Mexican pulled chicken with black beans is an easy make ahead dish ideal for filling tortillas, or tacos
I’ve said numerous times before that I love finger food and canapés. I have a slightly lethal-for-the-waistline habit at parties of making sure I’m standing in the peak spot to pick up canapés as they come past. Somewhere on the route from the kitchen, but not obviously so, usually does it for me – you will always find me near the kitchen door at parties! There is something really rather lovely about miniature food – possibly because you can have more of them?
Ed and I have been on a bit of a tortilla wrap frenzy this summer, with them making an appearance most lunchtimes stuffed full of a variety of fillings. They might be the perfect vehicle and if you tuck the sides in and roll them up tightly, they are remarkably good at containing the juicy contents.
If you are not so good at rolling wraps, the new Mini Stand ‘n’ Stuff Tortillas from Old El Paso are perfect, with no dripping at all. Because they are small (not quite bite sized) they are ideal for a snack, light meal or for children, or you can stuff with a variety of fillings and enjoy a number for a more substantial meal. I think they would make rather good boats for a child’s party too.
I filled mine with a spicy mix of Mexican pulled chicken and black beans, covered with cheese and some pickled jalapeños, then put into the oven for 10 minutes to reheat and to melt the cheese. These would make a ideal starter for a Mexican night, canapés, or a light lunch. You can make the pulled chicken in advance and keep in the fridge for a few days, or even freeze it, making these the perfect fuss-free meal to pull together after you have been out all day.  Simply stuff, reheat and serve with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, coriander and a squeeze of lime. As a quick, easy and very effective vehicle for guacamole – another one of our weaknesses – I can see these stuffed mini tortillas becoming a bit of a habit.
Mexican pulled chicken with black beans
Ingredients
For the pulled chicken
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion (peeled &chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (Peelied chopped)
- 1 tsp cumin seed
- 1 tsp coriander seed
- 1 tsp chilli flake (according to taste)
- 1 tsp tsp sweet paprika
- 6 skinless (boneless chicken thighs each cut into quarters)
- 1 cup roughly chopped cherry tomatoes
- 1 tbs heaped honey
- 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 tsp cornflour
- 1 tps pickled jalapeños
To Serve
- 1 cup grated cheese
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
- Fresh Coriander
- Limes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
- Pour the oil into a small cast iron casserole dish. Fry the onion over a low heat until translucent, then add the garlic.
- Grind the cumin, coriander and chilli. Add the spice mix and the sweet paprika to onion and garlic and fry until fragrant.
- Add the chicken pieces and cook for a few minutes. Add tomato and few slices of fresh chilli according to taste. Stir in the honey.
- Place the lid on the casserole and cook in the oven for an hour.
- When cooked, shred the chicken, stir through the black beans, add the pickled jalapeños with some of the vinegar to balance the sweetness of the chicken if desired.
- If the sauce needs thickening mix the cornflour with a little water to make a thin paste and stir through the chicken mixture. Return to the oven to heat through.
- To serve spoon the pulled chicken into 12 mini tortilla shells, and top with the grated cheese. heat in the oven until piping hot, and the cheese has melted.
Serve piled high with as many toppings as you think you can manage before they all slide off.
Recipe for Mexican pulled chicken with black beans commissioned by Old El Paso.  All opinions our own. Â
Old El Paso Mini Stand ‘n’ Stuff Tortillas available from all major supermarkets RRP £2.29.
Emily
These look so delicious! Such a great family meal ideal I feel like kids would love the little tortilla shells!
Helen
I love that they are small, which means that you can have several! And absolutely, ideal for children.
Tina Jui | The Worktop
These mini stand ‘n stuffs are so cute! I’ve had the regular sized ones, but never the mini ones. I’ll have to keep an eye out for them next time I’m at the supermarket.
Helen
Aren’t they adorable. mini edible burrito bowls
April J Harris
I love Old El Paso’s Stand and Stuff Tortillas – they make it so easy to enjoy all the great flavours of Mexican food! Your Pulled Chicken with Black Beans looks amazing – so much flavour and just the right amount of spice!
Helen
The stand and stuff tortillas are great – the original, and edible burrito bowl.
swathi
Mini tortilla servers and this pulled chicken beans are delicious and perfect treat for any party.
Helen
Absolutely perfect for a party, and so easy to pre ahead.
Tina Dawson | Love is in my tummy
Those little bowls are for eating????!!!!! That is just brilliant! No more rolling them (I am terrible at it, it always spills)! I need these immediately!
Helen
Aren’t they amazing? So cute, but so functional.
kate @veggie desserts
I love these mini tortillas! We’ve had the larger ones and my kids love building dinner ‘boats’. I’m going to get these smaller ones – they will be thrilled with them. Lovely recipe too – black beans are so delicious.
Helen
They absolutely are boats – I do like that you can mix and match your own fillings.
munchies and munchkins
Oh I haven’t seen these mini ones before! Too cute. The Mexican pulled chicken sounds and looks delicious. I am a bit of a canapé fiend too.
Helen
Aren’t they lovely? Perfect for all the family to fill their own.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Pulled chicken is always a favourite in our house (although we usually do ours in the slow cooker). Love these little tortilla shells – very cute.
Helen
it would work just as well in the slow cooker, but it is another pan you wash as you need to fry it all off.
Pinkoddy
Thank you for the great recipe. Loving the tortillas – I could see me making pirate ships with them
Helen
that would be a great idea!
Jenni
Oh they are adorable! Great recipe aswel, definitely purchasing some mini tortillas x
Helen
Thanks Jenni. I love the mini tortillas, any excuse to have more of them.
Newcastle Family Life
We love Mexican and make it often, I love these taco shells. I have never tried them with pulled chicken though, these look amazing. I think I will have to try this x
Helen
Enjoy them. Make a big batch of the chicken and then freeze some for another meal
Fashion and Style Police
I like the sound of chicken and beans. Sounds really tasty. Love your photography.
Helen
Thank you. I do like adding the beans as it make the chicken go further.
Rachel
I love that the shells are so small, means you can eat more and not feel guilty x
Helen
I completely agree with your thinking Rachel!
Evelina
I love Mexican food. This looks absolutely perfect!
Helen
thank you. we did rather enjoy them.
Ana De- Jesus
I adore Mexican food and this pulled chicken black bean dish would be amazing as a veggie recipe too.
Helen
It absolutely would – maybe with roasted butternut squash?
Tamara
I totally agree on the appeal of miniature foods! My favorite way to have a party is with miniature foods, and being a border town gal, your Mexican Pulled Chicken With Beans would be so perfect :-) I’ve not seen the Old El Paso Mini Stand ‘N Stuff Tortillas, but I will be keeping an eye out for them… Surely on the Mexico/Texas border we can get them!
Helen
We love mini foods. These are great as you can pick and mix your fillings.
Christina | Christina's Cucina
OMG, this has to be the winner for the cutest Mexican dish!! LOVE these mini stand and stuff tortillas! How perfect for parties, too! Recipe filling sounds wonderful! Looking out for these next time I’m out!
Helen
Absolutely perfect for parties. I love you can have several.
Clairejustine
I love the idea of the mini tortillas. These look so tasty :) Perfect for dinner parties.
Helen
Absolutely perfect!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
I remember when I lived in London in the early 80s it was really hard to get good Mexican food! I love those cute little tortilla bowls! I have never seen them in California, but I’ll have to keep looking! I wonder if they are steadily making their way out West? They’d make the perfect little game day snack too!
Helen
they would be ideal for any party snacks. The mini tortillas are very new, hopefully coming to you soon.