Alambre Chicken Tacos

Mom and I  usually schedule our hair appointments together and go out for a late lunch. A tradition that started when she had foot surgery and needed someone to drive her there. The other day we went to El Mariachi a Mexican restaurant in Bossier City, LA. I have told you about the Mushroom Enchiladas there, but this time I wanted to try something new. They had a plate on the menu called Alambre. It was so good! It was served fajita style with the tortillas on the side. I chose chicken but you can get beef too. I loved how smokey they were. The bacon must be responsible for that. I also loved all the veggies. It was so good I had to try making them at home.

It seems from searching around that Alambre translate to "wire". Many say it refers to shishkabobs. Although they have never been served the dish on a wire or shishkabob. It may or may not be cooked that way but it is usually plated off the skewer. Alambre is almost always composed of meat, onions, peppers, bacon, all grilled, on a tortilla, optionally with hot layer of cheese on top.

I have made my version of these tacos three times now. I have served them to Mom, Dad and dear sister. Everyone said they are really good! Believe it or not they are great as a make ahead meal too. The bacon and grilling add great smoke flavor. My guess that is why they reheat well. They are bulked up with onions, peppers and mushrooms; so it really stretches out the protein. It easily makes eight tacos and serves four. I highly recommend trying this for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. They are easy to make and you will crave more when they are gone.

Alambre Chicken Tacos
Serves 4; Makes 8 tacos

Ingredients

1 large (12 oz.) boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tsp. olive oil
Sazon Seasoning, to taste
4 strips center cut bacon, cut into 1-1/2” pieces
1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2” pieces
1/2 yellow onion, cut into 1/2” pieces
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
8 small flour tortillas
3/4 cup Monterrey jack cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat grill on high for ten minutes. Meanwhile drizzle chicken breast with olive oil and season with Sazon. Lower grill to medium high and grill chicken 6 to 7 minutes each side. Remove from grill and cover with foil to rest. Place bacon in a skillet over medium high heat, when bacon begins to brown push to one side and add onions and peppers. Saute until they begin to soften and onion starts to get translucent, add mushrooms. Season with a little sazon, salt and pepper; cook until mushrooms begin to brown. Meanwhile slice or dice chicken, add to the pan and stir in bacon. Top with cheese and cover to melt the cheese. To serve place a spoon of filling on each tortilla.

Or as a make ahead meal leave cheese off. Store chicken filling when ready to eat warm a serving of filling for 30 seconds in the microwave on High. Then place filling on two tortilla, top with cheese and place back into the microwave for 30 seconds.

Nutritional Information per serving*: Calories 366, Total Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Monounsaturated Fat 2 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 56 mg, Sodium 1300 mg**, Potassium 312 mg, Total Carbohydrate 36 g, Dietary Fiber 1 g, Sugars 2 g, Protein 21 g.

*Information from the My Fitness Pal calculator. NI may vary depending on the brand or size of the ingredients used to prepare it.

**Sodium should be less if you make your own Sazon.

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I used homemade Sazon Seasoning. 
Because I can control the sodium that way.

This is the color you are looking for on the bacon. 

When you see the bacon is not quite brown 

push it aside and add the onion and peppers.

See the bacon continues to brown.

I served a little light sour cream and store bought guacamole 

to garnish the tacos. I also served a side salad with 

Creamy Mexican Dressing. The restaurant serves rice and beans.

Linking to:
Carole's Chatter: Food on Friday - Bacon
Love Bakes Good Cakes: Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends
Life Is Fantasmic: Saturday Dishes - Cinco de Mayo
Reasons to Skip The Housework: Skip The Housework Link Party
Dizzy Busy & Hungry: Wine'd Down Wednesday