Easy Ground Chicken Tacos
These Ground Chicken Tacos are super delicious but quick and easy to make: the perfect weeknight meal for everyone to enjoy with no hassle! Protein-packed chicken, plenty of taco seasoning, and a little salsa make the magic. Just add your favorite toppings and dig in!
Super Fast Ground Chicken Tacos
Tacos are as close to a sure-fire hit as you’ll find in most households, especially the simple classic fillings. They come together in no time and are perfect for customizing to each member of the family. I like to prep all the toppings and tell the kids to pick at least two: this essentially guarantees they are eating some vegetable matter but still feel some agency over it. Sneaky, huh? 🙂
This ground chicken taco meat is a new go-to favorite around here. I knew this mix was a keeper after I threw it together on a whim one night, and both kids requested it again the very next week! It’s so basic that I hardly even consider it a recipe, but sometimes simple really is best.
Key things to love:
- Ultra-fast. This can be done in about 15 minutes flat. It probably will take you longer to prep the toppings than to cook the chicken, which is a great problem to have.
- Tender and flavorful. The one challenge to cooking with ground poultry products can be ensuring they do not dry out. Adding just a little salsa to the mix solves that in the most delicious way!
- Family-friendly. Use a mild salsa and this is about as kid-friendly as it comes.
It’s also versatile! You can serve up this taco seasoned ground chicken in any variety of ways and reheat throughout the week, too, which makes it great to make in bulk for future lunches! Taco salads, here we come.
Related: Crockpot Shredded Chicken Tacos
Ingredient & Substitution Notes
Here are a few notes and shopping tips about the ingredients you’ll need. Find full amounts in the print-friendly recipe card below.
- Olive oil or avocado oil. Ground chicken is typically much more lean than ground beef, so a little oil is necessary for a good sauté.
- Ground chicken. You can substitute ground turkey in this recipe with no other changes. Any lean/fat percentage will work; I usually opt for 90/10 or close to it.
- Taco seasoning. I keep a jar of homemade taco seasoning stocked at all times and highly recommend you do the same!
- Salsa. Just a small scoop of your favorite salsa works wonders to add flavor and keep ground chicken tender, even if it sits for a few minutes while you prep toppings. Use any store-bought variety you like, or whip up some homemade blender salsa if you’re feeling ambitious.
- Lime. A squeeze of fresh lime juice adds freshness and punch.
- Flour or corn tortillas or taco shells and all your favorite toppings!
Pro Tip
Craving even more protein? Mix 1/2 to 1 full can of black beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed, into the chicken mixture. Add it along with the taco seasoning to ensure they beans become tender and well-seasoned right alongside the chicken.
What spices can I use in place of taco seasoning?
No taco seasoning at the ready? Make a quick batch of your own — it keeps a long time — or for use in a single recipe, stir together 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1.5 teaspoons paprika, 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin, .5 teaspoon dried minced onion, .5 teaspoon kosher salt, and a pinch each of garlic powder and cayenne pepper. This replaces approximately 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning in this or any other recipe. Want an extra punch? Add a pinch of chipotle chili powder!
How To Make Tacos with Ground Chicken
The beauty of this is certainly in the simplicity! This is a quick overview of the steps; find more details in the print-friendly recipe card below.
- Grab a large skillet, begin browning the chicken in a drizzle of oil, and quickly add taco seasoning. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break apart the chicken as it cooks.
- Add salsa, lime juice, and salt to taste. Let it simmer while you prep toppings.
- Stuff tacos, add toppings, and eat!
The great thing about adding a bit of salsa is that it helps the meat stay tender and moist — even if you’re using very lean ground chicken — even as you prep toppings or keep the filling warm.
Topping Ideas
- Red or green leaf lettuce.
- Diced tomatoes.
- Cheese – either Monterey Jack, a Mexican blend, or creamy crumbled Cotija.
- Sliced or diced avocado.
- Corn, bell peppers, thinly-sliced radishes, green onions, or any other veggie you’ve got hanging out in the fridge.
- Pickled onions.
- Shredded cabbage.
- Finely minced cilantro leaves.
- Pico de gallo or mango avocado salsa.
- Jalapeños – thinly-sliced or diced.
- Chipotle crema – just mix a bit of Greek yogurt or sour cream with adobo sauce and a squeeze of lime juice. So good!
- Tortilla strips – for a fun crunch!
What’s a good side dish to serve with tacos?
We always love a big everyday Mexican salad, cilantro lime rice, or just plain old chips and guacamole! For a special treat, sometimes I’ll whip up this Mexican bean salad or black bean salsa, which I especially love because they keep so well and make a delicious lunch for me the next day.
Storage & Reheating
- Storage: Ground chicken taco meat keeps well in any airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. It’s great recycled into more tacos, quesadillas, burrito bowls, or taco salads!
- Warming: Leftover taco meat can be warmed in the microwave (use 50% power to lessen the odds of drying out the chicken) or over medium-low heat in a skillet or saucepan. If using the stovetop, watch it carefully and add a little more salsa, or chicken broth or even water, if the meat starts to dry out.
- Freezing: You can store the fully cooked taco filling in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost the meat overnight in the refrigerator, then warm gently on the stove or in the microwave and use as desired. This makes a terrific freezer meal if you want to stock up before a new baby, surgery, or other big life event.
Related Recipes
Love taco night? You’re in good company! Try these baked ground beef tacos, Baja chicken tacos, or our favorite quick and healthy fish tacos for your next take on the classic. Craving more of a twist? Taco stuffed peppers are always a hit!
In the mood for some vegetarian versions? We love simple black bean tacos, sweet potato black bean tacos, and crispy chickpea tacos. Taco Tuesday can be anything but boring!
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Ground Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2-3 teaspoons avocado or olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 heaping Tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup salsa any kind that you love
- squeeze of lime juice
- salt to taste
- tortillas, cheese, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, other toppings as desired
Instructions
- Warm oil in a skillet set over medium-high heat. When hot, add the ground chicken and begin to break apart with a spatula. Stir in the taco seasoning and mix well to blend as the chicken continues to brown.2-3 teaspoons avocado or olive oil, 1 pound ground chicken, 2 heaping Tablespoons taco seasoning
- When the chicken is nearly cooked through, stir in the salsa, lime juice, and salt to taste. (I usually add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt, but how much you will want varies according to your preference and the type of taco seasoning you’re using.)1/4 cup salsa, squeeze of lime juice, salt to taste
- Reduce heat to low to keep chicken warm while you prepare lettuce, tomatoes, and any other toppings you like. Spoon filling into tortillas and top as desired. Enjoy!tortillas, cheese, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, other toppings as desired
Notes
- Make this really special by making your own flour tortillas. They’re surprisingly easy and incredibly delicious!
- Some of our favorite taco toppings: avocado, guacamole, blender salsa, mango salsa, pickled onions, diced bell peppers, lettuce, tomato, Mexican cheese or crumbled Cotija.
- Nutritional information is an estimate based on .25 pounds of the taco meat only, because the nutritional content of different tortillas and toppings will vary so widely.
