Pineapple Chicken Tacos (Printable)

Tender spiced chicken meets sweet pineapple salsa in soft warm tortillas for a vibrant, easy weeknight meal.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
04 - 1 clove garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 0.5 tsp chili powder
08 - 0.5 tsp salt
09 - 0.25 tsp black pepper

→ Pineapple Salsa

10 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
11 - 0.5 small red onion, finely chopped
12 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
13 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 2 tbsp lime juice
15 - Pinch of salt

→ To Serve

16 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
17 - 1 avocado, sliced
18 - Extra cilantro leaves (optional)
19 - Lime wedges

# How-To:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Add chicken pieces and toss thoroughly to coat. Let marinate for 15 minutes while preparing the salsa.
02 - Combine diced pineapple, finely chopped red onion, minced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Mix well and set aside to allow flavors to meld.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and develops a light golden-brown exterior.
04 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side or wrap in damp paper towels and microwave for 30 seconds until pliable and warm.
05 - Place cooked chicken on each warm tortilla. Top generously with pineapple salsa and arrange avocado slices over the filling. Garnish with additional cilantro if desired and serve with fresh lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoky chicken and bright pineapple create this incredible sweet and spicy balance that makes every bite interesting
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
  • The recipe is forgiving enough that you can adjust the heat levels for everyone at the table
02 -
  • Crowding the pan when cooking the chicken will cause it to steam instead of sear, so cook in two batches if necessary
  • Letting the salsa sit for at least 15 minutes transforms it from chopped fruit to a cohesive condiment
  • Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly than cold chicken straight from the refrigerator
03 -
  • Squeeze fresh lime juice over the assembled tacos right before eating to wake up all the flavors
  • Keep the components separate until serving time to prevent the tortillas from getting soggy

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