Chicken Tortilla Cups
Easy, quick, and delicious, making tasty finger foods doesn’t have to be complicated! A few ingredients turn these tasty Chicken Tortilla Cups into a show-stopping game day appetizer and party food recipe that everyone will rave about!
I usually cook from scratch and the foodie in me would have been grilling the chicken and making the tortilla cups from my own tortillas. But with this easy peasy recipe, you can take a few shortcuts that result in unbelievable flavor in about 10 minutes. Ready to impress everyone? Read on and I’ll show you how to make these amazing Chicken Tortilla Cups!
What You’ll Love About this Recipe
- It’s quick and easy to make!
- 5 minutes in the oven – that’s all!
- Add all your favorite toppings!
What You Need To Make Chicken Tortilla Cups
- Chicken – I use the frozen pre-cooked grilled chicken strips available at the grocery store. Just thaw and go!
- Shredded cheese – I recommend shredding your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with anti-caking agents that make it gritty and prevent smooth melting.
- Red onion – Dice it small. Yellow or white onion works but tastes sharper. Red onion is milder and adds color.
- Cilantro – Fresh cilantro only. Dried cilantro has no flavor. If you hate cilantro, skip it.
- Tortilla chip scoops – see notes below
- Toppings such as: sour cream, salsa, guacamole, chipotle powder, lime, avocado, enchilada sauce, or Creamy Jalapeno Dip which also works as a great drizzle
What Are Tortilla Chip Scoops?
Without naming any specific brands (hey, they’re not paying me for free advertising!), look for a national brand of tortilla chips but they’re shaped into a little cup. They are crisp, cute, and tasty, and the perfect vessel for filling up with tasty fillings like this.
How To Make This Easy Chicken Appetizer
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Start by preparing all your toppings and arranging them in small bowls so everything is ready once the appetizer comes out of the oven. This recipe moves quickly once the chips are filled and baked.
Finely chop the thawed grilled chicken strips using a sharp chef’s knife and cutting board. Keep the pieces small so they fit easily into the tortilla scoop chips, but avoid overprocessing the chicken into a paste.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chopped chicken, shredded cheese, diced red onion, and cilantro. Stir everything together until evenly mixed. The cheese and tortilla chips already add plenty of salt, so there’s usually no need to season the mixture further.
Arrange the tortilla scoop chips on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Fill each chip with a heaping tablespoon of the chicken mixture, gently pressing the filling in place. Don’t be afraid to mound the filling slightly because the cheese will melt down as it bakes.
Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove the appetizer from the oven and top with your favorite toppings before serving warm.
What’s the Drizzle in the Picture?
One of my favorite ways to add flavors is with an avocado-sour cream sauce. It’s easy to make! Just mix 1/4 cup (or so) of sour cream with half of an avocado and mash it all up really well (or pop it in the blender) and a squeeze of lime juice. You can put it into a squeeze bottle or just spoon it on top. Extra yummy!
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- You can make this tasty appetizer recipe ahead of time. Mix the filling and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them.
- If you fill the cups ahead of time, you risk them getting soggy. I was able to re-crisp leftovers by toasting them in the air fryer for about 3 minutes on 400-F. But watch they don’t burn!
- Don’t like cilantro? Skip it!
- Want it spicier? Add a bit more chipotle powder or even some finely diced jalapenos to the mix.
- This recipe makes 24 scoops – but it’s easy to double or triple it to make as many as you need!
- No grilled chicken? You can use leftover rotisserie chicken instead.
When To Serve Chicken Tortilla Bites?
I love serving these on game day (tailgating anyone?), on Taco Tuesdays, or anytime I need to serve a bite-size appetizer. They also travel really well (keep the tortilla chip scoops separate from the meat and assemble and back on-site) making them great for pot-lucks and family events. I also love putting these out for guests along with other tasty appetizers like air fryer mushrooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can certainly freeze the filling, but I haven’t tested freezing the finished cooked product. I’d be worried about them thawing and becoming too soggy.
I’ve stored leftovers in the fridge – tightly wrapped – for several days. They reheated fine in the air fryer at 400-F for a few minutes, or in the oven at 350-F for about 5 minutes. They are, however, best the first time around!
I’ve used both grilled chicken and rotisserie chicken in this recipe. They both work equally well and are equally tasty.
Chicken Tortilla Cups
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 tortilla chip scoops
- 2 cups cooked chicken chopped finely
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- 1 cup shredded cheese Tex-Mex blend or cheddar works well
Instructions
- Finely chop the chicken and mix it with the diced red onion, chopped cilantro, and shredded cheese.
- Fill each tortilla chip scoop with a heaping tablespoon of filling. It will shrink so really mound it high.
- Bake the tortilla chip cups in a preheated 350-F oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- You can make this tasty appetizer recipe ahead of time. Mix the filling and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them.
- If you fill the cups ahead of time, you risk them getting soggy. I was able to re-crisp leftovers by toasting them in the air fryer for about 3 minutes on 400-F. But watch they don’t burn!
- Don’t like cilantro? Skip it!
- Want it spicier? Add a bit more chipotle powder or even some finely diced jalapenos to the mix.
- This recipe makes 24 scoops – but it’s easy to double or triple it to make as many as you need!
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
