By Becky Hardin
Updated May 28, 2025
If your family loves Mexican food as much as mine, then you won’t want to miss out on the amazing flavors of Chicken Tinga. Known as Tinga de Pollo in the Puebla region of Mexico, where this easy recipe originated, tender shredded chicken in a rich, flavorful chipotle sauce creates the perfect Mexican food recipe for your next Cinco de Mayo fiesta.
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5-Star Review
“Wonderful flavor! I will be making this again for sure.” – Kathy
Tinga de Pollo
When I make Chicken Tinga, the incredible aromas that fill my kitchen always get my family asking, “What’s for dinner?” It starts with a rich tomato-based broth simmered with onions, garlic, herbs, and spices—but it’s the smoky chipotle peppers that take it over the top. They add just the right depth and medium heat that makes this dish so addicting.
I love how flexible this recipe is, too. Sometimes I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts for extra flavor. And if I’m short on time, I’ll skip simmering the chicken and just stir in some shredded rotisserie chicken at the end—it still turns out great. When we’re in the mood for more heat, I simply add an extra chipotle pepper or two in adobo sauce.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 pounds chicken breasts chicken thighs also work
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 4 roma tomatoes
- ▢ 1 large yellow onion chopped, white or red work too
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ 2 bay leaves
- ▢ 2 cups chicken broth
- ▢ 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
- ▢ pepper to taste
Video
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the oil on medium heat. Add in the tomatoes and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add in the onion, garlic, and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 4 roma tomatoes, 1 large yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
- Add in the oregano and cumin, cooking until fragrant. About 1-2 minutes. 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano, ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Stir in the bay leaves, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Add in the chicken and bring the mixture to a simmer. 2 bay leaves, 2 cups chicken broth, ½ teaspoon salt, pepper to taste, 2 pounds chicken breasts
- Cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 20-30 minutes. Set the chicken aside.
- Add the chipotle peppers to the pot and using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo
- Shred the chicken and return it to the pot. Stir until combined and warmed through.
Becky’s Tips
- For a milder sauce, use just the sauce from the can of chipotle peppers, not the peppers themselves.
- If you can’t find chipotles in adobo sauce, make your own by mixing 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper, a pinch of garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. This mixture = 2 tbsp of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chicken Tinga Step by Step
Cook the tomatoes, onion, and garlic: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium heat. Add 4 Roma tomatoes and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add in 1 large yellow onion, 2 cloves of garlic, and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the spices: Add 1 teaspoon of oregano and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, cooking until fragrant. About 1-2 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients: Stir 2 bay leaves, 2 cups of chicken broth, salt and pepper. Add in 2 pounds of chicken and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Simmer: Cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 20-30 minutes. Set the chicken aside.
Stir in chipotle peppers: Add 2 tablespoons of chipotle peppers to the pot and, using an immersion blender, blend until smooth.
Shred the chicken: Shred the chicken and return it to the pot. Stir until combined and warmed through.
Garnish, serve, and enjoy: Garnish with cilantro, red onions, and radishes.
How to Store
Store leftover chicken tinga in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan set over medium-low heat until warmed through.
Freeze in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this smoky, saucy Chicken Tinga in all kinds of ways depending on what we’re craving. The classic choice is piled high on crispy tostadas, where the crunch pairs perfectly with the tender, flavorful chicken. If I’m feeding a crowd I turn it into chicken tinga tacos .
To round out the meal, I usually add a generous scoop of Mexican rice , which soaks up all the saucy goodness, and a side of refried beans —creamy, savory, and the perfect complement to the rest of the plate.
more taco meat fillings we love
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Beef Birria Recipe
Quesabirria Tacos
Crockpot Taco Meat
Chicken Tinga Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts chicken thighs also work
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 roma tomatoes
- 1 large yellow onion chopped, white or red work too
- 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo
- ½ teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the oil on medium heat. Add in the tomatoes and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add in the onion, garlic, and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 4 roma tomatoes, 1 large yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
- Add in the oregano and cumin, cooking until fragrant. About 1-2 minutes. 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano, ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Stir in the bay leaves, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Add in the chicken and bring the mixture to a simmer. 2 bay leaves, 2 cups chicken broth, ½ teaspoon salt, pepper to taste, 2 pounds chicken breasts
- Cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 20-30 minutes. Set the chicken aside.
- Add the chipotle peppers to the pot and using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo
- Shred the chicken and return it to the pot. Stir until combined and warmed through.
Video
Notes
- For a milder sauce, use just the sauce from the can of chipotle peppers, not the peppers themselves.
- If you can’t find chipotles in adobo sauce, make your own by mixing 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper, a pinch of garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. This mixture = 2 tbsp of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
