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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Chicken Torta (or Torta de Pollo)

    Published: Jul 24, 2017 · Updated: Aug 3, 2023 by Maggie Unzueta

    Chicken Torta (or Torta de Pollo) is a Mexican sandwich with mouthwatering goodness. It's filled with juicy chicken, succulent avocado, crisp lettuce, and a burst of traditional seasonings.
    Jump to Recipe
    Sandwich served on a white plate and ready to eat.
    Tortas de pollo (or chicken sandwiches) served and ready to eat.
    Three Mexican Chicken Tortas served on a white cloth towel.
    Three Mexican Chicken Tortas served on a white cloth towel.

    Chicken Torta is the kind of food you find at bustling food stands in Mexican markets, filled with mouthwatering chicken, creamy avocado, refried beans, and more.

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

    This Mexican sandwich is thought to have originated in Puebla but has spread far and wide, becoming a favorite throughout Mexico and beyond.

    It’s similar to Torta de Milanesa but not fried. Trust me, though, it’s just as delicious!

    Table of Contents

    • 1 Ingredients
    • 2 Customize Your Sandwich
    • 3 Instructions
      • 3.1 Notes
    • 4 Pro Tips
    • 5 Storing Instructions:
    • 6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
    • 7 More Mexican Torta recipes:
    • 8 Hungry for More?
    • 9 Chicken Torta
      • 9.1 Ingredients
      • 9.2 Instructions
      • 9.3 Notes
      • 9.4 Nutrition
          • 9.4.0.1 Maggie Unzueta

    Ingredients

    The ingredients needed to make the recipe labeled and sitting on a white marble surface.
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chicken cutlet, or chicken breasts
    • Lime juice
    • Garlic clove
    • olive oil 
    • ground cumin
    • ground oregano
    • salt
    • Black pepper
    • Avocado slices
    • Telera rolls, bolillo, baguette, or bread of your choice.
    • pickled jalapeños slices
    • mayonnaise
    • lettuce (as desired)
    • tomato slices (as desired)
    • red onion slices (as desired)

    Customize Your Sandwich

    The great thing about this torta recipe is that you’re free to change it up- add bacon, guacamole, or even French fries!

    To make this your own unique version, use some queso fresco, cotija cheese, or sour cream. Instead of mayonnaise, try Chipotle Mayo Sauce!

    Instructions

    Raw chicken marinating in a white bowl with spices.
    • In a large glass container, add chicken, lime juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight.

    Notes

    Do not skip the marinade. This is what is going to give the chicken an unforgettable rich flavor. Some people will use onion powder and garlic powder but fresh is best.

    Instead of chicken thighs, use chicken breast halves and pound between two pieces of wax paper until thin. 

    Chicken strips cooking in a black skillet.
    • Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet. (For extra flavor use a charcoal grill)
    • Cook chicken until no longer pink in the center. About 4-5 minutes, for each side.
    • Remove from heat and let cool.

    Easy cooking tip! Swap out for leftover chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken. Shred the meat and assemble your torta de pollo with the desired toppings.

    The ingredients ready to assemble the sandwich.

    Pro Tips

    • For extra creaminess, spread on a layer of guacamole instead of avocado slices.
    • To achieve a perfect crunch, be sure to toast your bolillo rolls until they are golden brown.
    • For our vegan friends, substitute grilled portobello mushrooms or tofu for chicken, and use vegan cheese and mayonnaise.
    • If you can’t find telera bread, you can use bolillo, a French baguette, or a large roll.
    Assembling the ingredients to make sandwiches.
    • Slice the bread into two halves on your cutting board.
    • Toast the bread on a hot griddle on medium heat.
    • Add mayonnaise to the top half of the bread, chicken, avocado, pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, and red onion slices to the bottom half.
    • Place the top half to the bottom half.

    Making this Ahead of Time: It’s best enjoyed fresh, but you can prep your ingredients in advance.

    Storing Instructions:

    It’s best to store the ingredients separately so the bread won’t get soggy. If that’s not possible, wrap the sandwiches tightly in plastic cling film and refrigerate. Consume as soon as possible.

    Sandwich served on a white plate and ready to eat.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

    Is eating a torta healthy?

    It depends on the ingredients used to make the torta. If it was fried and includes french fries, most likely not. However, generally speaking, they can prove good nutrients from the fresh ingredients and good protein from the meat.

    What is on a traditional torta?

    A torta is a Mexican sandwich made with a fresh roll and stuffed with meat, sauce, and other fresh ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, onion, avocado, etc.

    Why do Mexicans call sandwich torta?

    In Spain and other Latin American countries, torta means cake. In Mexican Spanish, the word torta means sandwich. Some people believe that it evolved from the word “tortilla” or some kind of flat bread.

