Cilantro and Lime Chicken Scoops (View Print Version)

Tangy chicken dip with cilantro, lime, and melted cheese. Perfect for parties with tortilla scoops.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
05 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Citrus

06 - Zest and juice of 2 limes

→ Dairy

07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
09 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ To Serve

15 - 1 bag tortilla scoops
16 - Additional cilantro and lime wedges for garnish

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, diced red onion, minced garlic, minced jalapeño, and chopped cilantro
03 - Add lime zest, lime juice, sour cream, softened cream cheese, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until thoroughly blended
04 - Transfer mixture to a greased 1-quart baking dish and spread evenly across the surface
05 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden on top
06 - Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges
07 - Serve warm with tortilla scoops

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes, so you can make it the day of without stress.
  • The lime and cilantro keep it feeling bright instead of heavy, which means people actually eat more than one scoop.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and impresses people without requiring any special technique or skill.
02 -
  • Don't skip the lime zest; it's where the citrus flavor really lives, and juice alone tastes flat by comparison.
  • Mix everything thoroughly before baking so the spices distribute evenly, or you'll get pockets that taste too strong or too mild.
03 -
  • Taste the mixture before baking and adjust the lime juice and salt; these two ingredients are where most seasoning tweaks happen.
  • Buy pre-shredded cheese if you're short on time; hand-shredding is nice but not worth stress on a party day.
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