Tinga de Pollo Tostadas are a classic Mexican dish that is surprisingly healthy and easy to make. It is one of our favorite meals that comes together fast!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I could eat Mexican food all day every day. Seriously. And really, it’s not all that unhealthy.
I think Mexican food tends to get a bad rap, but a lot of it is based on whole ingredients. I mean take these tostadas, for example: roma tomatoes, chipotle chiles, garlic, onion, cilantro, chicken breast layered on a crunchy corn tortilla (tostada) and topped with shredded lettuce.
This recipe is packed with flavor originating from whole foods.
Tinga de Pollo basics
Tinga de Pollo tostadas are such a simple, but delicious healthy recipe that you and your family will LOVE!
Tinga de Pollo is made using chipotle peppers, but it’s not that spicy.
In fact, I’ve been feeding the seasoned chicken to my son since he was 9 months old. It’s one of his favorites.
The best part about this is you can whip it up in about 10 minutes if you use a pre-made rotisserie chicken.
I always grab the giant $5 ones from Costco when I’m planning on making these. I only use the breast meat and then legs, thighs, and wings are reserved for another meal during the week.
Also, feel free to make your own tostadas, this recipe does taste better that way. It’s as simple as frying up a corn tortilla in some oil until crispy. I usually take the easy route & just buy my tostadas pre-made. They sell them at pretty much every store.
These chicken tostadas are a classic Mexican recipe. The basics of the recipe are always the same: tomatoes, chipotle peppers, onion, and chicken breast.
How to make Tinga de Pollo
Let’s go over the step-by-step instructions of how to make your tinga de pollo. This flavor packed filling is sure to become a staple in your home!
Step 1: cook your tomatoes
I like to boil my roma tomatoes, but you could easily cook them on a frying pan, turning each tomato occasionally, if that’s more your style. The char does add a little something extra.
Step 2: blend it up!
Add your cooked tomatoes to a blender with 1/4 cup chicken stock, garlic, and canned chipotle peppers. Blend until you get a smooth sauce.
Step 3: Saute
In a large pan on medium heat, sauté 1/4 of a white onion until translucent and then add in your blended sauce and simmer.
Step 4: Add in your chicken
Once your sauce has been simmering for a couple of minutes, add in your shredded chicken breast and cilantro.
Step 5: Assemble
Now that your chicken is completely coated, it is time to assemble your tostadas!
My favorite toppings include:
- sour cream
- tinga de pollo (of course!)
- shredded lettuce
- queso fresco
- crema mexicana
Assembling your Tinga de Pollo tostada:
Typically you wanna slather a little sour cream on the tostada first, then pile on the meat. After that you can add queso fresco, shredded lettuce, tomatillo salsa or whatever your heart desires. Try it with our homemade guacamole or our easy refried beans 😉
If you prefer video tutorials, check out this tiktok video I made demonstrating just how easy it is to make this delicious meal!
Aside from tostadas, I also love to use this tinga recipe as a the stuffing for my empanadas.
And trust me, they are amazing with this spicy chipotle chicken filling. My family always requests I make them for family gatherings. Maybe I should do a tutorial on those empanadas, what do you think? Just like these tostadas, they really are the best!
Tinga de Pollo Tostadas
Tinga de Pollo Tostadas are a classic Mexican dish that is surprisingly healthy and easy to make. It is one of our favorite meals that comes together fast!
Ingredients
- Breast meat from 1 large rotisserie chicken
- 7 Chipotle peppers, diced (canned chipotle peppers) *
- 1/4 white onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 3 roma tomatoes
- small handful of cilantro, stems removed
- 8 tostadas
- Sour cream or nonfat, plain Greek Yogurt spread over each tostada (optional but recommended)
- Queso Fresco topping (optional)
Instructions
- In a pot boil 3 roma tomatoes for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add tomatoes to a blender with 1/4 cup chicken stock, garlic, and chipotles.
- Blend until smooth.
- In a large pan on medium heat, spray with canola oil cooking spray.
- Add onion. Cook until translucent.
- Pour in sauce and simmer for a couple minutes.
- Add in shredded chicken & cilantro.
- Stir to make sure chicken is evenly coated in sauce mixture.
- Serve over tostadas.
Notes
We assemble our tostadas with nonfat, plain Greek yogurt spread over them first & topped with about 2 ounces of the chicken tinga mixture. Nutrition facts calculated without queso fresco.
* The chipotle peppers are from the canned chipotles in adobo. We love La Costeña brand. You should only need one can. I then just pick out the individual peppers.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
2 tostadasAmount Per Serving: Calories: 376Total Fat: 11gCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 38g
Chey
Monday 9th of November 2020
Hi! Looking forward to making this tostada recipe. Are your chipotles fresh? I've seen canned chipotle in adobo, but I don't recall seeing canned plain chipotles. Thanks for the recipe and thanks for the guidance! :) I can hardly wait to make these!
Lexi @ That Fit Fam
Friday 13th of November 2020
I am so sorry I wasn't able to respond sooner. They are the canned chipotles in adobo. I will update the recipe to clarify =)
Salsa de Tomatillo y Chile de Arbol - That Fit Fam
Monday 6th of May 2019
[…] love this Tomatillo salsa with enfrijoladas and chicken tinga filled […]
Debee
Friday 6th of October 2017
Have you heard of "Panuchos" with pickled habanero? I would love to learn to make those. ☺
Lexi @ That Fit Fam
Wednesday 1st of November 2017
no I haven't, but I definitely want to now! I love learning new dishes!