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    Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes » Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos

    Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos

    Published: Aug 1, 2021 · Modified: Apr 23, 2023 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Make super tasty chicken tacos in 1 hour – right in the oven! This Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos recipe is easy and fast to make with chicken breast. It’s a family favorite taco night dish. Let’s cook…

    Closeup of Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos Platter.
    All the tasty al pastor marinade ingredients make this a very flavorful taco recipe.

    Table of Contents

    • Why chicken al pastor tacos are the best…
    • What is al pastor chicken?
    • Ingredients
    • How to make al pastor chicken marinade
    • How to bake sheet tray chicken taco meat
    • How to warm corn tortillas for tacos
    • How to serve family style tacos
    • FAQs
    • Try these easy griddle recipes…
    • Griddle cooking tools in the SBG setup…
    • Meat thermometer recommendations
    • Side dish ideas
    • Are you a foodie, too?
    • Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Why chicken al pastor tacos are the best…

    • The chicken turns out juicy and tender.
    • Medium heat. Adjust the seasonings and chipotle to make it more / less spicy.
    • Learn my super easy method for ​​baking sheet tray chicken tacos in under 30 minutes.
    • They’re quick and easy to make for weeknights or game day parties.
    • Serve them effortlessly – setting out a casual family style meal is my favorite way to serve these chicken tacos so everyone can choose their favorite taco toppings and eat as many as they please.
    • Leftovers make a delicious ​​chicken al pastor burrito bowl the next day for lunch.
    Chicken Al Pastor Chicken Tacos

    What is al pastor chicken?

    Maybe you’ve heard of tacos al pastor with pork. They’re made of marinated meat and typically cooked slowly over a long period of time. It all makes sense when I share with you this quick food history lesson: this dish is traced back to Lebanese immigrants to Mexico.

    They brought a traditional way of slow cooking meat (think: gyros cooked on a ​​vertical spit) and added in new spice flavors found in Mexico. So this recipe with al pastor seasoning and chicken is a play on that traditional Lebanese-Mexican dish.

    See how to make a steak salsa marinade…

    Ingredients

    Let’s quickly look at the ingredients you need for ​​this chicken al pastor recipe.

    Al pastor chicken marinade

    Infographic with photos and captions of ingredients for chicken al pastor sheet pan tacos
    • Chicken breast, boneless and skinless (see note below on substituting dark meat chicken thighs)
    • Yellow onion (or red onions)
    • Pineapple juice (substitute lime juice, orange juice, or use crushed pineapple for a more authentic chicken al pastor recipe)
    • Seasonings: garlic, chipotle peppers (in adobo sauce can from the grocery store), ancho chile powder (or any chili powder), cumin, oregano, salt
    • Vinegar (apple cider or red wine)
    • Honey (substitute brown sugar)
    • Oil (vegetable or olive oil)

    Note: You can also use dark meat chicken thighs for al pastor tacos, but chicken thighs on the bone take longer to cook, so make sure to use a meat thermometer if using other cuts of chicken. See my chicken temperature guide for more.

    Have a pellet grill? See how to make smoked chicken thighs.

    Taco sides and toppings (choose your favorites)

    Pick a few of your favorite taco sides. Check the recipe at the bottom of this page for my serving size suggestions for each one.

    Chicken Al Pastor Taco sides and toppings
    • Tortillas (corn or flour) = 2 tacos for 4 people
    • Cotija cheese (or queso fresco)
    • Corn
    • Cilantro
    • Avocado
    • Lime wedges
    • Salsa
    • Rice
    • Black beans (or refried beans)
    • Pineapple chunks
    • Sour cream
    • A drizzle of jalapeno ranch dressing
    • Pickled red onion

    How to make al pastor chicken marinade

    1. Pat dry with paper towels and cube chicken breast to 2” chunks. Add chicken and yellow onion to a large bowl. Set aside.
    2. To a blender, add the rest of the marinade ingredients (pineapple juice, minced garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce from a can, vinegar, honey, ancho chile powder, cumin, oregano, salt, oil). Blend ~20 seconds until the marinade forms.
    3. Add al pastor marinade to chicken and onions. Toss to coat evenly and refrigerate (if you have the time) for at least 30 minutes, up to a day in advance of baking chicken for tacos on a sheet tray.
    Marinaded al pastor chicken breast and onion on a sheet pan tray.

