Smoky Roasted Chicken Tacos with Spicy Goat Cheese Queso.
This weekend I decided three things.
First, that five minutes is not enough time to determine if you like perfume. I’m usually really good about things like that and test a perfume three or four times before purchasing, but on a whim (and with an Ulta rewards/free perfume coupon that I felt forced to use) I picked up a Taylor Swift perfume (am I even telling you this?) after a few spritzes and the aforementioned time limit. I figured this may be a good way to limit my gateway drug scent and be a surefire win to make that pricey bottle last, but when I sprayed the TS stuff on me yesterday, within 15 minutes I thought I was going to die.
I had to shower twice.
Really.
Second, I sort of want to get botox. Kinda. Maybe. Okay, not really. Mind you, I could never possibly do this since I can’t even give blood or set my eyes on a sewing kit without having an extreme anxiety attack and hyperventilating, but I’m thick in the midst of a 30-year old life crisis. Really, you may ask yourself? I would have never thought that when you purchased a Taylor Swift perfume.
Uh huh.
And third, that it’s really been a long time since I had tacos. When I say long time, I mean a few weeks. Maybe three? Because for awhile there I was eating them weekly. Or twice weekly.
As one should.
I just need to tell you that I am absolutely enthralled with this chicken. I’ve already made it twice since last week and the flavor? Boom. It’s so there. I used boneless, skinless thighs (because seriously, they are the best) and a combination of smoked paprika and cumin and limes and salt and all sorts of delicious things. I roasted the heck out of them and then shredded the things and ugh… fabulous.
You don’t even need to make it for tacos! You can make it for… other stuff.
I could continue to go on and on but obviously I need to tell you about this goat cheese too. It’s really just a little sauce made with jalapeños sautéed in a bit of butter and if possible, I would probably bathe in that. I know. I tend to find that expression utterly disgusting when it comes to food… but yeah. I can think of no other dramatic way to share my infatuation with you.
I found those two things – the chicken and cheese sauce – to be so flavorful that I kept the toppings pretty simple with some avocado, red onion, tomatoes and extra crumbled goat cheese. Because no matter what you tell me, there can never be enough cheese in the universe.
My cheese drawer could feed a small country and is sinfully stuffed to the brim. It’s horrific but wonderful at the same time because there is always ample ideas for cheese plates. Which I also consume… weekly.
Again, as one should.
Smokey Roasted Chicken Tacos with Spicy Goat Cheese Queso
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 sweet onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 limes, sliced into wedges
- corn or flour tortillas for serving
- chopped tomatoes
- sliced avocado
- sliced red onion
- extra goat cheese for topping
- lime wedges
spicy goat cheese queso
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 jalapeño pepper, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 6 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, cumin and garlic powder, mixing to combine.
- Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel, then cover in the spice rub. Place the sliced onion all over the bottom of the baking dish and set the chicken over top. Place lime wedges in between the chicken. Cover with foil and bake for 45-60 minutes. Remove chicken and let cool slightly, then shred.
- A few minutes before the chicken is shredded, make the goat cheese queso below. To assemble tacos, warm the tortillas then cover in chicken, queso, tomatoes, onions, avocado and extra crumbled goat cheese
spicy goat cheese queso
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add butter, jalapeño and garlic. Let cook for 1-2 minutes, until sizzling, then whisk in flour to create a roux. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden and bubbly. Pour in milk, whisking well and reduce heat to low. Once slightly thickened, add in the goat cheese and stir well until it totally melts. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately over tacos!
Did you make this recipe?
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You now know pretty much everything about me on this Monday.
118 Comments on “Smoky Roasted Chicken Tacos with Spicy Goat Cheese Queso.”
I made something freakishly similar to this tonight!! We must have been on the same wavelength. Fantastic recipe :D
Oh man. I used an already cooked rotisserie chicken which I shredded and then tossed with the seasonings from this recipe. Then as I was making the goat cheese jalepeno sauce, I realized my milk had gone bad, so had to use sour cream in its place. It turned out to be more of a thick spread instead of a sauce. I also used canned “pickled” jalepenos and it was all amazing nonetheless. I served the chicken and goat cheese mixture on some corn/whole wheat soft tacos topped with guacamole. Delicious!
You had me at goat cheese queso.
Tacos have never looked better! I like this goat cheese take on them – makes them a bit more “upscale.”
FashionEdible Blog
These tacos look amazing! The goat cheese is so creative! I too have an addiction to cheese, especially goat cheese….so tasty. Can’t wait to try the tacos!
So delicious! My husband and I devoured our dinner and had a great time making it! I just wanted to share with you the slight variation we made. We opt’d for rice bowls instead of tacos and used chicken breasts (it’s what we had) and it was delicious!
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/485074_4729493395480_131684385_n.jpg
Thanks!
Natalie & Andy
I need this smoky deliciousness in my life. Yum!
