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Home » Recipes » Chicken Tinga Tostadas

Chicken Tinga Tostadas

Last Updated June 4, 2019. Originally Posted September 28, 2017 By Maggie Unzueta

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jazz up your weeknight meals with Chicken Tinga Tostadas. This dish is a classic Mexican favorite that comes together easily and deliciously.
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Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. YUM! Tinga is a funny name. Don’t you think? Tinga, I wanna bring ya. LOL. The Hubs really brings out my funny side. He and I have quite the age difference. 18 years to be exact. We get asked crazy questions by people who really should be minding their own bees-wax. What do you have in common? Did he lie about his age when you first met? Did you lose a bet, Maggie? To answer all your questions: We have a lot in common, no, and I’m not a betting woman. The Hubs is the funniest, smartest, and most handsome man I’ve ever met. The one thing I love most about our relationship, though, is that we are constantly laughing. Sometimes, to the point of snorting.

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Chicken Tinga Tostadas is one of those dishes that’s perfect for potlucks and parties. You can make it ahead of time. You can even make it in the crockpot. Love that amazing little item in my kitchen. Don’t you? Tinga is also good for super easy weeknight meals. If you have leftover chicken, just make the sauce and done!

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

The sauce is very simple. Tomatoes and chipotle. Blend until smooth (no chunky-style here).. This is your opportunity to adjust the heat. You can add as many or as few chipotles as you like to the sauce. Some like it hot. I like muy caliente!

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Time to shred up the cooked chicken. Just get your fork and pull the meat apart. This chicken will be forking awesome. 🙂

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Next, sauté sliced onions. Isn’t it funny how you have to make certain dishes a certain way. I always make Chicken Tinga Tostadas with sliced onions. If you like them diced, that’s fine too. Personally, I just think that a slice is nice.

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Add the chicken and the sauce to the pan. Let this simmer to develop the flavor. And guard your stove from invading family members who “just want a taste.”

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Tinga is usually served as a tostada. The toppings vary. In this pic, I topped my tostada with the chicken, a little sprinkle of Queso Cotija, and chopped cilantro for color. Some people will add a layer of refried beans first, but I usually serve them on the side. You can also add avocados, sour cream, green onions, sliced iceberg lettuce. “See, Mom. I DID have a salad!” Hope you enjoy!

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Chicken Tinga Tostadas on a white plate topped with cilantro and cheese.

Chicken Tinga Tostadas

Jazz up your weeknight meals with Chicken Tinga Tostadas. This dish is a classic Mexican favorite that comes together easily and deliciously.
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 286kcal
Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless chicken breast
  • 6 cups Water
  • 3 onions divided
  • 1 garlic
  • 4 tomatoes diced
  • 1 12-ounce can chipotle in adobo sauce peppers use less chipotle if you don't like it spicy
  • 1 cup chicken broth reserved from the cooked chicken
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 1 package tostadas
  • Toppings:
  • Refried Beans
  • Lettuce
  • Cilantro
  • Green Onions
  • Queso Cotija
  • Sour Cream

Instructions

  • In a large stockpot, add the chicken, ½ onion, garlic, and water.
  • Cook for 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
  • Remove chicken from the pot.
  • Reserve the liquid, and discard onion and garlic.
  • Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the chicken with a fork and set aside.
  • Add tomatoes, chipotle, and 1 cup of the reserved chicken broth to a blender.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Note: You can save the remaining chicken broth for another dish.
  • Slice the remaining onions. 
  • In a large pan, heat the oil.
  • Add the onions and cook until translucent, stirring constantly.
  • Add the shredded chicken and the sauce to the pan.
  • Let simmer for 10 minutes.
  • If needed, add a little more chicken broth.
  • To assemble tostada:
  • Add chicken to the tostada, shredded lettuce, cotija, and sour cream.

Notes

You can make it ahead of time. You can even make it in the crockpot. 
If you have leftover chicken, just make the sauce and done!
Topped you tostada with the chicken, a little sprinkle of Queso Cotija, and chopped cilantro for color. 

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 1192mg | Potassium: 857mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 563IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Yummy and delicious. A Mexican food classic meal. Via @MamaMaggiesKitchen

Filed Under: Chicken, Mexican, Recipes

About Maggie Unzueta

Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Matt @ Plating Pixels

    September 28, 2017 at 10:37 am

    Yum! This will add some variety to my chicken menu list.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      October 3, 2017 at 1:42 pm

      Definitely! Hope you like it. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Syama

    September 28, 2017 at 10:50 am

    I would love to make more Mexican meals at home. These tostadas loo lovely. Definitely trying them.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      October 3, 2017 at 1:43 pm

      Awesome! Hope you enjoy these tostadas.

      Reply
  3. Katie

    September 28, 2017 at 11:06 am

    I am always looking for ways to mix up chicken recipes (am I the only one that gets bored with chicken!?) and this looks PERFECT. Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      October 3, 2017 at 1:45 pm

      Yes! Hope you like it.

      Reply
  4. Lizzie

    September 28, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    This looks so simple! My husband is such a chipotle fanatic, he’d love it.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      October 3, 2017 at 1:49 pm

      I’m a big chipotle fan too. Hope you make this for him. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Diana

    September 28, 2017 at 3:15 pm

    I love Mexican food and this is a must try! We always make tacos, enchiladas and quasedillas but it looks like we need to go a step further and try these tostadas!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      October 3, 2017 at 1:50 pm

      You soooo should! I can almost guarantee that you’ll like this recipe.

      Reply
  6. Krissie

    November 10, 2017 at 8:48 am

    I LOVE tinga and am excited to try a new recipe. My friend’s mom wrote her recipe on an index card and it is hard to read!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      November 16, 2017 at 12:27 pm

      Glad I could help. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Sunrita

    October 1, 2020 at 10:20 pm

    5 stars
    I am drooling reading this recipe. A lovely change from regular tacos and tortillas. Thanks for the idea

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 2, 2020 at 1:25 pm

      Hope you try it! It’s amazing!

      Reply
  8. Sue

    October 2, 2020 at 8:16 am

    5 stars
    So good – the sauce is so simple and delicious!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 2, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      Thanks! Glad you enjoyed this!

      Reply
  9. Emily Flint

    October 2, 2020 at 8:48 am

    5 stars
    I’ve been looking for a good recipe for chicken tinga, I’m so glad I found your recipe. Yum!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 2, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      Hope you try it. It’s delicious!

      Reply
  10. Ruchi

    October 2, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    5 stars
    Oh I nearly posted these also. Yours look delicious

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 2, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this.

      Reply
  11. Amy

    October 2, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    5 stars
    This was fantastic! Thanks for the recipe. Although I am partial to anything with chipotle!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 5, 2020 at 1:25 pm

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply
  12. Amanda Marie Boyle

    October 3, 2020 at 7:03 am

    5 stars
    I am so into tinga right – love the heat from these dishes!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 5, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      Hope you try this recipe. Is delicious!

      Reply
  13. Michele

    October 3, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    5 stars
    Handy tip on slicing the onion rather than chopping – looked great on the tostada!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 5, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      Thank you! Hope you try it!

      Reply
  14. Chef Dennis

    October 4, 2020 at 8:05 am

    5 stars
    Wow! Your recipe was so easy to make and OMG delicious!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      October 5, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      Easy and delicious! Glad you liked it.

      Reply

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