Tacos are great; cheese crusted tacos are even better! They’re crispy, deep golden brown and so incredibly delicious, loaded with a flavour-packed chipotle chicken filling. Served with your favourite salsas and a zingy side salad, they make for a very delicious midweek meal.
Introduction
Tacos are a beloved staple for many, but have you ever tried cheese crusted tacos? These tacos take the traditional format and elevate it to new heights with a crispy, golden brown cheese crust that adds an extra layer of flavour and texture. Combined with a flavour-packed chipotle chicken filling, these cheese crusted tacos are a delightful midweek meal that’s sure to impress. In this blog post, I’ll break down the ingredients, provide some insightful cooking tips, and share why this dish should be your next kitchen adventure.
Ingredient Breakdown
- Extra-virgin olive oil: Provides a rich, fruity base for sautéing the vegetables, adding depth to the overall flavour.
- Onion: Adds sweetness and complexity to the dish, balancing the spiciness of the chipotle.
- Red sweet pointed pepper (Romano pepper): Offers a sweet, slightly smoky flavour that complements the chipotle and smoked paprika.
- Garlic: Enhances the savoury notes of the filling with its robust aroma and taste.
- Chipotle chilli flakes: Impart a smoky, spicy kick that’s central to the flavour profile of the filling.
- Smoked paprika: Adds an extra layer of smokiness and a beautiful red hue to the chicken filling.
- Ground cumin: Contributes earthy, warm undertones that round out the spice mix.
- Double concentrated tomato purée: Provides a rich, tangy base that thickens the sauce and enhances the umami flavours.
- Cooked chicken: Shredded chicken absorbs the spicy, smoky sauce perfectly, making it tender and flavourful.
- Chicken stock: Adds moisture and depth to the filling, helping to create a luscious sauce.
- Small soft tortillas: The vessel for the delicious filling, becoming extra special with the addition of a cheese crust.
- Grated mozzarella: Melts beautifully to create a crispy, golden brown crust that’s simply irresistible.
Why These Cheese Crusted Tacos Are So Good
Cheese crusted tacos elevate your taco game by adding an extra layer of texture and flavour. As the cheese melts and browns, it forms a lacy, golden crust that’s packed with flavour. The crispy layer of cheese adds a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft tortillas and juicy filling. The cheese crust also introduces a rich, savoury note that makes these tacos utterly addictive.
Here’s how to achieve the perfect cheese crusted tacos:
- Heat the Pan: Place a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the Cheese: Add 3 small mounds of grated mozzarella directly onto the pan, roughly in the shape of your tacos.
- Place the Tacos: Put the assembled tacos on top of the cheese mounds.
- Cook Until Crispy: Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until a golden brown crust forms.
- Flip and Repeat: Flip the tacos and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the other side is browned and crispy.
The Magic of Chipotle Chilli Flakes
Chipotle chilli flakes are made from smoked and dried jalapeño peppers. They have a distinctive smoky, spicy flavour that adds depth and complexity to any dish. In these tacos, the chipotle chilli flakes provide a robust, fiery kick that’s balanced by the sweetness of the onions and peppers. If you’re a fan of smoky, spicy foods, chipotle chilli flakes are a must-have in your spice cabinet.
The Role of Smoked Paprika and Ground Cumin
Smoked paprika and ground cumin are essential spices in this recipe, each bringing unique qualities to the dish. Smoked paprika, with its vibrant red colour and smoky flavour, enhances the chipotle chilli flakes, creating a multi-layered smokiness that’s both aromatic and flavourful. Ground cumin adds warmth and earthiness, providing a subtle background note that ties all the spices together. These spices are key to achieving the rich, complex flavour profile of the chipotle chicken filling.
Make-Ahead Tips
These tacos are perfect for meal prep. You can make the chipotle chicken filling ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready to eat, simply assemble the tacos and crust them with cheese as directed. This makes for a quick and easy midweek meal that’s both delicious and satisfying.
Customising Your Cheese Crusted Tacos
One of the best things about tacos is their versatility. Feel free to customise these cheese crusted chipotle tacos with chipotle chicken to suit your taste. Add more cheese for extra richness, or dial up the spice level by adding more chipotle chilli flakes. You can also experiment with different fillings and toppings to create your perfect taco.
