Description
These Ridiculously Good Chicken Tacos with Green Sauce are a quick and flavorful meal perfect for taco night. Juicy, seasoned chicken thighs are air-fried to crispy perfection and topped with a creamy, tangy green sauce made from avocado, mayo, cilantro, and lime. Fresh toppings like cilantro and onion add brightness, making these tacos irresistibly delicious in just 22 minutes.
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 of cotija cheese
- 1 big handful cilantro stems and leaves (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 clove garlic
- Juice of 1–2 limes (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons water (plus more as needed)
Toppings & Serving
- Tortillas (corn or flour as preferred)
- Limes for squeezing
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Diced onion
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs if desired. In a bowl, toss the chicken with soy sauce, avocado oil, and grated garlic. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and mix well to evenly coat the chicken.
- 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 golden brown, crusty on the outside, and cooked through but still juicy.
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken cooks, combine avocado, mayo, cotija cheese, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and water in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, adding more water if the sauce is too thick or more avocado/mayo if too thin.
- Chop the Chicken: Once cooked, let the chicken rest a few minutes. Then chop or shred the thighs into bite-sized pieces and squeeze some fresh lime juice over the meat to enhance the flavor.
- Assemble and Serve: Warm the tortillas. Spoon a dollop of the green sauce onto each tortilla, top generously with the chopped chicken, and finish with fresh cilantro and diced onion. Add extra lime wedges and sauce to taste. Enjoy your delicious chicken tacos!
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 and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side.
- Adjust the amount of taco seasoning based on your spice preference.
- Use gluten-free tortillas if needed to make the dish gluten-free.
- The green sauce can be customized by adding jalapeño for heat or substituting mayo with Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
