the tacos.
- Pipicha: This herb is a flavor bomb, mixing cilantro, mint, lemon, and anise notes. It adds a fresh, vibrant touch that brightens up the tacos.
- Cumin: Warm and aromatic, cumin gives the tacos an earthy, savory kick.
For a full list of ingredients and amounts, see the recipe card below.
Variations
- Garnish Options: Add tangy crunch with pickled red onions and creamy richness with guacamole. Lime wedges provide a zesty, citrusy kick, while fresh jalapeño slices bring a touch of heat. A dollop of sour cream adds a cool, creamy contrast, and shredded cheese offers an extra layer of flavor.
- Seasoning Alternatives: Feel free to mix things up with your Chicken Poblano Tacos. A bit of smoked paprika adds a smoky flavor, while chili powder gives it a bit of a kick. Garlic powder can add some depth to the taste. And when you’re short on time, taco seasoning is a quick and flavorful option that works perfectly.
How to Make Chicken Poblano Tacos
Step #1: Make the corn tortilla dough by combining the masa harina and water in a medium bowl. Mix with your hands and form it into a large ball. If it is crumbly, add a little more water. If it is sticking to your hands, add a little more masa harina. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
Step #2: Meanwhile, place a heavy pan (preferably cast iron) on the stove and heat to medium-high. Season your chicken breast with salt, pepper, and cumin. Once your pan is hot, add a bit of oil to the pan (olive oil works great) and add your chicken breasts. Let them sear for one minute, then turn them over, turn the heat down to low/simmer, and cover the pan. Set a timer for ten minutes and leave the chicken alone – don’t open the lid!
Step #3: While your chicken is cooking, preheat your oven’s broiler to its highest setting. Place your poblano chiles on a baking sheet and place on the highest rack in your oven. Check on your poblanos every minute or so, turning occasionally so the peppers become charred and roasted on all sides. You want the skin to blister but not to burn and turn black. Once they have finished (about ten minutes or so), remove from the oven and turn your oven down to 200°C. Place the peppers in a bowl and cover it with tin foil. About this time your kitchen timer for your chicken will go off. Turn the burner off and reset your timer for another ten minutes. Once this second timer goes off, your chicken is done and ready to be shredded. Remove it to a cutting board and shred it with two forks.
Step #4: Now, remove the tin foil from your poblanos and bring them over to your sink. With the cold water running (just a mild stream), peel off the broiled outer skin. It should rub off easily as it has been steaming under the foil. The cold water will also help it peel off. Once you have the skin off, pull the stem out, open up your pepper, and rinse all of the seeds out. Once both peppers are skinless and seedless, move them over to your cutting board and chop them up. Place in an oven-safe bowl with the shredded chicken.
Step #5: Turn your pan back onto medium-high heat and add your chopped pipicha. Stir it around with a wooden spoon to get it mixed in with all the yummy leftover chicken goodness. Keep it moving so it does not burn. Once the pan is nice and hot, pour in some tequila and let it bubble in the pan. Keep working the bottom of the pan with your wooden spoon until the liquid is reduced. If you don’t have any tequila, you could just use a little chicken broth or water. Empty the pan’s contents into the bowl with the chicken and poblanos. Place the bowl in your oven to keep it warm.
Step #6: Divide your tortilla dough into 12 equally-sized balls, rolling with your hands to ensure the dough doesn’t have cracks. Get that dirty pan back on your stove and put the heat back on medium-high. One by one, place a ball into your tortilla press (or under a pie plate) between two pieces of parchment paper. Press into tortillas. As each tortilla is pressed, drop it directly into your hot pan and cook for 30 seconds per side, or until golden brown with spots. Place cooked tortillas on a plate in the oven to keep warm.
Step #7: Once all of your tortillas are cooked, pull all of your goodies out of the oven and assemble them into tacos. Start with the tortilla on the bottom, top with some of the chicken-poblano mixture, and garnish with cilantro, pipicha, and cotija cheese.
Expert Tips
- Roasting Poblanos: For an even char, rotate the poblano chiles frequently under the broiler. Using tongs to turn them ensures all sides are evenly blistered without burning.
- Tortilla Pressing: If you don’t have a tortilla press, use a heavy skillet or a pie plate to press the tortillas. Place the dough balls between parchment paper to prevent sticking.
