Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga
Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga layers smoky heat from chipotles with a bright, silky tomato sauce that clings to tender shreds of chicken. The hint of oregano and cilantro balances richness, while cotija adds a salty finish. Serve it on tostadas, tucked into warm tortillas, or over rice for weeknights, game days, or casual gatherings.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook1 hr 15 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic Impact
- 41 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 4 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 21
- Heart Health
- 63
- Metabolic
- 33
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 55
- Performance
- 42
- General Wellness
- 1
Place the chicken thighs, chicken stock, water, halved onion, garlic cloves, salt, and oregano in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over high heat; reduce to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- 2
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the onion halves to a bowl; transfer the chicken thighs to a separate bowl.
- 3
Strain the broth through a strainer into a large bowl.
- 4
Heat the olive oil in the same pot over medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook until they start to soften, about 4 minutes. Pour the strained liquid into the onions. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat to medium-low; cook until the broth is reduced by about half, 15 to 20 minutes.
- 5
Place the reserved boiled onions in a blender. Add the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Swirl a little water in the can and pour it into the blender. Add the tomatoes. Cover with the lid; pulse on and off until partially blended, then blend on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour into the pot with the broth and onions.
- 6
Increase the heat to medium-high. Simmer for about 15 minutes, depending on how thick you want the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- 7
Tear the chicken into bite-size pieces and add to the pot. Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish; garnish with cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese.
- Calories 457.04 kcal High 23%
- Protein 48.78 g Good Source 98%
- Carbohydrate 13.84 g 5%
- Total Fat 24.83 g High 32%
- Saturated Fat 7.51 g High 38%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 206.42 mg High 69%
- Sodium 867.97 mg High 38%
- Dietary Fiber 4.34 g Moderate 16%
- Total Sugars 10.05 g --
- Added Sugars 1.68 g Low Source 3%
- Calcium 83.17 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 4.72 mg Good Source 26%
- Potassium 807.27 mg Moderate 17%
- Vitamin A 17.07 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 0.62 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga is made with 11 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr 30 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Boneless Chicken Thigh, Chicken Stock, Chipotle Peppers in Adobo, and Cotija Cheese. Each serving provides about 457.04 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga made of?
- The main ingredients are Boneless Chicken Thigh, Chicken Stock, Chipotle Peppers in Adobo, Cotija Cheese, Dried Oregano. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga?
- About 1 hr 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 457.04 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga healthy?
- Chef John's Chipotle Chicken Tinga has an easyChef Pro health score of 43/100. Per serving, it provides 457.04 calories and 48.78 g of protein, or 98% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 867.97 mg (38% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.51 g (38% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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