Simple Chicken Tacos

Name: Simple Chicken Tacos with Leftover Salsa Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 1 lb leftover shredded salsa chicken; 8 flour tortillas; 1 head romaine lettuce; 1 cup shredded quesadilla cheese; 1/4 cup sour cream

These simple chicken tacos use leftover shredded salsa chicken to create a quick, no-fuss weeknight dinner that comes together in minutes with minimal toppings.

🌍Tex-Mex 🏷️Chicken tacos 🏷️Tacos 🏷️Leftover chicken 🏷️Quick dinner Weeknight meal

🏷️

🏷️Easy recipe

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Total

10 min

Servings

2

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$13–$21

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by applesauceandadhd

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Ingredients

1 lb leftover shredded salsa chicken
8 flour tortillas
1 head romaine lettuce
1 cup shredded quesadilla cheese
1/4 cup sour cream

5 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Warm the flour tortillas, for example, in the microwave.
2
Shred the romaine lettuce on a cutting board.
3
Rinse the shredded lettuce thoroughly and drain well.
4
Reheat the leftover shredded salsa chicken in a skillet.
5
Assemble the tacos by placing a portion of the warm chicken onto a tortilla.
6
Top the chicken with shredded quesadilla cheese.
7
Add a layer of the shredded lettuce.
8
Finish with a drizzle of sour cream.
9
Fold the tacos and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Warm the shredded chicken gently with salsa in a skillet over medium heat to prevent drying out and enhance flavor.
Warm tortillas individually in a dry skillet to keep them pliable and prevent cracking during assembly.
Build tacos with lettuce as a base layer to create a barrier that keeps the tortilla from getting soggy.
Keep toppings at room temperature or cool to preserve tortilla texture and prevent condensation.

Substitutions

Corn tortillas → Flour tortillas (lighter texture, more traditional)
Romaine lettuce → Shredded iceberg or cabbage (lighter or crunchier texture)
Quesadilla cheese → Cheddar or Monterey Jack (similar melting, different flavor)
Sour cream → Greek yogurt or Mexican crema (tangier or richer, respectively)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet with salsa before serving.

Common Questions

Can I use fresh chicken instead of leftover?

Yes. Shred 1 lb cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken and warm it with salsa before assembling tacos.

How do I warm the tortillas?

Heat flour tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 15-20 seconds per side until warm and pliable, or wrap in foil and warm in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes.

Can I prep these tacos ahead?

Warm the chicken and tortillas, then store separately in the fridge for up to 2 days. Assemble just before serving to keep tortillas soft and toppings fresh.