This is the second post in our Whole30 Taco recipe series. Maria Barton of Maria Makes shares some of her favorite taco-fied recipes to spice up your week.
We’re kicking off the week with a super easy, majorly tasty taco recipe: Salsa Chicken Stuffed into Bell Pepper “shells.” Traditional tortillas are out for your Whole30, but that doesn’t mean you have to go shell-less! You just have to get a little bit creative and think outside the shell. Bell peppers, lettuce leaves, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and zucchini boats are all fantastic options. These Whole30-friendly “shells” are a bit messier than traditional taco shells, but we won’t judge if you still eat them with your hands!
Shout out to our Whole30 Approved partners at Yai’s Thai for sharing some of their delicious salsas and sauces for this series! Their Hot Thai Salsa added so much flavor and really upped the spice factor in this salsa chicken. You can see the entire line of Yai’s Thai products in the Barefoot Provisions collection.
If you don’t have a jar of Yai’s Thai on hand, no worries. You can use whatever Whole30 compatible salsa you like, and the chicken can be prepared in your Instant Pot, slow cooker, or oven.
[Tweet “Whole30 taco tip: think outside of the shell with a red pepper twist #Whole30”]
One more thing before we get to the recipe. One of my favorite things about tacos is the toppings. For this recipe, I recommend any of the following:
Yai’s Thai Chili Garlic Hot Sauce
Extra salsa
Good ol’ iceberg lettuce
All da guacamole
Red onions
Pico de gallo
Fresh cilantro
Lime juice
There are lots of components and steps in this recipe, but don’t let that intimidate you! All of the steps are super simple and the end result is so worth it. – Maria
Shredded Chicken Tacos in a Red Pepper Boat
Ingredients
3 bell peppers, whatever color you like
Olive oil
3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
1 16oz jar of your favorite Whole30 salsa (I used Yai’s Thai!)
1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
Juice of 2 limes
1 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 | Make the Bell Pepper Taco Shells
Instructions
PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
CUT the bell peppers in half and remove ribs and seeds.
ARRANGE bell peppers in a baking dish and spray or brush lightly with olive oil.
BAKE peppers for 20-25 minutes or until they soften up a bit. You want them to hold up to all of your taco toppings, but I don’t like them to be super crunchy/raw!
2 | Make the Salsa Chicken
Instructions
OPTION 1: INSTANT POT
CUT each chicken breast into 2-3 evenly sized pieces.
ADD chicken, salsa, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, and salt to instant pot insert. Add 1/4 cup of water. Combine to coat the chicken in the salsa and spices.
SEAL the lid and set to high pressure for 8 minutes.
RELEASE the pressure manually (placing a dish towel over the valve to avoid any splattering).
SHRED the chicken using two forks and re-combine with the juices left in the instant pot.
OPTION 2: SLOW COOKER
CUT each chicken breast into 2-3 evenly sized pieces.
ADD chicken, salsa, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, and salt to slow cooker insert. Combine to coat the chicken in the salsa and spices.
COOK for 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.
SHRED the chicken using two forks and re-combine with the juices left in the crock pot.
OPTION 3: OVEN
CUT each chicken breast into 2-3 evenly sized pieces.
PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
ADD chicken, salsa, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, and salt to a 9×13 pan or large casserole dish. Combine to coat the chicken in the salsa and spices.
BAKE for 25-30 minutes, then cut into the thickest piece of chicken to make sure it has cooked through (or check for an internal temp of 165 degrees Fahrenheit using a meat thermometer).
SHRED the chicken using two forks and re-combine with the juices left in the casserole dish.
3 | Assemble the Tacos (FINALLY!)
STUFF chicken into pepper taco shells, top with your favorite toppings, and ENJOY!
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Maria Barton is a home chef, blogger, DIY-er, gardener, wife, and dog mom who is working on finding balance in her life after Whole30. You can find more delicious recipes at MariaMakes.com and connect with her at @mariamakesstuff on Instagram or on Facebook.
