Take a Trip South of the Border with These Mexican Chicken Dishes

1. Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Enchiladas are enjoyed throughout Mexico, and chicken is a common filling choice. For a quick and delicious baked chicken enchilada dish, start by cooking and shredding boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Sauté diced onions and minced garlic, then mix them with the shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, and shredded cheese. Fill corn tortillas with this mixture, roll them up, and place them in a baking dish. Pour more enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with additional cheese for a gooey, melted finish.

2. Chicken Tacos

Chicken Tacos are a staple in Mexican cuisine, with countless regional variations and creative fillings. To whip up mouthwatering chicken tacos, kick things off by cooking and shredding chicken. Sauté them with onions and garlic and add taco seasoning, and a splash of lime juice for extra flavor.

Warm up soft taco shells, fill them with the seasoned chicken mixture, and top with your favorite taco toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and grated cheese. Complete the dish with taco toppings like a drizzle of salsa or a dollop of sour cream.

3. Pollo a la Mexicana (Mexican-style Chicken)

The basic concept of Pollo a la Mexicana involves cooking chicken with a medley of fresh and aromatic ingredients. The chicken is typically seasoned with a variety of spices such as cumin, garlic, and chili, giving it a robust and savory flavor profile.

The dish is then simmered or braised with tomatoes, onions, and peppers, contributing to a colorful and textured sauce. Pollo a la Mexicana is served alongside traditional Mexican sides such as rice, beans, and tortillas.

4. Arroz con Pollo (Chicken with Rice)

Arroz con Pollo, or Chicken with Rice, is a classic and widely enjoyed dish in Mexico, as well as in many other Latin American countries. In Mexican cuisine, Arroz con Pollo typically involves cooking chicken pieces with Arborio or long-grain rice and an assortment of vegetables and spices in a large pot or skillet.

The cooking process involves browning the chicken, sautéing the vegetables and spices, and then simmering everything together until the chicken is tender and the rice is cooked through. The dish features tender chicken, flavorful rice, and a richly seasoned broth.

5. Mole Poblano Chicken

Mole Poblano Chicken is a renowned and cherished dish that originated from the state of Puebla in Mexico. The sauce is the star of Mole Poblano Chicken which is crafted from a variety of ingredients such as chili peppers, chocolate, nuts (such as almonds or peanuts), spices, and sometimes even plantains or raisins.

To make Mole Poblano Chicken, chicken pieces are typically simmered or braised in the mole sauce until they are tender and infused with the complex flavors of the sauce. The dish is often served with rice or warm tortillas and may be garnished with sesame seeds or chopped cilantro.

6. Tinga de Pollo (Shredded Chicken in Chipotle Sauce)

Tinga de Pollo, or Shredded Chicken in Chipotle Sauce, is a savory and slightly smoky dish that hails from Mexican cuisine. Tinga de Pollo is beloved for its bold taste and versatility, making it a popular choice for tacos, tostadas, or as a filling for sandwiches.

To make Tinga de Pollo, chicken is typically cooked until tender and then shredded. Meanwhile, a sauce is crafted by blending chipotle peppers (smoked and dried jalapeños), tomatoes, garlic, and onions.

This mixture is then sautéed until it thickens, creating a rich and aromatic base for the dish. The shredded chicken is added to the sauce, allowing it to absorb the smoky, spicy, and tangy flavors.

Also read: Healthy Chicken Soup Recipes from Around the World

7. Pozole with Chicken

Pozole is often associated with Mexican celebrations, holidays, and family gatherings. The base of Pozole is hominy, large corn kernels that have been treated with an alkali. The soup is enriched with tender pieces of chicken whereas the broth is flavored with a combination of garlic, onions, and various spices.

Some variations of this dish include Pozole Rojo (red pozole), made with a red chili sauce, and Pozole Verde (green pozole), prepared with green chili and herbs. The dish is often served with tostadas or tortillas on the side.

8. Chicken Fajitas

Chicken Fajitas are a popular and delicious Tex-Mex dish. Fajitas traditionally consist of grilled strips of marinated meat, often chicken or beef, accompanied by sautéed bell peppers and onions. The flavorful marinade typically includes ingredients such as lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and other spices,

The grilled ingredients are commonly served on warm flour tortillas. Top with your favorite condiments such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and shredded cheese and enjoy.

9. Chiles Rellenos

Chiles Rellenos, meaning "stuffed peppers" in Spanish, is a classic and flavorful dish deeply rooted in Mexican cuisine. The basic preparation of Chiles Rellenos involves large, mild chili peppers, such as poblano peppers, being roasted, peeled, and then stuffed with a variety of delicious fillings. 

The most common filling is cheese, but other options may include picadillo (a seasoned mixture of chicken meat in this case), refried beans, or a combination of ingredients. After stuffing the peppers, they are often coated in a light batter made from beaten egg whites, giving them a fluffy and golden exterior when fried until crispy.

The stuffed and fried peppers are then served with a flavorful tomato-based sauce, adding an extra layer of richness to the dish.

10. Sopa Azteca

Sopa Azteca, also known as Aztec Soup or Tortilla Soup, is another Mexican classic. This soup-based dish uses tomato-based broth in which shredded chicken is added, typically seasoned with garlic, onions, and sometimes chilies. Crispy tortilla strips are a signature element of Sopa Azteca which are fried and used as a topping for the soup. Serve it with some popular Mexican sides.

11. Chicken Tostadas

Creating flavorful Chicken Tostadas is a pretty straightforward process. Start by cooking and shredding chicken, often seasoned with a blend of spices. The tostadas are typically made by frying or baking corn tortillas until they become crispy. The shredded chicken is then layered on top of the tostadas.

The beauty of Chicken Tostadas lies in the diverse range of toppings you can add. Common additions include refried beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, chopped cilantro, and a drizzle of crema or salsa.

12. Chicken Tamales

Tamales are a type of Mesoamerican dish made of masa (a dough made from hominy corn) that is filled with various ingredients, wrapped in corn husks, and then steamed to perfection. The shredded chicken is used as a filling for the masa.

Chicken Tamales are often seasoned with a variety of spices, including cumin, chili powder, and sometimes with the addition of green or red salsa for extra flavor. Tamales are a significant part of Mexican culinary traditions and are often enjoyed during festive occasions, celebrations, and holidays.

13. Pambazos

Pambazos are a delightful and beloved Mexican street food. This sandwich-like dish features a unique bread called "pambazo". For preparation, the bread is first soaked in the guajillo pepper sauce, giving it a distinct reddish hue and a slightly spicy flavor. The bread is then griddled until it becomes crispy on the outside.

The shredded and seasoned chicken is used as the filling. Once the bread is prepared and the filling is added, Pambazos are often garnished with shredded lettuce, crumbled queso fresco, chopped onions, and sometimes crema (Mexican sour cream).

14. Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken Quesadillas share some similarities with meat-filled tortillas and tacos. The preparation begins in the same way by seasoning the shredded chicken. The chicken and shredded cheese is then layered in a warm tortilla bread and any desired extras like diced bell peppers or onions.

Another tortilla is used to top the dish and cooked until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are golden brown on both sides. Once done, the quesadillas are sliced into wedges and serve with sides.

15. Chicken Empanadas

Chicken empanadas are yet another popular dish in Mexico, as well as in many other Latin American countries. Here, empanada comes from "empanar", which means to wrap or coat in bread.

The preparation starts with a simple dough, made from flour, water, and sometimes fat, filled with seasoned shredded chicken mixture, folded, and sealed. The empanadas are then either baked or fried until golden and crispy, creating a delicious and satisfying snack or meal.