Easy Chicken Tacos

Why this recipe works:

We like the convenience of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in our Easy Chicken Tacos, but they were so lean that an unsuitable cooking method guarantees they’ll wind up dry and rubbery. Poaching proved the best method, producing meat that was tender and moist. Chipotle chiles gave our poaching liquid a smoky, full-bodied flavor, and orange juice, instead of chicken broth, offered a touch of sweetness that tempered its vivid acidity.

For more robust flavor from our chicken, we called on Worcestershire sauce and mustard, two (surprising) Latin American staples. Worcestershire mimicked the complex flavor of dark meat, and mustard added sharpness that balanced the sweet orange juice and smoky chipotle.

From our TV Show Watch This Recipe

The road to authentic taco flavor in just 30 minutes (or less) took some astonishing turns.

Season 3: Southwestern Suppers

Serves 6

To warm the tortillas, wrap them in foil and heat in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes. Top the tacos with shredded lettuce, grated cheese, diced avocado, tomato, and sour cream.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

Salt and pepper

12 (6-inch) flour tortillas

Instructions

1. POACH CHICKEN Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and chipotle and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in orange juice, Worcestershire, and ½ cup cilantro and bring to boil. Add chicken and simmer, covered, over medium-low heat until meat registers 160 degrees, 10 to 15 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking. Transfer to plate and tent with foil.

2. SHRED AND SAUCE Increase heat to medium-high and cook until liquid is reduced to ¼ cup, about 5 minutes. Off heat, whisk in mustard. Using 2 forks, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to skillet. Add remaining cilantro to skillet and toss until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with tortillas.

Surprise Key Ingredients

In other recipes, you'd call these ordinary ingredients. But in a taco?

Together, yellow mustard, Worcestershire, orange juice, and butter add unexpected depth and dimension to our simple chicken taco.