Ground Chicken Tacos

This ground chicken taco recipe is a great alternative to the ever popular beef taco.  It’s just as delicious and easy to make. These Ground chicken tacos are made with fresh ingredients that are simple to prepare yet create an amazing taste sensation!

Well it’s no secret, we LOVE tacos here, and who doesn’t?

Our Birria Tacos were a HIT online and so we had to make Lamb Birria and Lamb Tacos which were amazing! Also try our Flank Steak Tacos with Mexican Black Beans.

If you’re in the mood for fish, I can’t urge you to make Mahi Mahi Tacos and Fish Taco Slaw or even better make Salmon Tacos. For a super light and fulfilling meal, try our Taco Salad or Chicken Taco Soup You’ll LOVE it!

What Are Ground Chicken Tacos?

Ground chicken tacos are a lighter, leaner alternative to traditional beef tacos, packed with flavor, high in protein, and ready in under 20 minutes. They are:

• Leaner than beef tacos
• Mild in flavor (absorbs seasoning well)
• Quick cooking

They’re especially popular in American home cooking due to their versatility and lighter nutrition profile.

Now in all honesty, ground chicken isn’t one of our favorite meats. It’s very underused and so we thought the best way to put ground chicken to the test is by making tacos! And we were so GLAD we did THAT!! We now have a new favorite taco recipe to add to our weekly rotation!

Why You’ll Love Ground Chicken Tacos

• High protein, lower fat
• Quick 15–20 minute meal
• Budget-friendly
• Customizable toppings
• Great for meal prep
• Kid friendly meal

Ingredients for Ground Chicken Tacos

• Ground Chicken
• Homemade Taco Seasoning (similar to the seasoning I used here with Lamb Tacos), salt and black pepper
• Salsa (Homemade Salsa Recipe ), also use chipotle salsa or tomato paste
• Cilantro
• Cheese like monterey jack
• Taco Shells
• Lime
• Avocados or guacamole, avocado crema similar to our Lamb Tacos
• Tomatoes and onions, diced into small pieces
• Scallions and lime wedges

Choosing Ground Chicken

Look for:

• Fresh pink color
• No grayness
• Minimal excess liquid

Lean vs Regular:

• 93% lean is healthier but easier to dry out
• 90% lean is better balance for tacos
• Avoid extra lean, it’s way too dry.

How to Make Ground Chicken Tacos

This is a simple recipe that packs some punch. All you need to make this recipe is a few ingredients, and you have a favorite weekday meal on your hands.

Cook the ground chicken

Firstly, you need to make the seasoning blend by mixing the salt, pepper, chilli powder, cumin, oregano, and granulated garlic.

Then, pour a generous amount of olive oil into a skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the ground chicken and seasonings and stir together, making sure they combine evenly.

Keep cooking on medium-high heat until nearly fully cooked, and then add in your chopped cilantro and salsa — Homemade Salsa ROCKS! and let the mixture bubble for a bit before turning it off the heat.

Preparing your corn tortillas and taco shells:

Lay your soft tortillas out, then sprinkle a generous about of cheese onto them and melt in the oven briefly. Once your cheese has melted, place it around the hard shell and let the tortilla attach to the taco.

 Then bake again if needed for 5 more minutes, this is to ensure the shells have completely stuck together. At that point  your tacos are ready to be assembled. 

Putting your ground chicken taco together

Once your tortilla and taco shells are prepared, and your ground chicken is fully cooked through, it’s time to put the ground chicken inside the taco shells. use a generous amount, but don’t overfill, as you still have fresh ingredients to add.

Add the avocado, fresh onion, Jalapenos, and freshly chopped tomatoes on top of your ground chicken or turkey, and they’re ready to serve.

You can easily serve with a few extra Mexican favorites for preference, such as black beans and sour cream. Repeat with the remaining tacos and arrange them on a wooden tray. Make sure to load each differently as some people prefer more avocados than others, sour cream, salsa etc. 

Or even BETTER-let everyone assemble their own by setting up a taco bar. To do that simply fill out every taco shell with the cooked ground chicken mixture, and have small bowls of every possible topping. Then let everyone add more or less of each topping they like! SO GOOD!!

