Chicken Taco Marinade (Perfect for Tacos, Burritos & More)
The best chicken taco marinade! Make juicy, flavorful chicken for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more using your oven, smoker, or grill.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or sub chicken breasts
For Marinade:
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
To prepare:
- Combine all ingredients of the marinade and mix. Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs and place in a zip bag or airtight container with the marinade. Marinate for 2–24 hours. I typically let mine marinate overnight for the deepest flavor.
To smoke or bake:
- Preheat a smoker or oven to 250 °F. If using an oven, place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil (if available, if not just a rimmed baking sheet will do). If using a smoker, place directly on the grill grates. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, and the internal temp reaches 165 °F, about 1 to 2 hours. If desired, brush the chicken with the reserved marinade about halfway through cooking. Do not brush with the marinade during the final few minutes of cooking to ensure food-safe temperatures are reached.[If using chicken breasts, cooking time will vary depending on their thickness. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F.]
To grill:
- Preheat your grill to ~350 °F. Grill, flipping once, until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temp reaches 165 °F, about 10-15 minutes. If desired, brush on excess marinade after flipping. [If using chicken breasts, cooking time will vary depending on their thickness. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F.]
To serve:
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into small pieces. Use in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or as desired. See my recipes for Cheesy Chicken Street Tacos, Chicken Street Tacos, or Chicken Burritos for ideas on how to use this chicken!
To prepare in bulk for freezer:
- To freeze after cooking: Let the chicken cool completely after slicing into small pieces. Place in a zip bag or vacuum bag and seal with as little air as possible, then put in the freezer.
- To freeze before cooking: Place the chicken and the marinade mixture in a zip bag or vacuum bag and seal with as little air as possible. Place in the freezer before allowing any time to marinate.
To prepare from frozen - precooked:
- Defrost the cooked chicken, then warm in a pan over medium heat, mixing occasionally, until steaming hot throughout. Add a splash of water or oil if the chicken seems too dry as it's reheating.
To prepare from frozen - uncooked:
- Defrost the chicken at least 3 hours before you plan to cook it, giving it time to marinate. I suggest moving from the freezer to fridge the night before you plan to cook it. Follow the rest of the instructions as written.
Notes
See my recipes for Cheesy Chicken Street Tacos, Chicken Street Tacos, or Chicken Burritos for ideas on how to use this chicken!
Nutrition
Serving: 3oz cooked chickenCalories: 185kcalProtein: 22g
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