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You’ll love the crispy, cheesy coating on this Baked Ranch Chicken recipe. The ranch dressing keeps the recipe simple. Prep it in just 10 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights! Looking for a quick weeknight dinner idea that the kids will love? This bake…
You’ll love the crispy, cheesy coating on this Baked Ranch Chicken recipe. The ranch dressing keeps the recipe simple. Prep it in just 10 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights! Looking for a quick weeknight dinner idea that the kids will love? This baked ranch chicken is your answer. Assemble the breaded chicken in just 10…
The post Baked Ranch Chicken appeared first on Tastes of Lizzy T.
If you’re searching for the best chicken taco recipe, nothing hits the spot quite like Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos. With the…
The post Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.
If you’re searching for the best chicken taco recipe, nothing hits the spot quite like Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos. With the perfect combination of grilled tender chicken thigh meat, crispy bacon, and that creamy homemade ranch dressing flavor we all love, these tacos are so freakin’ delicious!
Whether you’re on the lookout for quick dinner ideas after a crazy day or just looking for a fun way to elevate your economy pack of chicken thighs, this recipe’s got your back. The recipe comes together after sizzling some bacon and chicken on my new FYR Grill (soon to be your new best friend!).
I’m using my favorite lump charcoal to ensure that everything stays nice and tasty. The amazing folks at Cowboy Charcoal make some seriously clean hardwood lump charcoal that gives a great smoky flavor that is never overpowering. Their lump charcoal lights faster, burns hotter, and leaves less ash than briquets. It also cooks evenly and for a long time, which is ideal for cooking grilled chicken to perfection.
These Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos are all about big flavors and easy vibes. Imagine this: smoky bacon meets juicy grilled chicken brushed with buffalo sauce, all wrapped up in cheesy, ranch-covered goodness. It’s like the best of all worlds in every bite. Seriously, these tacos are the definition of perfection. So, let’s dive in and whip up this mouthwatering masterpiece!
If tacos are your obsession, then make sure to check out The Best Taco Recipes roundup!
To make these Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos, you’ll need just a few key ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
Now that you know what to grab at the grocery store, it’s time to make these Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos. Gather your ingredients, and let’s fire up that grill!
Start by whipping up that creamy and refreshing homemade ranch. All you need to do is mix sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped parsley, dill, garlic powder, and black pepper in a bowl. Slowly add buttermilk until you get that perfect ranch consistency—whether thick or a bit runny, it’s up to you. Once it’s seasoned to your liking with a pinch of salt, set it aside in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
For more with ranch, check out my Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders, Chicken Bacon Ranch Patty Melt and Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla. Oh, and I also have a Chicken Bacon Ranch Sausage Skewers recipe too! If you hadn’t realized it yet… Ranch is one of my favorite sauces.
Now, let’s get those chicken thighs prepped. Slather them with canola oil and give them a generous seasoning of kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder (or your favorite chicken rub if you’re feeling adventurous). Once seasoned, let the chicken sit in the fridge to soak up all those flavors while you preheat your grill.
Getting the perfect sear on any meat starts with a solid foundation—your charcoal. For the FYR Grill, here’s the lowdown: Fill the charcoal starter with Cowboy Charcoal and light it up. Let the coals catch fire and burn until they’re ashed over and glowing hot. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes. Once your coals are ready, carefully pour them into the charcoal basket of the FYR Grill, spreading them out evenly for that ideal, consistent heat. Now, you’re set for some epic grilling! Whether you’re searing steaks or grilling chicken thighs, those hot coals will give you that perfect char and flavor every time.
Bonus tip: If you want an even smokier flavor, toss in a chunk of hardwood like oak or hickory right before you start cooking. Cowboy Charcoal has a whole line of hardwood chunks you can choose from!
Fire up your grill to medium-high heat, aiming for around 375 degrees F. While the grill is heating up, grab a cast iron skillet and place it cold on the grill. Add your bacon slices to the skillet, letting them cook slowly until they’re nice and crispy. Once the bacon’s done, set it aside to cool before chopping it into bite-sized pieces.
With the bacon out of the way, it’s time to grill the chicken. Place the thighs directly on the grill, cooking them for about 6-8 minutes per side. After you flip them, brush on some buffalo sauce for that spicy, tangy kick.
Continue basting as needed until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F. Once you hit temperature, pull the pieces of chicken off the grill and let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes. This will help keep it juicy. After resting, slice the chicken into thin strips.
