Tinga de Pollo (Slow-Cooker Chicken Tinga) Recipe

By
Pete Scherer
ghi
Pete Scherer
Pete Scherer is a cook and baker with a decade of experience across many facets of the Southern California food scene.
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Updated on 05/27/22
chicken tinga tacos on platter

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 6 hrs
Total: 6 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 2 to 2 1/2 cups

Chicken tinga is a Mexican stew of chicken, tomato, onion, and chipotle peppers. The dish is savory, smoky, tangy, and as satisfying as any comfort food. It's incredibly versatile and makes a nice filling for tacos, burritos, huaraches, enchiladas, and even nachos. Like most stews, it also keeps well, and may even taste best on the second or third day as the flavors marry.

This recipe calls for a slow cooker, but you can easily make it on a stovetop. Simply cook in a covered pot on the lowest flame until the chicken softens into tender shreds. Don't skip the browning of the chicken or the charring of the tomatoes, as these steps deepen the flavor and bring out the wonderful smoky notes of the chipotle. We like bay leaf with our tinga, but it's good with oregano as well. And though we prefer dried chipotles, you may use canned.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds Roma tomatoes, about 5

  • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced into half moons

  • 4 dried chipotle peppers, stem and seeds removed

  • 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

  • 1 splash distilled white vinegar

  • Salt, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Set the oven to broil.

    chicken tinga ingredients

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Place the sliced onions in a cast-iron skillet and put the whole Roma tomatoes on top. Place under the broiler close to the flame. Turn them periodically so that the tomatoes have a light char on all sides. 

    charred onions and tomato in skilled

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Remove from the oven and place the tomatoes and onions into a large bowl. Add the chipotles, chopped garlic, and bay leaves. Toss to combine. 

    onions and tomato in bowl

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Put the skillet you used for the tomatoes on the stove over a high flame. Add the oil. When hot but not smoking, add the chicken thighs. If necessary, cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. To brown well, keep the meat in a single layer and leave undisturbed for a couple of minutes before turning.

    chicken in pan

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. Add the browned (but not cooked through) chicken to a slow cooker. Scrape all the pan juices into the pot as well. Add the tomato, onion, garlic, chipotles, and bay leaves on top. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for about 6 hours.

    chicken, onion, and tomato in slow cooker

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. Stir the contents of the crockpot and remove the bay leaves. All the ingredients will be quite soft.

    cooked chicken tinga

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. As you stir, the chicken will shred. You may have to exert a little effort breaking up the tomatoes. Season the stew with a splash of vinegar and salt to taste. Serve immediately.

    chicken shredded with sauce in crockpot

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

How to Store and Freeze Chicken Tinga

This chicken tinga can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, reheating as desired. It can also be frozen for up to three months.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
262 Calories
14g Fat
8g Carbs
29g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 262
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 138mg 46%
Sodium 305mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 17mg 84%
Calcium 35mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 635mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)