    How to bake sheet tray chicken taco meat

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Transfer marinated chicken and onions (leaving any excess liquid marinade behind) to a parchment paper lined large rimmed sheet tray.
    2. Bake al pastor marinaded chicken breast for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. Flip chicken and bake 5-10 minutes more, until chicken breast cooks through, as measured with a meat thermometer, to 165 degrees F.
    Cubed chicken taco meat baked

    How to warm corn tortillas for tacos

    1. Prepare tortillas immediately before serving. I usually do this step after the chicken cubes have finished cooking. First, heat a large pan on the stove to medium heat and add ½ tbsp butter.
    2. Add 1-2 corn tortillas to the pan at a time (so they don’t touch), flipping them once they’re soft and flexible, but before they get crispy or start to burn. Cover with tin foil to keep them warm for serving. Repeat for the rest of the batch of tortilla shells, adding more butter to the pan as needed.
    Baked Chicken Al Pastor Tacos on a Sheet Pan

    How to serve family style tacos

    Serve tacos family style on a platter or on the sheet tray with chicken al pastor taco toppings and condiments around the outside and slices of lime and a sprinkle of cheese throughout the meat.

    Next, try a taco-inspired ground beef pizza.

    Chicken Al Pastor Taco

    FAQs

    Can I use leftover chicken in sheet pan chicken al pastor tacos?

    Here’s my confession: I use leftovers all the time! This dish is especially with leftover sous vide chicken, but leftovers from any chicken dinner will work as well.

    Is fresh pineapple better than canned in sheet pan chicken al pastor tacos?

    Adding chunks of pineapple to al pastor chicken tacos is a great idea. You can use fresh or canned pineapple. Either works, but if you have the luxury of choice, fresh pineapple will make this delicious dish extra-nutritious! Nothing can beat the convenience of having good canned ingredients in your pantry, though. I usually have pineapple in mine to make Hawaiian pineapple BBQ meatballs.

    What does chicken al pastor mean?

    No, it’s not a reference to your pastor’s favorite taco – in traditional Mexican cuisine, al pastor just means a marinade made with red pepper, pineapple, vinegar, and spices. It’s delicious! Though this recipe is for chicken tacos, the original al pastor tacos were made with pork that had been cooked slowly over an open fire. Now they’re a staple for ​​taco Tuesday.

    What can I serve with sheet pan chicken al pastor tacos?

    Sheet pan chicken al pastor tacos give you a well balanced meal in one dish, but to get even more veggies in I like to serve it with peach salad, avocado salad or a blue cheese coleslaw.

    Corn tortilla taco with Sheet Pan Al Pastor Chicken Breast

    See how to make 5 minute grilled pineapple slices and learn how to make smoked pineapple…

    See these tasty taco night smoker recipes…

    See recipes for fajita side dishes…

    See how to freeze refried beans…

    Try these easy griddle recipes…

    • Smashed breakfast burgers
    • Griddled bacon
    • Griddled onions
    • Griddled chicken breast
    • Griddle corn on the cob
    • Quesadillas on the griddle
    • Onion smashed burgers
    • Philly cheesesteak smash burgers
    • Steak fajitas on griddle
    • GUIDE: seasoning Blackstone Griddle grills for the first time

    See new griddle recipes for beginners…

    Griddle cooking tools in the SBG setup…

    Main griddle equipment

    • Outdoor flattops: Blackstone Griddle + Traeger Flatrock (gifted). 
    • Indoor griddle: Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan

    Other helpful grilling tools, accessories, ingredients…

    • Heavy-duty Traeger tongs
    • Traeger Tray (love for prep and to carry ingredients to the grill)
    • Meat Church Texas Sugar BBQ
    • California Avocado Oil Blend

    Traeger Flatrock guides

    • Traeger Flatrock grill review
    • Tips for seasoning Traeger Flatrock grills
    • Guide to Flatrock grease bucket
    • See demos for the Traeger Flatrock grill cover
    • Check out popular Flatrock accessories and the Flatrock smash burger kit

    Meat thermometer recommendations

    Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly. 

