Description
Mouthwatering fried chicken street corn tacos with bacon and jalapeño lime ranch blend Mexican street flavors into a crave-worthy meal. Crispy chicken, smoky bacon, and zesty ranch create an irresistible combination you’ll want to devour again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound chicken tenders or thighs, boneless
- 8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
Corn and Dairy:
- 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 fresh jalapenos, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
- 6–8 soft corn or flour tortillas
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- Submerge chicken pieces in buttermilk for a 30-minute flavor infusion, ensuring complete coverage.
- Create a robust seasoning blend by combining flour with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, thoroughly coat each piece in the seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere completely.
- Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet to 350°F, maintaining a consistent temperature for even cooking.
- Carefully lower battered chicken into hot oil, frying until exterior turns deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Transfer fried chicken to a wire rack lined with paper towels, allowing excess oil to drain and maintaining crispy texture.
- Char fresh corn kernels in a skillet until lightly caramelized, developing a smoky flavor profile.
- Combine charred corn with creamy mayonnaise, crumbled cotija cheese, fresh lime juice, and zesty chili powder, mixing until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Pulse ranch dressing with fresh jalapeno, lime zest, and juice in a blender until smooth and vibrant green.
- Warm corn tortillas briefly on a griddle to enhance flexibility and flavor.
- Construct tacos by layering crispy chicken, topped with corn mixture, sprinkled bacon fragments, and generously drizzled jalapeno lime ranch.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve immediately while components remain warm and crisp.
Notes
- Elevate buttermilk marination by adding hot sauce or garlic for deeper flavor penetration.
- Keep flour mixture extra seasoned and well-mixed to ensure uniform coating on chicken pieces.
- For crispier chicken, double-dip in buttermilk and flour mixture before frying at consistent 350°F oil temperature.
- Customize heat levels in jalapeno lime ranch by removing seeds for milder version or adding extra peppers for intense spiciness.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg