Chicken Tamales from Scratch (Mostly!)
These delicious tamales verdes are proof that not every batch of tamales has to be an all-day, totally-from-scratch affair. ♡
This recipe is built around a few easy shortcuts, starting with shredded rotisserie chicken and tossing it with my favorite quick salsa verde (or you can use store-bought). That way, you can focus your energy where it really matters — making perfectly fluffy masa and assembling the tamales!
As I’ve mentioned with my red pork tamales recipe, I always prefer my tamales with a generous filling-to-masa ratio, so each bite is packed with plenty of saucy, vibrant flavor rather than just masa. The result is a batch of green chicken tamales that’s cozy, flavorful, and surprisingly approachable. Perfect for a weekend cooking project or stocking the freezer with lots of easy meals ahead. Let’s make some tamales!