These rotisserie chicken tacos are easy to throw together and requires no cooking! Warmed corn tortillas are loaded with juicy, shredded rotisserie chicken and then topped with Mexican slaw. This easy dinner recipe is made with only 7 ingredients and is perfect when you have no time to prepare dinner!
We all have those days when we're too tired to make dinner. When those times hit, I typically run to my 30-minute or less dinner recipes and make this Easy Penne Pasta Bake or these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
But when I don't want to cook at all, I make these rotisserie chicken tacos. They are topped with a simple Mexican slaw and is ready and on the table in 15 minutes! This easy chicken taco recipe is a huge hit in our house and pairs really well with these crock pot pinto beans, Mexican rice, and this elote Mexican corn recipe.
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Why This Recipe Works
1. It requires no cooking and comes together quickly!
2. A light dinner that will leave you full, but is not overly heavy.
3. Perfect for leftovers.
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
- Rotisserie chicken - use a pre-cooked store bought rotisserie chicken. It can easily and quickly be shredded.
- Salsa - provides a lot of flavor and adds moisture to the these rotisserie chicken tacos. Use either mild, medium, or hot. Picante sauce also works well.
- Corn tortillas - use soft shell tortillas.
- Olive oil - avoid using extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is lighter and is added to the Mexican slaw to provide moisture and flavor.
- Shredded cabbage - instead of lettuce, use shredded green cabbage. This will give light and refreshing flavor.
- Lime juice - used in the Mexican slaw, freshly squeezed limes produce the best juice and will provide the best flavor.
- Cilantro - mixed into the Mexican slaw, this adds a fresh flavor.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!
📋 Variations
- Salsa - use either salsa or picante sauce. Mild, medium, or hot all taste great on these rotisserie chicken tacos. A flavored salsa also pairs well.
- Cabbage - try incorporating purple cabbage in with the green cabbage. Napa cabbage also works well and brings out a lot of flavor.
- Oil - try substituting avocado oil. Avoid flavored olive oils since they tend to overpower the natural flavors in the Mexican slaw.
- Taco Shells and wraps - crunchy corn tacos or soft flour tortillas are also a great substitution to the soft corn taco shells.
- Meat substitutions - chicken thighs, chicken breasts, shredded pork, ground beef, and ground turkey taste great and make for a good substitution.
🔪 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
Step 1: Shred the rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large bowl. Add ½ cup of salsa and stir well.
Step 2: Place the bowl of chicken in the microwave and heat for 1-2 minutes, until warm. Mix to combine and set aside.
Step 3: To make the Mexican slaw, use a separate large bowl and combine the shredded cabbage, chopped cilantro, olive oil, and fresh lime juice. Mix well and set aside.
Step 4: Now it's time to start putting the tacos together. Start by placing the shredded chicken taco meat in a corn tortilla shell and then top it with the Mexican slaw.
Finish these rotisserie chicken tacos off with some of your favorite toppings such as feta cheese, guacamole, Mexican street corn, or black bean salsa.
From start to finish, these tacos are ready to eat in 15 minutes total! It really doesn't get any easier than this!
🌮 Toppings
When it comes to taco topping, the options are endless. Here's some ideas:
- Cheese - adding Cotija cheese provides a creamy and velvety texture that softens even more when placed on the warm chicken. Feta cheese is also a good choice, providing a salty and tangy flavor that pairs well with the fresh lime.
- Fresh Avocado - an alternative to cheese that provides a fresh creamy flavor.
- Fresh Tomatoes -adds fresh flavor and amazing texture to every bite.
- Jalapeños - adds an extra layer of hot and spicy.
- Sour Cream - the perfect creamy topping for any taco!
- Black Olives - adds a lot of flavor and texture.
- Onions - both red, yellow and sweet onions taste great.
🙋 Recipe FAQs
The key to the tortillas not breaking is to warm them. Try some of these effective methods to warm soft corn tortillas:
Open Flame On A Gas Stove - If you have a gas burner, light the flame and char the taco shell flipping it over with a pair of tongs. The goal is to warm the tortilla so it is pliable.
Grill - Using the same concept as above, light the grill and char the tortillas until slightly warm.
Microwave - grab 3-5 tortillas and wrap them in a damp paper towel. Place them in the microwave and heat for 20-30 seconds until each tortilla is warm.
Oven - this is how restaurants typically warm tortillas. Wrap 3-5 tortillas in a piece of aluminum foil. Set the oven to 350°F and bake the stacks of tortillas for 15-20 minutes until the tortillas are warm.
