Description
Crispy fried chicken, smoky street corn, and a tangy jalapeño lime ranch sauce come together in these bold and flavorful tacos. Perfect for taco night or a casual gathering, they pack a punch of flavor in every bite!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Fried Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into strips
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Street Corn:
- 2 ears of corn, grilled or roasted, kernels removed
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
For the Jalapeño Lime Ranch:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Assembly:
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas
- Shredded lettuce (optional)
- Additional lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Make the Fried Chicken:
- In a bowl, marinate chicken strips in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for extra tenderness).
- In another bowl, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
- Dredge chicken in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess, and fry in batches until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temp 165°F/74°C). Drain on paper towels.
- Prepare the Street Corn:
- In a bowl, mix grilled corn kernels, mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, and chopped cilantro. Set aside.
- Make the Jalapeño Lime Ranch:
- Whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, jalapeño, lime juice, garlic powder, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Tacos:
- Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or in the oven.
- Layer with shredded lettuce (if using), fried chicken strips, a generous scoop of street corn, and a drizzle of jalapeño lime ranch.
- Garnish with additional cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute grilled chicken for fried.
- Adjust the spice level by using less jalapeño or skipping the cayenne.
- Make the ranch sauce ahead of time for enhanced flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg