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Chicken Street Tacos With Mango Slaw

Topped with a crunchy, sweet lime-mango slaw, these juicy chicken tacos are easy, healthy weeknight heaven.

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Chicken Street Tacos With Mango Slaw

Healthy, Easy and Delicious, Chicken Tacos Are Basically the Best

Taco night is not to be missed in our homes—it’s a weekly event that we all look forward to. Whoever does the cooking likes it because tacos are so easy to make, and the eaters like it because tacos are so delicious and so adaptable. You get to get them with your hands! You get to top your taco with whatever you like (and with nothing that you don’t!). While we mix up the taco fillings a bit week to week, this chicken taco recipe is a perennial favorite. A killer orange-and-lime marinade makes the chicken thighs insanely tender, juicy and flavorful, and a crunchy, quick mango slaw takes the chicken tacos from yummy to seriously restaurant-level.

Boneless skinless chicken thighs marinated with orange and lime juice, garlic, chili powder, Onion powder, paprika
chicken thighs marinated with orange and lime juice, garlic, chili powder, Onion powder, paprika on a baking sheet

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The Best Chicken Taco Marinade on the Planet

There are a few things that make the chicken that fills these chicken street tacos particularly delectable. First, we use chicken thighs, which are naturally richer and juicier than chicken breast. Secondly, a wonderful marinade that just bursts with flavor. After all, chicken tacos are only as good as the marinade that the chicken has soaked in, and this one is truly magical. Many of the ingredients for this chicken marinade show up in the mango slaw, too, so your grocery list shouldn’t get too unwieldy. In addition to salt and pepper, you’ll just need:

  • Boneless skinless chicken thighs

  • An orange

  • A lime

  • Fresh garlic

  • Ancho chili powder

  • Onion powder

  • Smoked paprika

chopped up chicken for chicken street tacos on a cutting board
mango and red cabbage slaw in a bowl with cilantro

A Crunchy, Sweet, Tangy Lime-Mango Slaw Take These Chicken Street Tacos Over the Top!

With satisfying crispness, big flavors and gorgeous colors, this mango slaw is the thing that makes this chicken taco recipe really special. The fact that it adds some veggies (read: fiber + major nutrition) to the dinner plate? Well, that’s just icing on the cake! And don’t feel limited to making this slaw only for chicken tacos—it’s terrific with fish tacos, veggie tacos, tofu tacos, and even all on its own as a side dish. All you’ll need to make this simple taco slaw recipe is:

  • Mangos

  • Red onion

  • Red cabbage

  • Cilantro

  • Limes

Chicken Street Tacos With Mango Slaw

How to Make Chicken Tacos

Alright! Time to get cooking. For this chicken taco recipe, we’ve opted to bake the chicken thighs for super easy clean up, but you could easily cook your chicken on the grill for a little extra flavor (and still a pretty darn easy clean-up!). Here’s how to make the best chicken street tacos ever:

  1. Marinate the chicken thighs at least 30 minutes, but ideally overnight.

  2. Roast or grill the chicken thighs at 425° F until they’re cooked through.

  3. Make the slaw! Toss together the mangos, red onion, red cabbage, cilantro, lime juice and salt.

  4. Assemble the chicken tacos! Or, better yet, let everyone DIY! Lay out an assembly line of warm tortillas, mango slaw, sliced chicken thighs, extra limes, tomatillo salsa, and avocado slices.

  5. Eat the chicken tacos! The best part!

Chicken Street Tacos With Mango Slaw

Tools You’ll Need

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Chicken Street Tacos With Mango Slaw

A Healthier Taco Night

This chicken street taco recipe will prove to your family that healthy dinners can be just as exciting and delicious as their less-healthful counterparts. Yay for that! Try the recipe, and let us know how everyone likes it, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!

Chicken Street Tacos With Mango Slaw

  • Serves: 6
  • Prep Time:  30 min
  • Cook Time:  20 min
  • Calories: 505

Ingredients

Marinated Chicken

  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice (from 1 orange)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Mango Slaw

  • 2 mangos, ½-inch diced
  • ½ small red onion, minced or very thinly sliced
  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • ½ cup cilantro leaves
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice (from 2 limes)
  • Sea salt to taste

For Serving

  • 18 (5-inch) corn or flour tortillas, warmed
  • 2 avocados, sliced
  • 2 limes, for serving (optional)
  • ½ cup tomatillo salsa (optional)

Method

  1. Make the chicken. In a large bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken thighs and turn to coat. Cover and let marinade in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

  2. Heat oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil. Set a metal cooling rack inside the prepared sheet pan. Place the marinated chicken on the rack and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 20 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, make the slaw. In a large bowl combine the mangos, red onion, red cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, and salt to taste.

  4. To serve, divide the chicken among the tortillas, top with mango slaw, and sliced avocado. Serve with extra lime and tomatillo salsa if using.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories505
  • Protein30 g
  • Carbohydrates59 g
  • Total Fat20 g
  • Dietary Fiber12 g
  • Cholesterol120 mg
  • sodium342 mg
  • Total Sugars22 g

Chicken Street Tacos With Mango Slaw

Questions & Reviews

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  • Chantel

    Hi, I love Absolutely love this site, thanks for creating it. My question is can frozen or canned mangoes be used? They are not in season now.

    We haven't tried with either of those but it should be ok, just drain well before using.

  • greg

    how far in advance can u make the mango slaw? day before? morning of?

    A day or two ahead would be fine! Hope you enjoy Greg!

  • Karen

    This recipe was OMG good!!! I’d rate 10 stars !!!

    YAY! Thanks Karen!

  • Jenn

    The marinade for this chicken was incredible, the chicken was so flavorful and that mango slaw was such a beautiful addition!

    Thanks Jenn, we are so glad you loved it!