• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Main Dishes / Chicken

Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos

4.89
/5
30 minutes
13 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 06/10/2020

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

second pin image for baked chicken tacos
pin image for baked chicken tacos

How to make the BEST cheesy oven baked chicken tacos that are packed with flavor and so simple to make! Perfect for a party, big family dinner, or any day of the week!

This recipe for Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos is perfect for when you want a versatile recipe the whole family will love!  We love easy Mexican-inspired meals like my Southwest Chicken and Rice and Roasted Salsa Verde.  This is one of my Mexican recipes you’ll definitely want in your dinner rotation!

Holding a chicken taco so the filling is exposed

BAKED CHICKEN TACOS

We have several favorite dinners around here, and the top 2 are my Baked Mac and Cheese and taco night!

I’m a sucker for anything remotely Mexican or Tex-Mex flavored, and thankfully, so is my family.  Otherwise, well we’d have some unhappy kiddos lol.

The only thing that gets me down about taco night is that my littlest can’t make his own tacos yet.  So there I am, starving, making up his tacos.  Once I give them to him and start to make my OWN tacos, he’s wolfed down his and is ready for more!  I’m always the last one actually eating tacos on taco night.  Sound familiar to anyone else?

That’s where these baked chicken tacos come in handy.  The tacos are already all assembled and baked together, so everyone just gets to add their own toppings and they’re good to go!

Since this meal comes together in 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a busy weeknight.  It’s also great for serving up tacos at a party, when tailgating, and more!

With the ability to make this with various proteins (even vegetarian), spicy, mild, or with homemade seasoning… you’re sure to find a taco style you’ll love!

how to make baked chicken tacos

HOW TO MAKE OVEN BAKED CHICKEN TACOS

  1. Preheat oven and prepare baking dishes.
  2. Brown chicken in skillet.  Make sure you’re using a BIG skillet, or even a dutch oven for this, as you’ll be cooking 2 lbs of meat, plus other ingredients.  Drain chicken when finished cooking and return to same skillet.
  3. Cook onion and garlic, then add seasoning.  You’re not looking for any color on the onions here, just getting them to be soft and translucent.  When you add the seasoning, stir the meat mixture really well to ensure the seasoning is well distributed.
  4. Remove from heat and add beans, tomatoes, green chiles.  Making sure the canned ingredients are drained really well is important so you don’t get a soggy taco.
  5. Add shells and fill.  Add 10 taco shells per baking dish and spread some refried beans on the inside bottom of each shell.  Top with about 1/2 cup of the taco meat mixture and top that with a handful of shredded cheese.
  6. Bake tacos.  Bake for approximately 10 minutes, until cheese is melted, tacos are heated through and shells are just starting to get golden brown.

baked chicken tacos in baking dish overhead view

ADDITIONAL COOKING TIPS

Making these chicken tacos certainly isn’t difficult, but there’s a few tips that will help you make the perfect tacos!

NO SOGGY SHELLS

Inherently, these taco shells will be a bit softer on the bottom than when prepared the traditional way, but there are a few things you can do to minimize the sogginess.

  • Make sure you drain the tomatoes, green chiles and beans REALLY well.  I always open and drain/rinse my canned goods for this recipe before I do any other prep work, so they can sit in the colander and really drain.
  • Add a barrier between the meat filling and taco shell.  Here I’ve used refried beans, but you could use a layer of shredded cheese as well.  Or hey, add some refried beans AND cheese… it’s your taco 🙂
  • I’ve also included a method for pre-baking the shells on their own before adding any taco filling, which will really ensure a more crisp taco.

3 chicken tacos on white plate

VARIATIONS OF THIS RECIPE

  • PROTEIN – this recipe is so versatile, you can make these baked tacos with shredded chicken, ground pork, ground turkey, ground beef, shredded beef, shredded pork, etc.  It’s also a great use up for leftover meat, or a rotisserie chicken.  Try it with my Mexican Shredded Chicken! <— knock your socks off flavor!
  • VEGETARIAN – if you’d rather not have meat in these tacos, no worries!  You can either use more black beans (or your favorite canned bean), or use vegetarian meatless crumbles.  I’ve also heard cooked lentils that have been semi-mashed are a good meat substitute as well.
  • SPICY – feel like kicking up the heat?  Try adding a diced jalapeno or two when you’re cooking the onion.  You can also use diced green chiles that are labeled hot, and/or feel free to add some cayenne pepper to the taco seasoning.
  • MILD – I would say these tacos are mild as written, but if you’re sensitive to spice, you can omit the diced green chiles (or use less), and use a taco seasoning that’s labeled as mild.
  • SEASONING – if you prefer a homemade taco seasoning, check out my special blend in the recipe card of these Crockpot Tacos.  It’s for the same amount of meat, so it’s an easy substitute.

holding a chicken taco

HAVING A MEXICAN FIESTA?

Then you’ll need some great sides, appetizers and drinks to go alongside these delicious tacos!

I highly recommend my Baked Mexican Rice, or Arroz Verde.  A 7 Layer Dip or Queso Dip are the perfect starters.  And we can’t forget the Margaritas!

To dollop on top of these amazing tacos, how about an easy 5 Minute Salsa, or Roasted Salsa Verde?

MAKING CHICKEN TACOS AHEAD OF TIME

I don’t recommend making this whole dish ahead of time, as the shells could get soggy, but you can make the chicken filling ahead of time!  Then you just have to assemble and bake.

Make sure to keep the chicken filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

closeup view of chicken tacos on plate with sour cream and green onions

STORAGE

Leftover chicken tacos should be refrigerated in an airtight container and consumed within 3-4 days.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THIS RECIPE

  • 3 quart baking dish – any 9×13″ baking dish will work, I like the nonstick nature of this pan (makes it so easy to clean).

