Coffee-Marinated BBQ Chicken Tacos
By Micah Morton
Yields:
4 - 6
Prep Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
55 mins
Jump to recipeWe gave this rich, zesty BBQ marinade a serious flavor boost with a cup of Joe, brewed from our Krups Savoy Digital Coffee Maker. It gets better: The chicken is then cooked in bacon fat and topped with pineapple salsa.
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Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 8 chicken thighs
- 1 cup brewed coffee
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 tsp. oregano
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 5 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 an onion, chopped in half
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- Juice of 1 lime
For the Pineapple Salsa
- 2 cups chopped pineapple
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 2 Serrano or small jalapeño chiles, minced
- 1/3 cup freshly chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Sauce
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid (from pulled chicken)
- 4 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tbsp. chipotle in adobo (sauce only)
- Corn tortillas, for serving
Directions
- Step 1Marinate chicken: In a resealable container or bag, add chicken and brine ingredients. Marinate 4 to 6 hours.
- Step 2Make pineapple salsa: Combine all ingredients and let sit 20 minutes before serving.
- Step 3Cook chicken and make sauce: Meanwhile, in a medium Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Remove chicken from brine (reserve liquid) and blot with paper towels. Brown chicken in remaining bacon fat at medium-high heat and season with salt and pepper.
- Step 4Once chicken is browned on both sides, add brine to pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue to boil, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate. Let cool, then shred.
- Step 5Transfer ½ cup of remaining liquid from pot to a small bowl (discard the rest). Add ketchup, apple-cider vinegar and chipotle sauce and whisk together. Mix some or all of the sauce with the chicken; adjust depending on how saucy or spicy you prefer it.
- Step 6Assemble tacos: Serve chicken in corn tortillas with pineapple salsa.
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