Once-A-Week Ground Chicken Tacos (15 Minutes)
Juicy and flavorful ground chicken tacos ready in just 15 minutes, perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 Wooden spoon or meat chopper
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 pound 93% lean ground chicken see Recipe Notes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ yellow onion finely diced
- to taste kosher salt to season
- to taste ground black pepper to season
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup homemade taco seasoning see Recipe Notes
- ½ cup water
- flour tortillas for serving, as desired
- shredded lettuce for serving, as desired
- shredded cheese for serving, as desired
- sour cream or avocado crema for serving, as desired
- salsa of choice for serving, as desired
- guacamole or mashed avocado for serving, as desired
- cilantro for serving, as desired
- 1 tablespoon chili powder for homemade taco seasoning
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin for homemade taco seasoning
Instructions
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot and shimmering, add the onion. Season with a good pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are golden and fragrant, 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste. Cook 1-2 minutes longer, until the tomato paste is darkened in color.
- Push the onion mixture to the side of the skillet. Place the ground chicken in the skillet and press it down into a thin, flat layer. Cook 2 minutes, until slightly browned, then flip and cook 1-2 minutes longer.
- Once the chicken is nearly cooked through, use a wooden spoon or meat chopper to break it into fine crumbles and mix with the onions.
- Add the taco seasoning to the skillet, stirring to evenly coat the chicken mixture.
- Pour in the water and simmer until thickened slightly, 1-2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.
- Serve the ground chicken taco meat in tortillas with your favorite toppings, or use it for burritos, nachos, bowls, or salads.
- Enjoy nostalgic tacos with warm flour tortillas, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and sour cream. Feel free to add salsa or hot sauce for more spice.
- This recipe comes together quickly making it perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
The secret to juicy chicken taco meat is using ground chicken with a good fat content, preferably 90-93% lean or ground chicken thighs. Homemade taco seasoning adds bold smoky flavor quickly. A splash of water or beer during simmering keeps the meat juicy. Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer for easy meal prep.