
Marcos Pollo Tacos
We have a local restaurant that serves an amazing Mexican chicken dish called Marcos Pollo. It’s a creamy/spicy dish filled with chicken and mushrooms and served with rice and beans and tortillas. I decided to recreate this as best I could, and my husband thought it was spot on! Aside from telling me it was delicious, he wants me to add more mushrooms, increase the sauce, and make the chicken cubes smaller next time. Ever the critic, isn’t he? 😀 But I did agree with him except the chicken chunk size. I like a nice mouthful of chicken with each bite!
Marcos Pollo Tacos
3/4 to 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons paprika
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons minced chipotle in adobo sauce
3/4 cup chicken stock, reduced to 1/4 cup
1/2 sweet onion, cut and sliced in quarters
4 to 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced thick
1/2 cup heavy cream, Mexican crema, or Half and Half
1/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 1 teaspoon cold water
Cilantro, for garnish
Cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes, then mix with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the paprikas and minced chipotle in adobo in a non-reactive bowl or zip-top baggie. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a small saucepan, then lightly boil until the stock has been reduced to about 1/4 cup. Remove from heat and set aside. This took about 20 minutes.

Chicken and Onions Browning
Meanwhile, slice the onions and mushrooms. After chicken stock has reduced, add the chicken and onions to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a clean bowl and set aside.

Deglazing Mushrooms ~ I haven’t quite mastered an in-focus pouring shot…
Add the other tablespoon of oil to the skillet then cook the mushrooms until golden brown, about another 5 to 7 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the reduced stock.
Add the chicken and onions back to the skillet, then stir in the cream and sour cream until combined. Next add the corn starch/water slurry, then simmer and stir until the sauce has thickened.

Creamy Spicy Chicken and Mushrooms
Remove from heat and serve over cooked rice, black beans in warmed corn tortillas. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

Marcos Pollo Tacos
Delicious! I am not even hungry but already thinking of when to make this!!
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Thank you so much Natascha!
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😙😁😙😙
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Spot on — fo sho! Anyone who wouldn’t love this deserves to eat McNuggets and canned spaghetti. This looks fabulous!
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LOL Adam, you got that right! Thank you so much. 🙂
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LOL. That’s hysterical. Even Dante wouldn’t have come up with so cruel a punishment. 😀
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These look so tasty and so delicious Kathryn. Wow ! on my list to do for sure !!! 🙂
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Oh thank you so much Lynne! I was very happy with the result. 🙂
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Can’t wait to make them.
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Thanks so much Bernadette. 🙂
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This looks and sounds delicious. I will have to try this one. I know Dave will like it. Thanks for sharing Kathryn.
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Thanks so much Hazel, I hope you both enjoy it. 🙂
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I agree spot on for sure! The description you gave makes these a tempting meal! I would really love one!
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I wish I could send you one right now. Thanks! xoxo
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Yumm I wish too! xoxo
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Okay… If I can stop drooling on my computer long enough… OMG that looks so good!!!!!
Aside from the deliciousness, Kathryn, the photos are fantastic, so clear. I can see the spices in the sauce. Well done, my friend. Thank goodness I haven’t had dinner yet, because I’d have to have something else to eat — this kicked up my appetite. 😀 Yummylicious. Hang in there with your back and take good care of you. Great big hug!
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Thank you so much my dear friend!!! xoxi
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Oh Yummy!! I’m keeping this recipe for when I eventually get a kitchen again. 🙂
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Why thank you so much! I hope you have a chance to make this. 🙂
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One day in the not too distant future, I hope. 🙂
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Yum KR-sounds divine!!! Love chicken, love mushrooms-Winner-winner!
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Thanks CCC it sure was! 🙂 xoxo
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Hey KR any leftovers????xoxoxo ccc
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Yes! We’ll be having those tomorrow! Tonight is leftover Easter ham we froze along with fresh green beans, red potatoes, butter and rosemary. Then we’ll eat leftovers for a few days (we also have leftover top sirloin we grilled last night) as both of us are back to work. 🙂
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Sounds like a plan too me! xoxoxo ccc
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Yum! These tacos are making me hungry 🙂
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Ha thank you so much Mel! 🙂
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Wow I love those. Really different and creative taco and the dish as served in the restaurant sounds fantastic.
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Thank you Suzanne! The dish they serve there is awesome, with nicely seasoned cilantro rice, which I also made but mine came out a little dry. The black beans were just leftovers from the night before. We’ll be making this again and it is so much cheaper! xoxo
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Great name. I have some boneless, skinless chicken breasts now. Uh oh, but I ate up all my black beans! Next time for sure.
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Thanks Karina, but oh shoot about the beans! I always try to have some cans in stock and just used my last one for this. Note to self: buy more black beans, as we are having this for leftovers tomorrow. 🙂
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This looks so good, I am ready for some Mexican food when I return home this week.
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Thanks Gerlinde! I am always ready for Mexican food. 🙂
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Sounds wonderful. Love the name!
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Thanks so much Mimi!
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They look great! I’ll bookmark your post and give these a try!
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Why thank you Brad, I do hope you enjoy them. 🙂
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Super yummy recipe 🙂 Looks great, Kathryn !
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Thank you Freda so much!
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These look great! I’m with you on having a nice big chunk of chicken per bite.
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Ha, thank you so much! Glad you agree with me and not hubby. 🙂
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That looks wonderful, Kathryn. I like how you also add the rice and beans into the taco. I think I could make this! 😀
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Thank you Diana!
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I made this last night, Kathryn. The husband gave it a 2-thumbs up. It was delicious. 😀
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Oh wow Diana, thank you so much!! I am so glad it got good reviews. 🙂
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Great flavour combinations.
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Thank you so much Nadia. 🙂
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Love tacos filled with different ingredients – when there is mushrooms I always substitute zucchini. Bet the chipotle added some great flavor 🙂
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I am sure zucchini in this would be great, I like zucchini in Mexican recipes. Thank you!
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Awesome recreation! Looks delicious!
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Thank you so much Antonia. 🙂
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How can Adam mention nuggets and cans in this post? It looks delicious. Really delicious.
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Yeah, that Adam is a bit of a rebel, isn’t he? Thanks Conor. 🙂
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He is. He used to post regularly and I loved his writing style.
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He still does Conor, but he moved off of fee WP to a new platform. I get his new posts via email now after subscribing to it. 🙂
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Wow! Tacos are my favourite ever! Such a wonderful recipe
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Thanks so much Lina!
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These sound amazing!!
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Thanks so much Michelle, they sure were!
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This looks INSANELY good and I can’t wait to try it!! As soon as I’m back from vacation…Actually, if I were home right now, I’d run to the store and get the ingredients and make it right now, that’s how good it looks. It reminds me a bit of Rajas, only with mushrooms instead of peppers, and how cute is that name, lol!!
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Oh wow, thank you so much for such a great comment! I hope you are having a great vacation!
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Good for you on recreating this dish. It does look and sound really good, no matter the size of the chicken pieces. Not only does it have a nice set of pieces but it uses more than one kind of dairy. Every possible way to infuse flavor as been used here. It’s got to be good.
By the way, whenever I see or hear “Marco” I want to yell “Polo”. Curse you Griswolds! 😀
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LOL you just made crack up out loud for real John! Thank you! I know, that very same thing kept going through my head as I was making this then typing it up.
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Another great recipe, Kathryn! Nice play on words too 😉
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The restaurant name them that. 😀 Thank you so much.
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Great marketing!
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Delicious, saving this recipe!
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Why thank you, it’s one of my faves!
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