Blackened Chicken Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa

Ingredients

Chicken

• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced in half lengthwise

Mango Avocado Salsa

• 1 mango, cubed
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 5 radishes, cubed small
• 1 jalapeño, minced
• ½ cup cilantro, finely chopped
• ½ lime, juiced
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• ¼ tsp salt

Assembly

• 8–10 corn tortillas, warmed
• Lettuce, shredded
• Queso fresco or crumbled feta
• Chipotle lime sauce (Greek yogurt, mayo, chipotle in adobo, lime juice)

Instructions

Chicken

1. Prep — Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have four thin, flat fillets.
2. Season — Mix together all the spices. Place chicken in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle on the seasoning. Use tongs or your hands to coat thoroughly on all sides.
3. Grill — Heat a grill or cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat and brush with oil. Grill 3–4 minutes per side until internal temp reaches 165°F — deeply colored with a slight blackened crust.
4. Rest & slice — Let chicken rest 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.

Mango Avocado Salsa

1. Toss — Combine mango, avocado, radishes, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. Add olive oil, honey, and salt; toss to combine.

Assembly

1. Assemble — Warm the tortillas. Spread a dollop of chipotle lime sauce on each. Pile on shredded lettuce, sliced blackened chicken, and mango avocado salsa. Top with more sauce, crumbled cotija, a squeeze of lime, and a few extra cilantro leaves.

Notes

• Air fryer option — Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Cook chicken 4 minutes per side until internal temp reaches 165°F (~8 min total; thicker breasts may need a couple extra minutes).
• Spice level — On a 1–5 scale this is about a 2–2.5. To reduce heat: omit cayenne from the seasoning, skip the jalapeño in the salsa, and reduce the chipotle in adobo in the sauce.
• Swap the mango — Pineapple works great as a substitute in the salsa.
• Storage — Store chicken, salsa, lettuce, and sauce separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Assemble tacos fresh.

Nutrition (per serving)

Tags: #recipe #chicken #tacos #mexican #quickdinner #weeknight #grilled #glutenfree