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Healthy Chicken Tacos (Soft Chicken Tacos)

WRITER BYCassie
POSTEDMarch 28, 2019
JUMP TO RECIPE

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.  

3 chicken tacos on a wooden board

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.

a fork pressing into mashed avocado in a white bowl

mini flour tortillas on top of alfoil

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 

diced raw chicken, onion and capsicum pieces on a baking tray

cooked chicken, onion and capsicum on a baking tray

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

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.
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.
Assemble tacos with your favourite toppings and enjoy.
Quick tip:  Got leftover taco chicken?  Use it in this Mexican Chicken Salad.  

2 chicken tacos on a wooden cutting board

two chicken tacos on a wooden board

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
  • Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
  • 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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RECIPE

Healthy Chicken Tacos

Healthy Chicken 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. 

5 Stars (14 Reviews)

servings

8

Scale

Ingredients

To serve

Optional Toppings

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.  

Did you make this? Tell us about it!

Nutrition Facts

Servings:8
Serving Size:1

Amount Per Serving:

calories

184kcal

carbohydrates

14g

protein

20g

cholesterol

56mg

sodium

115mg

fiber

2g

sugar

1g

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5

9 comments & reviews

Susan Minich

Susan Minich

January 16, 2018

These look so delicious! What great flavor combinations! I wish I weren't allergic to dairy, but I'm sure they'd be great with some dairy-free sour cream.

Cassie

Cassie

January 16, 2018

I wish we ha some more alternatives here so I could play around with them!

Mica

Mica

January 18, 2018

Yum, these look so good! A chicken taco is a go too for us too, quick meal on a busy day as it's self-assembly once the chicken is cooked, hehe! 🙂

Hope that you are having a good week so far!
Away From The Blue Blog

Cassie

Cassie

January 19, 2018

It's such a great weeknight dinner!

Jules

Jules

March 9, 2018

Oh my gosh these are a family favourite!!! My husband asks for them every week.

Cassie

Cassie

March 9, 2018

Yay Jules! I'm so glad you love these tacos! They are our favourite too.

Tadej

Tadej

March 16, 2018

Ok this is a dish that my girlfriend will love, thank you for sharing.

Cassie

Cassie

March 17, 2018

Tacos are the best!

Mimi

Mimi

April 20, 2019

At what temperature do you set the oven to?

Cassie

Cassie

April 20, 2019

Mimi I can't believe I missed that - thank you for picking this up! I set it to 180C / 350F. I'll go pop that in the recipe now.

Johnd549

Johnd549

May 26, 2019

As soon as I detected this site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them. eedkdcededgf

Cassie

Cassie

May 26, 2019

Thanks for the support John!

Jules

Jules

June 15, 2019

Oh my gosh these are a family favourite!!! My husband asks for them every week.

Chutneys South Indian Cuisine

Chutneys South Indian Cuisine

July 12, 2019

I love the recipe thank you for sharing your post

Cassie

Cassie

July 13, 2019

Thanks glad you liked it

Kat Edwards

Kat Edwards

September 28, 2023

Excellent, we loved them! They are fast and easy to make.

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