Now that your chicken and bacon are ready, it’s time to build those tacos. For this step, you can use the grill or a cast iron skillet that is heated up to medium heat. Once the surface is hot, lay a flour tortilla over it and let it cook on one side. When you see some light browning, flip the tortilla over and quickly sprinkle a handful of shredded Jack cheese on top. Fold the tortilla in half with the cheese inside, pressing down slightly to help the cheese melt.
Cook the folded tortilla on both sides until it’s crispy and the cheese is fully melted. Once done, pull the tortilla off the heat and gently open it back up. It’s time to fill it with all that deliciousness! Add a generous portion of your sliced chicken, followed by a sprinkle of crumbled bacon. Drizzle on a good helping of your homemade ranch, and finish it off with a sprinkle of chopped chives. Fold it back up and dig in!
These tacos pair perfectly with a variety of sides. Think Mexican rice, refried beans, or a fresh, crisp salad. If you’re hosting a taco bar, set out some extra toppings like guacamole, sour cream, and extra salsa so everyone can customize their own tacos. These tacos are great on their own, but a side of tortilla chips with queso never hurt anyone!
If you have any leftover chicken tacos (though I doubt you will), store the inner chicken mixture in an airtight container in the fridge. It should keep for about 2-3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy them the next day, just reheat the chicken in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through.
You can also warm up the tortillas and bacon taco shells in the oven. Once everything is heated, assemble your tacos as before, and they’ll taste just as good as the first time!
Absolutely! If you’re short on time or want to make things even easier, rotisserie chicken is a great substitute. Just shred it up, add some buffalo sauce and you’re good to go.
No worries at all! Corn tortillas can absolutely work, though they’re usually smaller and might be a bit more delicate. Just handle them carefully, and they’ll still deliver that delicious taco experience.
Definitely! While ranch adds a creamy, tangy flavor, you can easily swap it out for other sauces like chipotle mayo, avocado crema, or even a chunky salsa to suit your taste preferences.
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The post Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.
Ranch water is a Texas-born tequila highball cocktail made with lime and Topo Chico! This drink is all about cooling…
Ranch water is a Texas-born tequila highball cocktail made with lime and Topo Chico! This drink is all about cooling off on hot days.
Here’s a simple cocktail that’s bubbly, zingy and perfect for summer: ranch water! It’s the unofficial drink of West Texas, a tequila highball made with lime juice and sparkling Topo Chico.
One of our dearest friends, a native Texan, suggested we try out this “new” drink a few years ago, and after one sip, we were sold. Now it’s taken the country by storm and vaulted into popularity as one of the top summer drinks! It’s like a bubbly, lighter spin on the margarita, with all the tangy citrus but less sweetness and booze. It’s laid back and carefree, perfect for patio sipping. Come make it with us!
Ranch water is a tequila highball cocktail that hails from West Texas. No one knows exactly how it came to be, or even how it got the name. Some people say a Texas rancher invented it in the 1960’s, but there’s no documentation of how it came to be.
It was a word-of-mouth drink until around 2010, when bartenders in Texas started adding it to their menus. The ingredients you’ll need for ranch water are:
There’s no exact science behind ranch water! Because it was a word-of-mouth cocktail for so long, it’s more about vibe than precise quantities. You can use as much lime, tequila, and soda water as you’d like, but this is the formula we feel packs the right zingy, bubbly punch. Here’s how to make ranch water:
Ranch Water isn’t the most sophisticated of cocktails, so it doesn’t require pulling out a top-shelf liquor. Find a mid-priced tequila for Ranch Water. You can use either tequila blanco (“new” or un-aged tequila) or tequila reposado (aged). The aged tequila has more nuance in flavor and makes for a more interesting drink. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35 (anything cheaper isn’t worth buying). A few tequila brands that we recommend are:
Are you a tequila fan? Pick from these tequila cocktails:
Tequila blanco (silver tequila) is the classic choice. Its clean and crisp flavor complements the lime and sparkling water perfectly. However, feel free to experiment with reposado tequila for a touch of oaky complexity.
Topo Chico, a Mexican sparkling mineral water known for its subtle sweetness and minerality, is the traditional choice. However, any type of plain club soda or sparkling water you enjoy will work. (We like it best with Topo Chico!)
A typical class of ranch water has 3 oz tequila, which is 2 shots. If desired, you can use less and have a more watered down drink.
Absolutely! It’s lighter than margaritas or daiquiris, making it perfect for hot weather.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes 
Yield: 1 drink Ranch water is a Texas-born tequila highball cocktail made with lime and Topo Chico! This drink is all about cooling off on hot days.
*To convert to ounces, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
Category: Drink
Method: Mixed
Cuisine: CocktailsKeywords: Ranch Water, Tequila Highball
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