Bright, flavorful, and seasonal: these Cuban-inspired citrus + garlic marinated chicken tacos are the perfect addition to your next Taco Tuesday line-up!
Hi friends!!! Happy Wednesday <3
A couple of days ago I made a poll on my Instagram story and let you all decide which recipe out of four you wanted me to share first.. these delicious citrus garlic chicken tacos got a majority of your votes!! Ask, and you shall receive ;)
The marinade is inspired by Cuban Mojo Criollo (citrus garlic marinade). It combines fresh citrus juice from oranges, grapefruit, and lemons/limes, lots of fresh garlic, onion, oil, and spices. This one is perfect for my friends who love bold flavors but aren’t a big fan of spicy-hot.
Let the chicken tenderize in all that acid for a few hours, then cook it down in a pan until it gets nice and caramelized. Chop up the chicken into pieces and deglaze the pan with broth or water, then coat the chicken pieces in all that deliciousness that’s left in the pan from cooking. Et voila: ultra-flavorful, citrus-y chicken that’s best served piled high in tacos with alllll the fixings.
This recipe is PERFECT to make right now since its peak citrus season!! It truly tastes like a celebration of this time of year with all the bright flavors.
Full recipe for the marinade is below, I hope you love it!!
Mojo Criollo (Citrus Garlic Marinade)
1.5lb boneless + skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2 tbsp lemon juice/lime juice (or a mix)
6-8 cloves garlic, grated or minced
2 tbsp white onion, very finely chopped (can also sub in 1 tsp onion powder)
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp salt + more to taste
Optional: pinch cayenne or 1 tsp chili powder
Freshly ground black pepper
Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine. Add chicken thighs to marinade and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best flavor.
To cook: heat a drizzle of oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add chicken thighs to pan in a single layer along with the remaining marinade. Cook until marinade reduces and browns to pan. Allow the chicken to caramelize/brown on one side, then flip to the other side and repeat. Once chicken is cooked through, remove from pan and chop into small pieces.
Once chicken is chopped up, add it back to the pan along with a splash of broth or water. Deglaze the pan and scrape up all those caramelized bits, stirring the chicken around to coat the pieces in all that flavor (see pictures for reference).
Serve in taco shells or over rice with your desired toppings, here are some fabulous ideas:
cilantro lime crema
guacamole
salsa
corn salsa
pickled onions
cilantro, lime
sour cream
cotija cheese
hot sauce
I hope you love these tacos!! They’re a wonderful citrus season staple. You could also put this chicken in rice bowls, or pair it with sweet potatoes. Choose your own adventure!
If you like this one, make sure to check out my citrus salsa fish tacos for another delicious citrus-y taco Tuesday idea ;) or even better.. make the citrus salsa to pair with this citrus chicken for allll the vitamin C!!! Your immune system will thank you!
Have a wonderful Wednesday friends <3
With love,
Abigail