These Blackened Chicken Tacos are smoky, juicy, and layered with bold flavor. Tender blackened chicken breasts are tucked into warm tortillas, topped with creamy avocado lime crema, and finished with your favorite taco toppings. This is a fast and easy dinner recipe that you'll want to make on repeat.
If you love this recipe, make my Smoked Chicken Tacos or Air Fryer Blackened Salmon next!
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If you don't want spicy chicken, you can use my Air Fryer Thin Chicken Breasts, smoked Chili Lime Chicken Breasts, or Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs instead.
Add your favorite toppings to the chicken, like Miracle Whip Coleslaw or Kimchi Slaw, and you'll have an easy dinner on the table in just 30 minutes. I like to make extra so I can make Blackened Chicken Alfredo Pasta the next day.
You can even use this Authentic Corn Tortilla Recipe to make homemade corn tortillas.
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Why You'll Love These Blackened Chicken Tacos
- These juicy chicken breasts have big flavor with minimal effort
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings
- Creamy avocado lime crema cools down the heat
- reat for busy weeknights, your next taco night, or meal prep.
Ingredients
For the star of our tacos, the blackened chicken, you'll need:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Blackened seasoning. You can use store-bought or homemade. I made my own with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme leaves, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
To make the creamy avocado lime crema, you'll need:
- A ripe avocado
- Sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- Juice of 1 lime
- Garlic
- Salt to taste
For the Tacos and Toppings:
- Tortillas (corn or flour tortillas, your choice). You can also use my 3-ingredient flatbread.
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Chunky Homemade Salsa
- Diced red onion
- Crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese (or Cotija cheese)
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges for serving
How to Make Blackened Chicken Tacos
Step 1: Cook the Blackened Chicken
The first step is to prepare the chicken. Start by patting the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel.
If you are making homemade blackened seasoning (which I highly recommend you do because it is SO EASY and inexpensive), combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, and black pepper in a small bowl or empty shaker.
Next, rub the chicken breasts with olive oil. This helps the seasoning stick better so you get a nice, even sear. Then generously sprinkle them with the blackened seasoning. Make sure to cover all sides for maximum flavor.
Heat a cast iron skillet or grill over medium-high heat. You can even use a Camp Chef grill (like I did on my Traeger pellet grill) or a Blackstone flat top grill. Once it's hot, add the chicken. Cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is nicely blackened and cooked through (when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F).
Once the chicken is perfectly cooked, remove it from the pan and let it rest for a few minutes.
Step 2: Make the Avocado Lime Crema
While your chicken is resting, whip up the avocado lime crema. In a blender or food processor, combine the avocado, sour cream, lime juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of lime juice to thin it out.
Taste and add more salt if needed. Once you're happy with the flavor, transfer the mixture to a serving dish and set it aside with the taco toppings.
Step 3: Assemble the Tacos
Now comes the fun part - assembling your blackened chicken tacos! Start by warming your tortillas. You can do this in a dry skillet or grill over medium heat for about 45 seconds on each side, or directly over the flame of a gas stove for about 15 seconds on each side.
Slice the juicy chicken into thin strips on a cutting board. Add a few slices of blackened chicken to the warmed tortillas and top with your favorite toppings. I love a mix of shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, mango salsa, red onion, and a sprinkle of feta cheese. Then spread a generous amount of avocado lime crema over top and garnish with fresh cilantro if you like. Finally, fold the tortilla over and enjoy your homemade blackened chicken tacos!
Tips and Variations
- Spicy or mild: Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper in the seasoning up or down.
- Change proteins: You can also use boneless chicken thighs, chicken tenders, shrimp, or even tofu.
- Meal prep: Cook chicken in advance, store it in the fridge, and assemble fresh.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your blackened chicken tacos with fresh lime wedges and chopped fresh cilantro. They are also delicious with quick pickled jalapenos, sweet pickled jalapeños, quick pickled red onions, peach pico de Gallo, authentic pico de gallo, and jalapeno hot sauce.
Pair your tacos with Mexican rice, Instant Pot white rice, refried beans, or Mexican street corn salad.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Got leftovers? Store your blackened chicken and avocado lime crema separately in airtight containers in the fridge. They'll stay fresh for 3-4 days.
When you're ready to enjoy your tacos again, reheat the chicken in a skillet, microwave, or air fryer.
You can even freeze leftover chicken in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. It's perfect for meal prep or a quick dinner!
Recipe FAQ's
Blackened chicken is perfect for salads, sandwiches, pasta, burrito bowls, and wraps.
Thanks to the cayenne pepper in the seasoning, these tacos have a mild to moderate level of spiciness. You can adjust the heat by adding more or less cayenne or by not coating the chicken with a thick seasoning.
Yes, this recipe is gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free tortillas.
Coat chicken with blackened seasoning and sear in a hot skillet or grill until charred outside and cooked to 165°F inside.
Blackening is a cooking technique that involves coating the chicken in a blend of spices and searing them. The result is a deliciously charred exterior that's packed with flavor. However, despite the name, "blackened" doesn't mean burnt.
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Printable Recipe
Blackened Chicken Tacos with Avocado Lime Crema
Ingredients
For the Blackened Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or ½ teaspoon for a less spicier seasoning
For the Avocado Lime Crema
- 1 ripe avocado
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 lime, juiced 2 tablespoons
- 1 clove garlic
- ¼ salt or to taste
For the Tacos
- 8 small corn or flour tortillas
- 1 cup lettuce shredded
- 1 cup tomatoes diced
- ½ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup feta cheese or queso fresco crumbled
- ½ cup fresh cilantro chopped (optional)
- lime wedges for serving optional
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Prep the Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
- Make the Blackening Seasoning: Combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Season the Chicken: Coat chicken breasts with olive oil, then generously sprinkle with seasoning.
- Cook the Chicken: Grill or skillet cook chicken over medium-high heat until cooked through (165°F internal temperature) and nicely blackened, about 5-7 minutes on each side. Let rest for a few minutes.
Creamy Avocado Lime Crema
- Combine Ingredients: Blend avocado, sour cream, lime juice, garlic, and salt until smooth in a blender or food processor.
- Taste: Taste and add more salt if desired.
Assemble the Tacos
- Warm Tortillas: Heat tortillas in a skillet, on a grill, or over an open flame on a gas stove.
- Slice the Chicken: Slice cooked chicken into thin strips.
- Assemble Your Tacos: Fill warmed tortillas with blackened chicken, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, feta, and avocado lime crema. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges if desired. Fold over and enjoy!
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Notes
- Get creative with toppings. Try pickled jalapenos, red pickled onions, mango salsa, pineapple salsa, pico de Gallo, or crumbled Cotija cheese.
- Make extra avocado lime crema to use as a dipping sauce for chips, potatoes, or shrimp; or as a topping for other dishes.
- Set up a taco bar with all your toppings so everyone can add their favorites.
- Use leftover blackened chicken in salads, wraps, or quesadillas.
- Store leftover crema and chicken separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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