I always go loco over tacos. I am actually craving for this at this very moment.
You crack me up! I love to read your stuff…
I must try this recipe. It may be one of those that I get stuck on– the kind my husband will like, but not so much that we eat it two or three times in one month. I tend to do that, too.
Not fond of goat cheese, though. Can you suggest a substitute?
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Wow these sound amazing. Question though…can you offer a sub for goat cheese? They don’t carry it at my local store and also not sure if I can talk my husband or kids into eating it, ha!
Thanks!
you can just sub in any other cheese you like!
wow- these look great :)
I just so have some smoked gouda in my fridge. I’m totally getting off of my computer and making this cheese sauce right now!
i would just use any other kind of cheese you like!
Ah to be thirty again. But I have to say, even if I were, I would Never, ever, NEVER get together with a Taylor Swift fragrance; what were you thinking?
Now, what I’m thinking is how fabulous these would be with goat meat; I’ve got it and would be fun to make it all goat, all the time.
God help me with that goat cheese queso. Unbelievable.
Spicy goat cheese queso? Wow! I too, would bathe in that!
I loooove tacos. Our local Mad Mex (it’s a chain, right? awesome Mexican food) has the BEST fish tacos. My newest homemade kick is shrimp tacos. They’re on the menu for tonight! The goat cheese queso looks amazing, anything cheesy has got to be wonderful!
That cheese sauce sounds amaaaazing. I can’t believe I’ve never had spicy goat cheese. This needs to happen ASAP!
haha, you are hysterical! I needed this today – one of those days – and your post literally had me laughing out loud. (I will never look at Taylor Swift perfume the same LOL)
… and to celebrate my tough day, i’m going out for tacos – more for the margaritas but my choice was inspired by your post.
xo
Krysta
Those tacos are so pretty! All those colors. And I definitely have to try that spicy goat cheese queso, it sounds so good!
LOVING that queso!
You had me at spicy goat cheese! These look delicious Jessica!
OMG. Is 7:54 a.m. too early to eat tacos? They look and sound amazing!!! :)
These look heavenly! Yum! It’s been for.ev.er since I’ve made tacos. Thanks for peer pressuring me into making them soon!
This was absolutely delicious! I was worried that the queso was going to be too spicy for me (I’m a weakling when it comes to spicy foods) but it was perfect. The house smelled sooo yummy too when the chicken was finishing cooking up. This will probably be made multiple times a month now! Thanks, Jessica! :)
This was so DELICIOUS. that goat cheese queso is perfection, no doubt!
these look wonderful and going to make them for dinner tonight. Not to be totally dense, and please forgive me if I’m just missing it, but what i am doing with the 2 T olive oil? Not seeing where it goes in the recipe. Thanks!
oops so sorry – over the chicken + spices before roasting!
I am so looking forward to giving these a try. I love to use chicken thighs instead of breast meat all the time, it’s so much more flavorful and I completely understand about your cheese drawer since I have one that sounds just like that. I was considering trying the Paleo diet until I found it excluded cheese. How can anyone function without the goodness of cheese?!
This was delicious! I was in a hurry so I browned the thighs then threw them in the oven for a few minutes to full cook them. And used sharp cheddar cheese instead of goat because apparently mine wasn’t looking too fresh. Hoops.
This looked so good, but I tried it last night and it was a fail. My boyfriend and I both took a bite, then threw it away. The chicken was overpowered by the limes. Do you think I should just squeeze lime over it instead of letting them sit in the oven with the chicken?
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Just made these tonight. The chicken was amazing!! And the queso was super too!! Thanks. :)
These smokey roasted chicken tacos look delicious! The unique blend of flavors sounds utterly irresistable! A slightly spicy alternative is the Sargento Anejo Enchilado cheese. Originally make from goat’s milk, this cheese is a bit salty, a bit aged, and extremely tasty!
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In moderation, anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, anxiety can help you stay alert and focused, spur you to action, and motivate you to solve problems. But when anxiety is constant or overwhelming, when it interferes with your relationships and activities, it stops being functional—that’s when you’ve crossed the line from normal, productive anxiety into the territory of anxiety disorders.:^`.
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These tacos were amazing!!! I stuffed myself because I couldn’t stop eating them…. the spicy goat cheese queso was amazing and the chicken was tender and flavorful. I used a pound of chicken breast and a pound of chicken thighs, because I am a bigger fan of the breast, but it turned out wonderful. Thanks for a good one!
What do you use the olive oil for?
NM, saw it in an earlier post
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You made me laugh out loud—-my daughter turned 30 yesterday and feels the same——but did not even think about Taylor Swift perfume!!! Will try these tonight–thanks.
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This is quite possibly the most delightful thing I have ever read. We must be kindred spirits.
Just made the tacos and the chicken was so bitter! What went wrong? The limes were sweet when I put them in but they came out gross.
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