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERS’ COMMENTS FOR TIPS AND REVIEWS.

AND DON’T FORGET, IF YOU’VE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING LETTING ME KNOW HOW YOU ENJOYED IT!

chicken tacos in baking dish

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

three chicken tacos on white plate

Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos

4.89 from 9 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 266
Servings: 20 tacos
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
How to make the BEST cheesy oven baked chicken tacos that are packed with flavor and so simple to make!

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. ground chicken
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 15 oz can diced tomatoes drained very well
  • 7 oz can diced green chiles drained
  • 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 packages (1 oz each) taco seasoning
  • 20 taco shells Stand n Stuff shells are my recommended type
  • 15 oz can refried beans warmed slightly
  • 16 oz package Mexican shredded cheese blend

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS

  • shredded lettuce
  • fresh tomatoes
  • minced cilantro
  • sour cream
  • taco sauce
  • salsa
  • jalapenos
  • guacamole
  • sliced green onions

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F and spray two 9x13 baking dishes with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • To a large skillet, add butter and olive oil and heat over MED HIGH heat. Add ground chicken and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, for 5-7 minutes, until fully cooked. Drain in a colander and return to skillet.
  • Add diced onion and minced garlic and cook an additional 5 minutes until onions are tender.  Add taco seasoning and cook another 30 seconds or so, stirring to combine everything well.
  • Remove skillet from heat then add canned tomatoes, green chilis and black beans.
  • Place 10 taco shells in each prepared baking dish. Spread approximately 2 Tbsp refried beans on the inside of each taco shell. Top refried beans with approximately ½ cup of the prepared taco meat mixture, then add about ¼ cup shredded cheese on top of each taco.
  • Place casserole dishes side by side on the same rack. Bake for approximately 10 minutes until cheese is melted, tacos are heated through and shells are crisp and starting to get golden brown.
  • Top with desired toppings and enjoy!

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

  1. For crispier shells, bake the shells by themselves in the baking dishes at 375°F for 5-6 minutes.  Then continue with step 5 to assemble and bake tacos.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

 

You May Also Like...

  • Crunchy, juicy baked chicken made by slathering chicken breasts in ranch dressing then coating in seasoned cornflakes.  All the satisfying crunch of fried chicken, but with less fat and more flavor! #chicken #cornflake #baked #easyrecipe 
    Ranch Cornflake Crusted Baked Chicken
  • A combination of two classic foods... buffalo chicken wings and mini tacos. Complete with crunchy carrot and celery slaw and creamy blue cheese dressing!
    Mini Buffalo Chicken Tacos
  • Crispy baked chimichangas stuffed with juicy Mexican spiced chicken and plenty of gooey cheese!  Perfect easy family dinner that everyone will love. #chimichangas #chicken #mexican #stuffed #cheese #burrito #baked #crispy #easyrecipe
    Baked Chicken Chimichangas
  • Low-Carb-Chicken-Tenders | These baked chicken tenders are coated in a deliciously savory crust, yet have zero breading, which makes for an awesomely low carb meal!
    Low-Carb Baked Chicken Tenders
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Tina says

    Posted on 1/2 at 8:35 pm

    We made these for family Mexican Fiesta night and they are SO GOOD!!! I used the stand and stuff tortilla shells. We found that we needed more than 2 cans of refried beans when putting approx 2T of beans in each shell, which was fine. The chicken filling is so TASTY…I have leftover filling that I’ll put in quesadillas.

    Reply
    • Tina says

      Posted on 1/5 at 7:35 pm

      I’m sorry…I should have said we found we needed more than ONE can of refried beans if we filled each taco shell with approx 2 T of refried beans. We probably used about 1.5 cans of refried beans to fill the taco shells…

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth says

    Posted on 8/17 at 8:53 pm

    I am wondering if this would work with flour tortillas…(that’s what we have), ?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 8/17 at 9:43 pm

      I’ve not tested this recipe using flour tortillas, but I think it would work well, they just won’t crisp.

      Reply
  3. Stephanie Lee says

    Posted on 1/13 at 9:26 pm

    another good meal. recipe is tasty fast and easy to make. thanks

    Reply
  4. Erica says

    Posted on 10/18 at 6:02 pm

    I made these cheesy chicken tacos for dinner tonight. My husband said they were the best tacos he’s ever had, and he’s eaten a lot of tacos in his almost 40 years. Plus all 3 of our little boys had thirds – that NEVER happens. Thanks for a winning meal!

    Reply
  5. Catalina says

    Posted on 6/12 at 4:29 pm

    Yum! Who can resist to these chicken tacos! They look amazing!

    Reply
  6. Toni says

    Posted on 6/12 at 7:38 am

    I seriously love how cheesy this is!! Really amazing!

    Reply
  7. Vikki says

    Posted on 6/12 at 1:53 am

    Tried these tacos today and am definitely making them again for Taco Tuesday, so delicious!

    Reply
  8. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 6/12 at 1:14 am

    This Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos is seriously making me hungry!

    Reply
  9. Tara says

    Posted on 6/11 at 11:51 pm

    Baked Tacos? What a great idea! Can’t wait to try these, as I’m a sucker for anything with melted cheese!

    Reply
  10. Beth says

    Posted on 6/11 at 1:18 pm

    Oh my goodness do these look so tasty! My mouth is watering just looking at the pictures. I’ve bookmarked these for later! I’m so excited to make these!

    Reply
  11. Jen says

    Posted on 6/11 at 9:26 am

    I love that these tacos are made all at once so we can actually sit down together as a family and eat at the same time! I’ll definitely be making these this weekend. 

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours 5 minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours 10 minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2023 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top