Ground Chicken Taco Variations

There are a number of ways you can vary up this recipe by making it into either a ground chicken taco bowl or a ground chicken taco salad.

Ground chicken taco bowl

To make ground chicken taco salad, follow the same instructions to cook the ground chicken, but instead of serving with taco shells, you serve it in a bowl with freshly cooked rice, fresh salad ingredients, sour cream and black beans if you want to add those. Similar to the Sushi Bowl and Falafel Bowl , which are HIT recipes to make!

This is a great option for those who want to avoid tortillas or taco shells.

Ground Chicken taco salad

To make ground chicken taco salad, you again need to follow the same method for cooking the ground chicken or turkey, but this time add it to fresh salad ingredients including fresh shredded lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, sliced red onion, and any other salad ingredients you like. Use exactly the same recipe as this Taco Salad and same dressing.   

Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme

Lighter than the original one, this ground chicken mixture could be used to me the Taco bell favorite Crunchwrap Supreme with all the fixings including our viral Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe! SO TASTY!!

Expert Tips For Chicken Tacos

1. Use homemade or store bought Taco Seasoning, I love homemade and I use it in this Lamb Tacos.
2. Cook the onions and peppers for a few minutes before adding in the ground chicken, this allows the flavors to become richer and deeper.
3. Ground turkey is a great substitute for ground chicken if you’d like to make it even lighter.
4. Once the ground chicken is cooked and ready, I love adding Homemade Salsa or store bought and cook that for 5 minutes with a tablespoon of water. This helps deglaze the pan and also add extra moisture to your ground chicken!
5. The chicken mixture can be cooked a week in advance and stored in the fridge or frozen for 3 months.
6. Use your favorite taco shell–we used a combo of soft and hard with a layer of cheese in the middle for a sturdy cheesy taco shell.
7. The toppings and salsa you can use here are endless!

Can I use beef taco seasoning for chicken?

Yes, you absolutely can. You can use whatever taco seasoning you like or have on hand. It will change the flavor ever so slightly, but it doesn’t affect the end result.

Variations:

• Healthy Ground Chicken Tacos: Use lettuce wraps instead of tortillas.
• Spicy Chicken Tacos: Add chipotle powder or jalapeños.
• Creamy Chicken Tacos: Add small amount of cream cheese or Greek yogurt to filling.
• Mediterranean Chicken Tacos: Add oregano,  feta, cucumber and yogurt sauce.
• BBQ Chicken Tacos: Mix in small amount of BBQ sauce.
• Keto Chicken Tacos: Serve in lettuce cups.
• Air Fryer Chicken Taco: Use our Air Fryer Chicken Breast meat for the filling.

Storage & Reheating

• Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days in the refrigerator.
• Reheat: heat in a skillet over medium, add in a splash of water. Do not microwave as it becomes rubbery.
• Freeze: Up to 3 months
• Do not freeze assembled tacos.

Why is my ground chicken dry?

• Overcooked
• Too lean
• No added moisture

What is it tastes bland?

• Under seasoned
• No acid
• No salt

Why is it watery?

• Excess liquid in packaged chicken
• Overcrowded pan

What if it’s rubbery?

• Cooked too long
• High heat

Why is it sticking to the pan?

• Not enough oil
• Pan not preheated

Are ground chicken tacos healthy?

Yes. They are leaner than beef tacos and high in protein.

How long do you cook ground chicken?

8–10 minutes until it reaches 165°F.

Why is my ground chicken dry?

It was overcooked or too lean.

What seasoning is best for chicken tacos?

Chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, oregano, salt, and lime.

Can you use ground chicken instead of beef for tacos?

Yes, but increase seasoning and spices.

Do you need oil for ground chicken?

Yes, because it is a lean protein and needs fat for browning.

What temperature should ground chicken be cooked to?

165°F internal temperature.

Cooking Safety

• Always cook ground chicken to 165°F.
• Avoid cross contamination.
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Taco recipes

Flank Steak Tacos
Chicken Taco Soup
Taco Spaghetti
Ground Beef Tacos
Taco Soup
Salmon Tacos
Taco Salad
Lamb Tacos
Mahi Mahi Tacos
Birria Tacos