FAQs
This recipe calls for chicken breast, which is lean and cooks quickly. Alternatively, you can use chicken thighs for a juicier and more flavorful option. For convenience and added flavor, use leftover rotisserie chicken.
Yes, you can bake the Chicken Poblano Tacos. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C), assemble the tacos, place them on a baking sheet, and bake for about 10-15 minutes until heated through and slightly crispy.
Storage Info
Store leftover Chicken Poblano Tacos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can freeze the chicken and poblano mixture in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
To reheat, thaw the frozen mixture in the refrigerator overnight, then warm it in a skillet over medium heat until hot. Reheat tortillas in a hot pan for 30 seconds per side or wrap them in foil and warm in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 10 minutes.
Alternatively, microwave the chicken mixture on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through, and microwave the tortillas for 15-20 seconds each.
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Chicken Poblano Tacos Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 Poblano Chiles
- 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breast - two small breasts; or, use leftover rotisserie chicken
- 3 Tbsp. pipicha - roughly chopped (substitute cilantro and/or mint if you can’t get your hands on any pipicha)
- 1 3/4 c. masa harina - or, use store-bought tortillas if you’re into that sort of thing
- 1 1/8 c. water
- Cumin - salt, and pepper to taste
- Splash of tequila
- Cilantro and cotija cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Make the corn tortilla dough by combining the masa harina and water in a medium bowl. Mix with your hands and form it into a large ball. If it is crumbly, add a little more water. If it is sticking to your hands, add a little more masa harina. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place a heavy pan (preferably cast iron) on the stove and heat to medium-high. Season your chicken breast with salt, pepper, and cumin. Once your pan is hot, add a bit of oil to the pan (olive oil works great) and add your chicken breasts. Let them sear for one minute, then turn them over, turn the heat down to low/simmer, and cover the pan. Set a timer for ten minutes and leave the chicken alone – don’t open the lid!
- While your chicken is cooking, preheat your oven’s broiler to its highest setting. Place your poblano chiles on a baking sheet and place on the highest rack in your oven. Check on your poblanos every minute or so, turning occasionally so the peppers become charred and roasted on all sides. You want the skin to blister but not to burn and turn black. Once they have finished (about ten minutes or so), remove from the oven and turn your oven down to 200°C. Place the peppers in a bowl and cover it with tin foil. About this time your kitchen timer for your chicken will go off. Turn the burner off and reset your timer for another ten minutes. Once this second timer goes off, your chicken is done and ready to be shredded. Remove it to a cutting board and shred it with two forks.
- Now, remove the tin foil from your poblanos and bring them over to your sink. With the cold water running (just a mild stream), peel off the broiled outer skin. It should rub off easily as it has been steaming under the foil. The cold water will also help it peel off. Once you have the skin off, pull the stem out, open up your pepper, and rinse all of the seeds out. Once both peppers are skinless and seedless, move them over to your cutting board and chop them up. Place in an oven-safe bowl with the shredded chicken.
- Turn your pan back onto medium-high heat and add your chopped pipicha. Stir it around with a wooden spoon to get it mixed in with all the yummy leftover chicken goodness. Keep it moving so it does not burn. Once the pan is nice and hot, pour in some tequila and let it bubble in the pan. Keep working the bottom of the pan with your wooden spoon until the liquid is reduced. If you don’t have any tequila, you could just use a little chicken broth or water. Empty the pan’s contents into the bowl with the chicken and poblanos. Place the bowl in your oven to keep it warm.
- Divide your tortilla dough into 12 equally-sized balls, rolling with your hands to ensure the dough doesn’t have cracks. Get that dirty pan back on your stove and put the heat back on medium-high. One by one, place a ball into your tortilla press (or under a pie plate) between two pieces of parchment paper. Press into tortillas. As each tortilla is pressed, drop it directly into your hot pan and cook for 30 seconds per side, or until golden brown with spots. Place cooked tortillas on a plate in the oven to keep warm.
- Once all of your tortillas are cooked, pull all of your goodies out of the oven and assemble them into tacos. Start with the tortilla on the bottom, top with some of the chicken-poblano mixture, and garnish with cilantro, pipicha, and cotija cheese.
NOTES
Nutrition
These tacos were warm, bright, and so easy to enjoy on a weeknight!