Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga Tostadas are a fabulous weeknight dinner option – slow cooked chicken simmered in a spicy chipotle tomato sauce served over baked tostadas with your favorite toppings!
When schedules get crazy, sometimes weeknight dinners get lost in the mix. I find myself rotating some of the same recipes, whipping up something quick and easy or dialing out – all of which leave me wondering where my adventuresome recipe spirit escaped to.
This fall, I am committed to keeping my pantry stocked with options so I will be less tempted to whip up old reliable recipes and explore new recipes, flavors and ideas. For busy weeknights, I love having refried beans on hand when I want to whip up something quick and delicious. I sauté them with a bit of onion and garlic, a sprinkle of smoked paprika (and dried chipotle if I want a kick of heat) and a bit of chicken stock. Wrap some of these with a sprinkle of melted cheese in a flour tortilla and you will forget about any other bean burrito – promise! Their pickled jalapeños are fantastic topping your favorite nachos and who doesn’t love those crispy taco shells – Taco Tuesday anyone?
One of my favorite dishes of all time is Tinga – a savory dish of shredded meat in a spicy tomato sauce. When Old El Paso asked us to come up with a delicious and easy weeknight meal, I thought I’d make a variation on my favorite spicy dish with this Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga Tostada. Spicy succulent shredded chicken nestled on a baked tostada with refried beans and topped with a touch of pico de gallo and cheese – hungry yet?
Here’s the kicker – 90% of the work can be done ahead of time thanks to the slow cooker. I love making this on a Sunday afternoon and then keeping it in the fridge for dinner during the week. I have found that the flavors get better over time and for those crazy nights when I get home from the 9to9 late, having these on hand makes dinner planning easy. To serve, I bake some tortillas for tostadas instead of frying and they are crisp and delicious. Served with refried beans, these Chicken Tinga Tostadas are a favorite dinner option.
When you are looking to spice up your weeknight dinner, put Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga Tostadas on the menu – your family will love it!
On to the recipe:
