Tinga de Pollo con Arroz Rojo y Aguacate (Chipotle Chicken Tinga Rice Bowls)
Shredded chicken in a smoky chipotle tomato sauce, piled on red rice with creamy avocado and lime.
Made with Chipotle tinga sauce and Mexican red rice (arroz rojo) and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.04 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a wide frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion for 6 minutes until soft and golden.
6 min - 2
Add your ready made tinga sauce (see the base recipe) and bring to a simmer for 3 minutes.
3 min - 3
Stir in your ready made shredded chicken (see the base recipe) and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes until the sauce clings to the meat and the chicken is steaming hot all the way through.
8 min - 4
Meanwhile, warm your ready made arroz rojo (see the base recipe) in a covered pan with 3 tbsp water until steaming hot all the way through. Reheat chilled rice only once.
6 min - 5
Slice the avocados and squeeze over a little lime juice.
- 6
Divide the rice between four bowls. Top with the tinga, lettuce, avocado and coriander, and serve with lime wedges.
Tips
- Let the sauce reduce until it coats the chicken. A wet tinga makes soggy bowls.
- Tinga also works on crisp tostadas or in warm tortillas, so double it and use leftovers that way.
- Taste the sauce before adding the chicken and adjust the salt.
- Add a little extra chipotle in adobo if you want it smokier and hotter.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 hour. Keep the tinga for up to 3 days in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, and the rice only once.
Questions
What is tinga?
A Mexican dish of shredded meat cooked in a smoky tomato and chipotle sauce, strongly associated with Puebla. It is usually served on tostadas.
Is it very spicy?
It has a smoky, medium heat. Use less chipotle sauce for milder or serve with avocado and soured cream to cool it.
Can I use pork?
Yes. Shredded pork shoulder or carnitas make an excellent tinga. Use the same quantity and the same method.
More made with chipotle tinga sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.