    Tortas de pollo (or chicken sandwiches) served and ready to eat.

    More Mexican Torta recipes:

    • Carne Asada Torta
    • Torta de Jamón
    • Tortas Ahogadas
    • Pambazo

    Chicken Torta is a yummy Mexican sandwich found in many street markets. Layers of moist chicken, rich avocado, tangy cheese, and fresh veggies in every delicious bite. It tastes amazing! 

    Pair your torta with a refreshing jamaica drink.

    Hungry for More?

    Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest for my latest recipes and videos.

    Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!

    Three Mexican Chicken Tortas served on a white cloth towel.

    Chicken Torta

    Chicken Torta (or Torta de Pollo) is a Mexican sandwich with mouthwatering goodness. It's filled with juicy chicken, succulent avocado, crisp lettuce, and a burst of traditional seasonings.
    5 from 33 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 1 hour hour 12 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 sandwiches
    Calories: 522kcal
    Author: Maggie Unzueta

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or 4 pieces)
    • Juice of 1 lime
    • 1 garlic clove finely minced
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil (for the marinade)
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground oregano
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 avocado sliced
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil (to cook the chicken)
    • 2 telera bread rolls bolillo, baguette, or bread of your choice.
    • ¼ cup pickled jalapeños slices
    • 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
    • lettuce (as desired)
    • tomato slices (as desired)
    • red onion slices (as desired)

    Instructions

    • In a large glass container, add chicken, lime juice, garlic, 2 tablespoon olive oil, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
    • Cover and refrigerator at least one hour, or overnight.
    • Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet.
    • Cook chicken until no longer pink in the center. About 4-5 minutes, each side.
    • Remove from heat and let cool.
    • Meanwhile, slice bread in half.
    • Toast the bread on a hot griddle.
    • Add mayonnaise to the top half.
    • Add chicken, avocado, pickled jalapeños, tomato, onions, red onions to the bottom half.
    • Place the top half to the bottom half.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Marinate the chicken to give it some flavor. Minimum 1 hour.
    Feel free to change it up- add bacon, guacamole, even French fries!
    If you can’t find teleras, you can use bolillo, french baguette, or a large roll.
    Instead of chicken thighs, cut chicken breast in half and pound between two pieces of wax paper until thin. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1677mg | Potassium: 958mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 470IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!
    Chicken Torta - This is a yummy and easy to assemble Mexican sandwich. It’s Mexican food goodness at its best. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen
    Maggie Unzueta
    Website | + posts

    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.

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    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

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Amy Liu Dong

      August 07, 2023 at 8:26 am

      5 stars
      This Chicken Torta is so easy to make and delicious. I made this today and my kids love it!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        August 29, 2023 at 12:52 pm

        That’s great! Loved hearing that your kids loved it.

        Reply
    2. Jamie

      August 06, 2023 at 5:24 am

      5 stars
      Wow! This Chicken Sandwich recipe looks incredibly yummy! Plus we all love Mexican food! They are tasty and very flavorful!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        August 09, 2023 at 4:31 pm

        Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed the chicken torta!

        Reply
    3. Michelle

      July 25, 2017 at 4:55 am

      I always just have ham and cheese sandwich, LOL. I’ll have to try this recipe for when I’m craving for something Mexican.

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        July 26, 2017 at 10:20 am

        Tortas de jamón, or ham and cheese tortas, are delicious!

        Reply
    4. Fabiola Rodriguez

      July 24, 2017 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      I love chicken tortas! Pollo rostizado tortas are also delish 🙂
      It may sound funny, but El Chavo reruns are on still on Mexican TV to this day, and my kids love the show, but the kind of tortas he loved were tortas de jamón.

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        July 26, 2017 at 10:19 am

        YES! Tortas de jamón were his favorite. I was so sad when he passed away.

        Reply
    5. Francesca

      July 24, 2017 at 5:51 pm

      I want this for lunch!! Avocado and pickled jalapeño are my favourite!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        July 26, 2017 at 10:20 am

        Love those two as toppings. They’re so yummy! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Erica

      July 24, 2017 at 5:18 pm

      This is going to sound crazy, but I’ve never had a pickled Jalapeno. But I love them jalapenos so now I’m totally intrigued. It really is horrible when you have a nice meal to think of all those without. It really makes you thankful for what you have. Especially if you grew up healthy and not hungry.

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        July 26, 2017 at 10:21 am

        Yes. I know. In Mexico, we see that all the time.

        Reply

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    iBienvenidos! I'm Maggie. Welcome to my blog! My passion is authentic Mexican food and traveling throughout Mexico to bring you the very BEST in culture and cuisine.

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