Serving Suggestions
These cheese crusted chipotle tacos with chipotle chicken are incredibly versatile and can be paired with a variety of toppings. Here are a few suggestions:
- Salsas: Fresh tomato salsa, mango salsa or avocado salsa can add a refreshing contrast to the smoky, spicy tacos.
- Pickled Onions: Quick-pickled red onions add a tangy crunch that complements the flavours of the filling.
- Guacamole: Creamy guacamole adds a cooling element that balances the spiciness of the chipotle chicken.
Make These Tacos Meat-Free
For those looking to enjoy these delicious cheese crusted tacos without meat, you can substitute the chicken for drained, tinned black beans or lentils, sautéed mushrooms or crumbled tofu. If you’d prefer a 100% vegan taco, why not try my Sticky Chipotle Tofu Tacos or Smoky Mushroom and Aubergine (Eggplant) Tacos.
Love Cheese Crusted Tacos? Try These Recipes
If you enjoyed these Cheese Crusted Tacos with Chipotle Chicken, you might want to try these other taco recipes :
- Crispy Fish Tacos: These Baja-inspired fish tacos are loaded with crispy beer-battered fish, a zingy cabbage slaw, sweet and sour pickled chillies and a chipotle crema.
- Braised Pork Belly Tacos: These delicious pork belly tacos are packed with sticky braised Chinese pork belly and a spicy yet creamy Asian-inspired slaw.
- Sticky Chipotle Tofu Tacos: These tacos are loaded with crispy air fried tofu, coated in a sticky, smoky chipotle glaze, topped with a zingy pineapple slaw and chipotle crema.
- Smoky Mushroom and Aubergine (Eggplant) Tacos: These tacos are ridiculously tasty, so smoky and surprisingly meaty given that they’re 100% vegan. The meatiness comes from the king oyster mushrooms which, when shredded, have the most incredible texture. The smokiness comes from the charred aubergines, which add so much depth of flavour.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re making these tacos for a quick weeknight dinner or serving them at a gathering, they’re sure to be a hit. The combination of smoky, spicy chicken filling and crispy cheese crust is irresistible, and the ease of preparation makes them a practical choice for any occasion. Plus, with the flexibility to customise the fillings and toppings, you can cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.
Cheese-Crusted Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Tacos are great; cheese-crusted tacos are even better! They’re crispy, deep golden brown and so incredibly delicious, loaded with a flavour-packed chipotle chicken filling. Served with your favourite salsas and a zingy side salad, they make for a very delicious midweek meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 tacos 1x
Ingredients
- extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red sweet pointed pepper (Romano pepper), thinly sliced (or red bell pepper)
- 4 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
- 1 tsp chipotle chilli flakes
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 30g double concentrated tomato purée
- 200g cooked chicken, shredded
- 300ml chicken stock
- 6 small soft tortillas
- 100g grated mozzarella, plus more if you want them extra cheesy
Instructions
- Heat a splash of extra-virgin olive oil in a large sauté pan set over a medium heat.
- Add the onion and red sweet pointed peppers and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until softened and beginning to brown slightly, then add the garlic, chipotle chilli flakes, smoked paprika and ground cumin and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
- Add the double concentrated tomato purée and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the tomato purée begins to darken.
- Add the cooked chicken and chicken stock, season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat back down to medium and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced and thickened slightly, then remove the pan from the heat.
- Working one at a time, layer some of the chicken filling on one half of a tortilla, then fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling. Optionally, you can add mozzarella inside the taco, too.
- Heat a large non-stick frying over a medium heat. Add 3 small mounds of mozzarella directly onto the pan, roughly in the shape of your tacos. Place the tacos on the cheese and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until a golden brown crust forms, then flip and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned on the other side.
- Serve with your favourite salsas and enjoy.
So happy we found Zena’s recipes! This is the 3rd one we have tried and it was another hit. So delicious and went very well with our homemade salsa we already had.
Aw bless you! I’m so, so glad to hear it 🙂 Thank you for the positive feedback!