Beer Braised Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Basil Ranch
These Beer Braised Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Basil Ranch are perfect for any day of the week. Super juicy chipotle chicken topped with a cool & creamy basil ranch. A MUST TRY!
Course Tacos
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Basil, Chicken, Chipotle, Ranch
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour
Servings 4
Author Leona G.
Equipment
Blender or food Processor
Heavy bottomed pan or dutch oven
Ingredients
For the chicken
1.5-2lbschicken thighsboneless & skinless
3tbsp neutral oil
1beerdark or light
14ozcrushed tomatoes
4chipotles in adobo
1large onion
6garlic cloves
1bay leaf
2tspsalt
1tspblack pepper
1tspchili powder
1tspcumin
1tspcoriander
1tspgarlic powder
1 tsponion powder
1tsporegano
2tbsphoney
1tbsp apple cider vinegaror any other vinegar
½cupchicken broth or water
cilantro & onion for topping
cotija cheesefor topping
sliced radishfor topping
for the basil ranch
3cupspacked basil
½cupassorted fresh herbsparsley, cilantro, chives, etc.
3cloves garlicgrated
2tspdill
1cupsour cream
3tbspmayonaise
3tbspbuttermilk
1tsp garlic powder
1tsponion powder
2tsphoney
salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Chipotle Chicken
Add the canned tomatoes, chipotle's, onions & garlic to a food processor and blend until smooth.
On high heat add the oil to a heavy bottomed pot or a dutch oven. Generously sprinkle with salt & pepper and sear chicken thighs 5-7 minutes on each side. Add in the beer, chipotle-tomato mixture, spices, bay leaf, honey, vinegar and water. Give it a good stir and cover. Cook for 1-1.5 hours on low, until tender.
Turn the heat off and remove and shred the chicken thighs. Add them back to the pot of sauce.
To serve, add shredded chicken to warm corn or flour tortillas. Top with cilantro, onion and radish (optional). Finish with the basil ranch and a sprinkle of cotija cheese. Enjoy.
Basil Ranch
Roughly chop the fresh herbs and add everything to a blender or food processor. Pulse until creamy. Store in an airtight container. This will last up to 7-10 days.
Notes
You can use bone in thighs and cook the same way, just discard the bones when shredding and add them back to the pot. Also chicken breast.
I used modelo for this recipe but any light or dark beer works.
Use your favorite taco toppings. I always go with cilantro, onion and cotija cheese.