Skillet - Add a little bit of olive oil in the skillet and swirl the tortilla around until its well coated. Heat each side for 20-30 seconds and then start making the tacos.
Yes! A lot of grocery stores will sell freshly shredded chicken breast or rotisserie chicken. Ask the butcher to see if they have an in stock.
💭 Expert Tips
- Quality Tortillas - using a good quality tortilla will not only enhance the taste, but will make the tacos more durable. Using a good quality tortilla shell is a game changer. In this Best Corn Tortillas article, you'll learn about 8 brands that are worth trying out. I use Guerrero White Corn Tortillas and have no problems with breakage after warming.
- Meal Prep - this is the perfect recipe to use when meal prepping! You can easily double this recipe to eat on all week for lunches. Portion out the chicken into individual containers for perfect portion control.
- Canned Chicken - avoid using canned chicken. It throws off the flavor and the texture.
- Storage: if there is any leftover chicken, store it in a container with a lid. Store the Mexican slaw in a separate container with a lid. It should last in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
🌮 More Mexican Inspired Recipes
If you tried making these Rotisserie Chicken Tacos with Mexican Slaw or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!
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Rotisserie Chicken Tacos With Mexican Slaw
Ingredients
Taco Ingredients
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- ½ cup salsa
- 8 corn tortilla, warmed
Mexican Slaw
- 4 cups shredded cabbage, raw
- ⅓ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of shredded cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil. Mix to combine and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the shredded chicken and ½ cup of salsa. Warm it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Warm the tortillas in the microwave, oven, grill, or stove top.
- To assemble the tacos, top each tortilla with 2 to 3 Tablespoons of chicken and a spoonful of Mexican slaw.
- Add any additional toppings and serve.
Notes
- Quality Tortillas - using a good quality tortilla will not only enhance the taste, but will make the tacos more durable.
- Meal Prep - this is the perfect recipe to use when meal prepping! You can easily double this recipe to eat on all week for lunches. Portion out the chicken into individual containers for perfect portion control.
- Canned Chicken - avoid using canned chicken. It throws off the flavor and the texture.
- Storage: if there is any leftover chicken, store it in a container with a lid. Store the Mexican slaw in a separate container with a lid. It should last in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Karyl Henry
I love a simple taco recipe! I also love that you use dark and white meat. I'm a 100% dark meat girl, and I feel like so many chicken taco recipes only use white meat. This one is a keeper for sure
Amanda Mason
Thanks, Karyl! Enjoy!!
Eileen Kelly
I love a great taco recipe and this is fabulous! Love that you are using a rotisserie chicken and the baja tacos are done in 20 minutes!
Amanda Mason
It makes for the perfect quick dinner!!
Tammy
Your baja tacos are a perfectly light summer meal! These look like a really refreshing bite to have a with cold drink. Yum!
Amanda Mason
Thanks, Tammy! Yes - perfect light mexican meal that goes perfect with a cool beverage!
Nicole Washington
I love Chicken tacos and Baja style tacos. I love how fast this dinner is to make too. Thanks
Amanda Mason
Nicole - I make this all the time because or weeks are so busy and this meal is so fast!! My kids love it!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
I love a simple meal like this - and the shortcut of using rotisserie chicken is great! I tend to ignore those little recipe cards at the grocery store, but I may need to start checking them out! These tacos look fantastic!
Amanda Mason
Yes- using rotisserie chicken is such a time save yet oh so delish!
Nicolas Hortense
I would absolutely devour those tacos!! The perfect idea for a quick lunch Amanda! And I like how you shredded the chicken, always the best way to do it (:
Amanda Mason
Thanks, Nicolas!! Yes - these are super quick and oh so delish!!
Kelly Anthony
Your pics are gorgeous! And my husband would love these baja style tacos! Must try!!
Amanda Mason
Thanks! This has to be the easiest recipe to make - ever! Enjoy!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook
Yummm! I'd love to have these for dinner tonight! These tacos look so flavorful and fresh! Perfect for a summer dinner. 🙂
Amanda Mason
It makes for the lightest meal so yes it is perfect for summer!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
Whenever I go out to a restaurant, I will always either buy fish tacos or chicken tacos. These look like something I would get at one of these restaurants 😉
Amanda Mason
Well, thank you! I just know you are going to enjoy these tacos! Try them with my pinto beans recipe!
Anna
What a great twist on tacos! They look so tasty and healthy, and I love how it only takes few simple ingredients to make!
Amanda Mason
Only a few ingredients and yes, it's a nice twist to swift up your typical taco recipe!