Mexican Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Tinga de Pollo (Chicken Tinga)
Shredded chicken simmered in a smoky chipotle-tomato sauce, perfect for tostadas and tacos.
No common allergens detected
Based on this recipe's ingredient list. Always verify with your own brands and labels.
Instructions
6 steps- 1
Poach the Chicken: Simmer the chicken with half an onion and a clove of garlic until cooked, then shred and reserve some cooking broth.
- 2
Blend the Sauce: Blend the tomatoes, chipotles, remaining garlic, and oregano into a smooth sauce.
- 3
Fry the Onion: Cook the sliced onion in olive oil until soft and golden.
- 4
Cook the Sauce: Pour in the blended chipotle sauce and simmer for 5-8 minutes until slightly thickened.
- 5
Combine: Add the shredded chicken and a splash of broth, stirring until well coated and saucy.
- 6
Serve: Pile onto tostadas with refried beans, lettuce, crema, and crumbled cheese.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
67/100
Works for many families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving555
Calories
51 g
Protein
10 g
Carbs
35 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Tinga is a dish from Puebla in central Mexico, built on shredded chicken simmered in a smoky-sweet sauce of tomatoes and chipotle chiles in adobo. Easy, deeply flavored, and endlessly versatile, it is a weeknight staple that also crowns tostadas and fills tacos at gatherings. The genius of tinga is how a few pantry chiles turn simple poached chicken into something smoky, tangy, and crave-worthy.
Listahan note
This version leans on chipotles in adobo and ripe tomatoes for a fast, smoky shredded chicken that works on tostadas, in tacos, or over rice.
Technique cues
- Soften the onions slowly until sweet before adding the tomato and chipotle so the sauce has a mellow base, not a raw bite.
- Blend the chipotle sauce smooth, then simmer the shredded chicken in it so every strand absorbs the smoky flavor.
- Reserve some of the chicken poaching liquid to loosen the sauce, building flavor instead of diluting with plain water.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Poach and shred the chicken while you build the chipotle sauce so they combine the moment both are ready.
- Make-ahead
- Tinga keeps beautifully, so make it a day or two ahead and reheat as the flavor deepens.
- Leftover move
- Use leftover tinga on tostadas, in quesadillas, over rice, or stuffed into a torta.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Poach the chicken and build the sauce in one pot, blending the sauce with an immersion blender to save dishes.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
chicken thighs or breast
main protein
Purpose: Poached and shredded chicken soaks up the smoky sauce and gives the dish its body.
Handling: Poach until just cooked, then shred and simmer in the sauce.
Adaptation: Rotisserie chicken makes a fast shortcut; thighs stay juicier than breast.
chipotle in adobo
smoky heat
Purpose: These smoked, pickled jalapenos give tinga its defining smoky, tangy, mildly spicy character.
Handling: Blend a couple peppers plus adobo sauce into the tomato base; adjust for heat.
Adaptation: Smoked paprika plus a fresh chile approximates the smoke if needed.
ripe tomatoes
sauce base
Purpose: Tomatoes form the body of the sauce and balance the smoky chipotle with gentle acidity.
Handling: Char or simmer and blend with the chipotle.
Adaptation: Canned fire-roasted tomatoes work well and add their own light smoke.
white onion
aromatic base
Purpose: Slow-cooked onion gives the sauce sweetness and depth.
Handling: Slice thin and soften in oil before adding the tomato and chipotle.
Adaptation: Yellow onion works just as well.
garlic
aromatic
Purpose: Garlic rounds out the savory base of the sauce.
Handling: Mince and add to the softened onions.
Adaptation: Granulated garlic in a pinch.
Mexican oregano
herbal lift
Purpose: A pinch of oregano adds the citrusy, herbal note common in central Mexican stews.
Handling: Crush in toward the end of simmering.
Adaptation: Marjoram or a little thyme can stand in.
Technique notes
- Use chicken thighs for the juiciest, most forgiving shredded texture.
- Add a splash of the adobo sauce from the can at the end to dial up smoke without more whole chiles.
- Finish with the chicken sauce thick enough to cling, not soupy, so tostadas and tacos stay tidy.
Ingredient swaps
- Vegetarian direction
- Swap shredded jackfruit or oyster mushrooms for the chicken and simmer in the same sauce.
- Gluten-free direction
- Tinga is naturally gluten-free; just check the chipotle can label for additives.
- Milder direction
- Use just one chipotle plus extra tomato for a gentler, kid-friendly smoke.
Serve alongside
- crisp tostada shells
- Frijoles Refritos (Refried Beans)
- Arroz Rojo (Mexican Rice)
- sliced avocado and queso fresco
- agua fresca de jamaica
- horchata
- Mexican lager
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Refrigerate tinga for up to four days; the smoky flavor only improves.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.
- Freeze for up to three months and thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Equipment
- saucepan or pot for poaching and simmering
- blender or immersion blender for the sauce
- two forks for shredding
- wooden spoon for the sauce
Make this household-aware
Listahan Pro checks this recipe against your household's allergens, finds pantry-aware swaps, builds the shopping list, and helps you plan the week around it.
Plan it in Listahan
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