These blackened chicken tacos are an easy dinner recipe made with juicy chicken breasts topped with creamy avocado lime crema and your favorite taco toppings.
If you love this recipe, make my Air Fryer Blackened Salmon next!
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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.
Don't worry, though. Despite the name, "blackened" it doesn't mean burnt.
If you don't want spicy chicken, you can use my air fryer thin chicken breasts, smoked chili lime chicken breasts, marinated boneless chicken thighs, or air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs instead.
What Makes Blackened Chicken Tacos Irresistible?
Blackened chicken tacos have a flavor that's hard to resist. The secret lies in the blackened seasoning, which gives the chicken a spicy and smoky flavor with a crispy exterior.
But it's not just about the chicken. The avocado lime crema adds a creamy, tangy contrast that balances out the heat. And when you wrap it all up in a warm tortilla with your favorite toppings? Well, it's utter deliciousness. Even picky eaters will love them. You can even use this authentic corn tortilla recipe to make homemade corn tortillas!
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, your choice). You can also use my 3-ingredient flatbread.
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced red onion
- Crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges for serving
How to Make Blackened Chicken Tacos with Avocado Lime Crema
Step 1: Make 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 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 skillet 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.
Add a few slices of blackened chicken on the warmed tortillas and top with your favorite toppings - I love a mix of shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, 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!
Expert Tips for Customizing Your Tacos
One of the best things about making tacos at home is that you can customize them any way you like. If you like your tacos a bit spicier, add more cayenne pepper to the blackening seasoning or top your tacos with some spicy salsa or hot sauce.
If you like your tacos milder, reduce the amount of blackening seasoning or the cayenne pepper in the seasoning.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your blackened chicken tacos with fresh lime wedges and chopped fresh cilantro. They are also delicious with pickled jalapeños, peach pico de Gallo, or authentic pico de gallo.
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
Yes, you can make these chicken tacos ahead of time by prepping the chicken, avocado lime crema, and toppings up to two days in advance. Just reheat the chicken and warm the tortillas before assembling
Absolutely. You can leave it out or use parsley instead.
Blackened chicken is perfect for salads, sandwiches, pasta, burrito bowls, and wraps.
Yes, you can use different cuts of chicken like boneless chicken thighs or chicken tenders.
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 not coating the chicken in thick seasoning.
Yes, this recipe is gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free tortillas.
More Easy Taco Recipes You May Enjoy
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- Jeri
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!
Video
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Recipe 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 INFORMATION
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
About Jeri Walker
Jeri Walker is the founder and CEO of Winding Creek Ranch. She is a self-taught home cook who specializes in easy family-friendly recipes. Jeri is also a food writer who regularly writes articles for MSN. Read about Jeri's journey and connect with her on your favorite social media channels!
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