    On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

    1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
    2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill. 

    It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature. 

    How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

    While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

    Side dish ideas

    • Air fryer chicken wings
    • Potato recipes
    • Stuffed shells
    • Sautéed onions and peppers
    • White sauce
    • Baked chicken wings
    • Sautéed mushrooms
    • Spinach pesto pasta
    • Make ahead Mexican salad
    • Best Caprese salad
    • Creamy pesto pasta salad
    • Roasted cherry tomatoes
    • Focaccia bread
    • Sausage stuffing
    • See all side dishes

    Are you a foodie, too?

    Hey home chefs, if you like tacos, check out my smokey sous vide pork tacos, BBQ chicken tacos, and breakfast tacos. You’ll also love this chicken breast simmered in enchilada sauce recipe.

    See how to make a smoked margarita…

    To get my latest and greatest creative recipes before they’re shared on the site, connect with me on Instagram @sipbitego. And for more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel. And for more delicious recipes to try on your culinary journey, scroll through the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

    Closeup of Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos Platter.

    Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Make super tasty chicken tacos in 1 hour – right in the oven! This Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos recipe is easy and fast to make with chicken breast. It’s a family favorite taco night dish. Let’s cook…
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree, Main Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 985kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Ingredients

    Al pastor chicken marinade

    • 1.5 lb chicken breast boneless and skinless (substitute dark meat chicken thighs)
    • ½ onion yellow, diced
    • ¼ cup pineapple juice
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can
    • 1 tbsp vinegar (apple cider or red wine)
    • 1 tbsp honey (substitute brown sugar)
    • 1 tsp ancho chile powder
    • ½ tsp cumin ground
    • 1 tsp oregano dried
    • 1 tsp salt kosher
    • 2 tbsp oil vegetable or olive oil

    Taco sides and toppings for serving (choose your favorites)

    • 8 tortillas small corn or flour
    • ¼ cup cotija cheese or queso fresca
    • 1.5 cups corn cooked from frozen
    • 1 tbsp cilantro fresh chopped
    • 1 avocado mashed
    • 1 medium lime cut in wedges
    • 1 cup salsa
    • 1 cup rice
    • 1 cup black beans or refried beans
    • 1 cup pineapple chunks
    • ½ cup sour cream

    Instructions

    How to make al pastor chicken marinade

    • Pat dry with paper towels and cube chicken breast to 2” chunks. Add chicken and yellow onion to a large bowl. Set aside.
    • To a blender, add the rest of the marinade ingredients (pineapple juice, minced garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce from a can, vinegar, honey, ancho chile powder, cumin, oregano, salt, oil). Blend ~20 seconds until the marinade forms.
    • Add al pastor marinade to chicken and onions. Toss to coat evenly and refrigerate (if you have the time) for at least 30 minutes, up to a day in advance of baking chicken on a sheet tray.

    How to bake sheet tray chicken taco meat

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Transfer marinated chicken and onions (leaving any excess liquid marinade behind) to a parchment paper lined large rimmed sheet tray.
    • Bake al pastor marinaded chicken breast for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. Flip chicken and bake 5-10 minutes more, until chicken breast cooks through, as measured with a meat thermometer, to 165 degrees F.

    How to warm corn tortillas for tacos

    • Prepare tortillas immediately before serving. I usually do this step after the chicken cubes have finished cooking. First, heat a large pan on the stove to medium heat and add ½ tbsp butter.
    • Add 1-2 corn tortillas to the pan at a time (so they don’t touch), flipping them once they’re soft and flexible, but before they get crispy or start to burn. Cover with tin foil to keep them warm for serving. Repeat for the rest of the batch of tortilla shells, adding more butter to the pan as needed.

    Assemble chicken al pastor tacos and toppings for serving

    • Serve tacos family style on a platter or on the sheet tray with chicken al pastor taco toppings and condiments around the outside and slices of lime and a sprinkle of cheese throughout the meat.

    Video

    Sheet Pan Chicken Al Pastor Tacos

    Notes

    See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/chicken-al-pastor

    Nutrition

    Calories: 985kcal | Carbohydrates: 122g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 1797mg | Potassium: 1688mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 1015IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 238mg | Iron: 6mg
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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

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