Ridiculously Good Chicken Tacos with Green Sauce Recipe
These Ridiculously Good Chicken Tacos feature juicy, golden chicken thighs seasoned with taco spices and cooked to perfection in an air fryer. Topped with a creamy, tangy green sauce made from avocado, mayo, lime, garlic, and cilantro, and garnished with fresh cilantro, diced onion, and cotija cheese, these tacos offer a flavorful, easy-to-make meal perfect for any taco night.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (about 8 tacos) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 clove garlic, grated (or 1 tsp garlic paste, or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 2–3 tablespoons taco seasoning (Siete brand recommended)
Green Sauce
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 3-ounce chunk cotija cheese
- 1 big handful cilantro stems and leaves (roughly 1/2 cup)
- 1 clove garlic
- Juice of 1–2 limes (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons water (more as needed)
To Serve
- Tortillas
- Limes
- Cilantro
- Diced onion
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs if desired. Toss the chicken with soy sauce, avocado oil, and grated garlic to coat evenly. Sprinkle with the taco seasoning and mix well to ensure the spices cover all the chicken pieces.
- Cook the Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 10-12 minutes until the chicken is crusty on the outside, golden brown, juicy, and cooked through.
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken cooks, combine avocado, mayo, cotija cheese, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons water in a small food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more water if too thick or more avocado/mayo if too thin.
- Chop the Chicken: Once cooked, let the chicken rest for a few minutes. Then roughly chop or pull the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Squeeze additional lime juice over the chopped chicken for brightness.
- Assemble the Tacos: Warm the tortillas. Spread a dollop of the green sauce onto each tortilla, add a generous pile of the chopped chicken, and top with fresh cilantro and diced onion. Add more sauce if desired, then serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook the chicken on the stovetop in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side.
- Adjust spice levels by varying the amount of taco seasoning used.
- The green sauce can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Use corn or flour tortillas according to your preference.
Keywords: chicken tacos, air fryer chicken, green sauce, Mexican tacos, easy dinner, avocado sauce
