Adobo Chicken Tacos

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These Adobo Chicken Tacos can be dinner-ready in just 30 minutes or less and features a super simple Ranch Coleslaw.

Adobo seasoning has quickly become one of my go-to seasonings because it’s 1) easy to make and 2) endlessly customizable. Well-seasoned chicken can be whipped up quickly without hours of marinading, which is perfect for weekday meals. And what else is perfect for weekday meals? TACOS!

Boneless skinless chicken thighs are my cut of choice for these Adobo Chicken Tacos (thick thighs save lives!), but you could also use chicken breasts. You can use any cooking preparation you’d like for your chicken – baked, pan-fried, grilled, air fried, etc.

Click here for Air Fryer Adobo Chicken instructions; they take 18-20 minutes and come out cooked to perfection without having to use any type of cooking oil or butter.

How do you make Spicy Adobo Seasoning?

Adobo seasoning is one of those all-purpose seasonings that you can easily make from seasoning staples like garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oregano. Mine strays from traditional adobo seasonings because I wanted to bring the heat with cayenne pepper and chili powder. One of the best things about homemade adobo seasoning is that it can be used in many applications, even if your meal doesn’t slant Latin American.

To make my version of adobo seasoning, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon  salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder 
• 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano (or regular oregano)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Pinch of granulated sugar

Add all ingredients to a spice grinder and grind for 10-15 seconds. 

*Makes enough to coat 8-9 boneless chicken thighs, aggressively seasoned.

How do you make Hidden Valley Ranch Coleslaw?

Ingredients

2 cups cabbage, thinly sliced (I used a mandolin to achieve super thin cabbage strips)

Ranch Coleslaw Dressing Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon sour cream

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk until combined. 
2. Pour dressing over sliced cabbage and mix until well combined.
3. Refrigerate until ready to use. For best results, make 2-4 hours ahead of time.

*This is enough for around 8 tacos, give or take.

How do you make Adobo Chicken Tacos?

Here’s how you bring all the components together. The following instructions are more like guidelines – I would recommend preparing 2 chicken thighs per person, which makes approximately 3-4 tacos.

Any leftover chicken makes awesome quesadillas. The Spicy Adobo Seasoning recipe above is enough to coat 8-9 hearty chicken thighs.

To make Adobo Chicken Tacos you will need the following:

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs (plan on making 2 per person)
• Spicy Adobo Seasoning (see recipe above)
• Hidden Valley Ranch Coleslaw (see recipe above, makes enough for around 8 tacos)
• Street style tortillas (corn or flour)
• Crumbly cheese (optional)
• Hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Aggressively season each nook and cranny of your chicken thighs with homemade spicy adobo seasoning. You can of course go lighter on the seasoning if you aren’t a salt-lover like I am; you will likely have some leftover seasoning if you opt for a lighter application.
2. Cook your chicken using your cooking method of choice. Check out these instructions for the perfect Air Fryer Adobo Chicken.
3. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before cutting or serving.
4. Cut chicken into slices.
5. Put a tortilla on a plate. Add a few slices of chicken, then top with Ranch Coleslaw. Sprinkle on some crumbly cheese and add a few dashes of hot sauce (optional)
6. Dig in!

What is Adobo Seasoning?

Adobo seasoning is an all-purpose seasoning like seasoned salt. It typically contains salt, garlic powder, oregano, turmeric, black pepper, and other Latin spices. It’s great for quickly flavoring everything from meat proteins to seafood to vegetables. You’ve likely seen premade versions from brands like GOYA in the spice aisle at the grocery store, but you can easily make your own at home. And tweak it in fun and interesting ways, as I did in this recipe to make it spicy by adding chili powder, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of sugar. 

Other Suggested Spicy Adobo Seasoning Additions

You could also try mixing it up with these herbs and spices. Add some dried citrus zest to the mix for seafood applications, or accentuate smoky flavors with paprika when grilling.

• Thyme
• Bay leaf (ground)
• Chipotle chili powder
• Paprika (including smoked or hot Hungarian)
• Dried citrus zest (lemon or lime)

What can you use homemade adobo seasoning for besides chicken?

Pork, beef, shrimp, fish, potatoes, corn, well you get the idea. Adobo seasoning is fantastic on pretty much everything protein or vegetable. It’s a good all-purpose seasoning that you can simply sprinkle on, use as a rub, or as a base for a marinade. When using keep in mind that it is salt-forward. 

What should I serve with Adobo Chicken Tacos?

You should definitely pair Adobo Chicken Tacos with these slammin’ sides:

• Easy Seasoned Refried Beans
• Spicy Watermelon Feta Salad
• Zesty Baked Potato Soup
• Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

What else can I make in my air fryer?

Try these other tasty air fried recipes:

• Air Fryer Walleye
• Smoky Air Fryer Chickpeas
• Air Fryer Pickle Spears

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