We all have our go-to orders when we’re looking for a good “lunch near me.” You know where you want to go or what kind of food you’re looking for, but you don’t want to spend ages looking at the menu and making up your mind. At El Tapatio, we know the value of having options when you’re feeling adventurous and having the classics when you just need some lunch. One of those classics when it comes to Mexican food is chicken tacos.
Let’s have a look at chicken tacos for “lunch near me” and how you can make them yourself!
Make Delicious Tacos at Home
If you’ve never tried to make chicken tacos at home, it’s actually pretty simple. You can whip something up with leftover chicken and your favorite salsa, or you can start from scratch. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 white onions
- 4 cloves garlic
- Bay leaves
- Black peppercorns
- Kosher salt
- 4 small tomatoes (we recommend plum or Roma)
- 2-3 chipotles in adobo, plus some extra adobo sauce
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Olive oil
You’ll also want your favorite tortillas to serve, plus whatever you like to top your tacos with. Avocado, cilantro, and lime are always tasty choices.
Once you’ve assembled your ingredients, you’re ready to start. First, put the chicken and one of the onions (peeled and halved) into a medium-sized pot along with the garlic, a couple of bay leaves, a teaspoon of peppercorns, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Cover it all with water by about half an inch and bring it all to a boil. Then reduce it to a simmer and cover until the chicken is cooked. It should be 165 degrees at the thickest part. It should take about 10-15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board.
Add the tomatoes to the cooking liquid and cook until they soften and the skin begins to peel away. Pull them out and peel them after they’ve cooled. Drain the cooking liquid, but save half a cup. Hang on to the onion and garlic. Put the peeled tomatoes, onion, garlic, chipotles, spices, and cooking liquid into a blender and blend until smooth.
Next, take a large skillet and heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Take the other onion, thinly sliced, and cook until it softens a bit a takes on some color. It should take about 5 minutes. While the onion is cooking, shred the chicken. Pour your tomato mixture into the skillet, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. After about 5 minutes, add the shredded chicken. Stir it as it cooks for another 3-4 minutes.
Now you’re ready to eat! Spoon it onto your favorite tortillas and serve it however you like.
Grab Lunch Near Me at El Tapatio!
If cooking up your own tacos isn’t quite your thing, let El Tapatio do it for you! When you’re on the hunt for good “lunch near me,” you can stop your search and come visit us for some authentic Mexican cooking.