Chicken Ropa Vieja

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Tracking PixelI teamed up with Foster Farms® to bring you Chicken Ropa Vieja!

Shredded chicken and fajita vegetables in a smoky and spicy red sauce will make Chicken Ropa Vieja your new favorite taco filling or salad protein.

Three chicken ropa vieja tacos tied with string on a plate with lettuce and shredded cheese garnishes in the background.

Let me tell you about the latest dinner recipe that’s been added to our weekly dinner rotation. A couple months ago I came up with the recipe while scrambling to figure out what to make for dinner.

The only protein I had on hand were boneless skinless chicken breasts and a few pantry staples. I got to work and came up with this spicy and flavorful Chicken Ropa Vieja.

Red sauce being poured into a pan with fajita vegetables.
The recipe begins by making a super simple, smoky, and spicy red sauce. The sauce can be made in a blender or in a saucepan by using an immersion blender. I’ve done it both ways and they both work great.

Then, you add the sauce to some sautéed fajita vegetables and submerge the chicken until cooked through. Finally, simply shred the cooked chicken and mix it back into the sauce. That’s it!

Raw chicken in a pan of red sauce with bell peppers, onions, and Foster Farms chicken in the background.
For dinner that night, I used it as a taco filling, serving it with warmed corn tortillas and toppings like shredded lettuce, cheese, cilantro, and lime.

The next day Warren took the leftovers for lunch, except in the form of a taco-like salad. He placed it over a bed of spring mix salad and topped it with some crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese. Once he said it was delicious, I knew I was on to something and I had to share the recipe with you.

Since that evening, I’ve tested the Chicken Ropa Vieja recipe several times, to get everything to be as perfect for you as possible.

Birds-eye view of shredded chicken in a red sauce in a pan surrounded by an open-face taco, tortillas, shredded lettuce, cilantro, and shredded cheese.
The most important ingredient in Chicken Ropa Vieja is, of course, the chicken. I turned to Foster Farms® Simply Raised Chicken with No Antibiotics Ever from my local Vons. I find that using the thin-sliced breast fillets really cuts down on the cook time for when time is scarce.

Aside from the quick cook time, I love that I don’t have to worry about any hidden ingredients going into dinner. Foster Farms® Simply Raised Chicken has no added hormones or steroids, no antibiotics, are fed a 100% vegetarian diet, and are locally raised (California and the Pacific Northwest).

Hand holding one chicken ropa vieja taco with lettuce and shredded cheese garnishes in the background.
With Foster Farms® Simply Raised Chicken, I know I’m getting just that, chicken.

Whether you’re looking to spice up and make lean your taco nights or are looking for a simple and guilt-free dinner solution, give my Chicken Ropa Vieja a try.

Three chicken ropa vieja tacos tied with string on a plate with lettuce and shredded cheese garnishes in the background.

Follow Along with the Video!

Shredded chicken and fajita vegetables in a smoky and spicy red sauce will make Chicken Ropa Vieja your new favorite taco filling or salad protein.
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Chicken Ropa Vieja

Calorie count is for 1 batch of chicken ropa vieja. It does not include any fix-ins like tortilla, lettuce, or cheese. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 1 batch
Calories: 1225kcal
Author: Patty K-P

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 can (3.5 ounces) canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce*
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled, halved, and julienned
  • 1 pound Foster Farms® Simply Raised Chicken, Thin-Sliced Boneless Skinless Breast Fillets
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Corn tortillas, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, shredded lettuce, and chopped cilantro leaves for serving

Instructions

  • In a blender, puree the tomato sauce, chipotle peppers, paprika, smoke paprika, and chicken broth until smooth. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the peppers and onions and saute until softened. Reduce the heat to low and pour the tomato puree over the softened peppers. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes, until slightly reduced. Nestle in the breast fillets. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the breasts are cooked through.
  • Off the heat and remove the chicken to a cutting board. Shred the chicken using two forks. Add the chicken back to the skillet and stir to evenly distribute. Heat over low heat until chicken is heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve with corn tortillas, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, shredded lettuce, and chopped cilantro leaves.

Notes

*Decrease to 1/4 can if you don't like it too spicy.

Inspired by Fabulous Food The Costco Way
This post was sponsored by Foster Farms®.

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10 comments

  1. lisa says:

    5 stars
    I’ve never made ropa vieja, but its one of my favorite things to order when we go for Cuban food. This looks do-able at home, though — gotta give it a try.

  2. Heidy says:

    Oh my gosh your Chicken Ropa Vieja looks amazing. I haven’t had a good Chicken Ropa Vieja in years. This looks like its simple and straightforward to make. Definitely in my list for future meals.

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