The best Ground Chicken Tacos with juicy, flavorful taco meat and toppings cooked in one skillet, in 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights!

Whether it’s buffalo chicken tacos, chicken street tacos or Instant Pot shredded chicken tacos, we love chicken in tacos!

Ground chicken tacos garnished  cheese and cilantro and served with lime wedges in a bowl.

These ground chicken tacos are one of the easiest healthy taco recipes we have on iFoodReal!

To make the taco meat healthy, I used only 1 pound of lean ground chicken breast, loaded it with over 1 pound of veggies and made it all in one humongous size skillet.

Taco Tuesday was a real thing in only 30 minutes and now this ground chicken taco recipe is one of my favorite healthy chicken recipes to turn to on a busy weeknight!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • One pan meal: No need to prepare toppings separately, they all cook together in one skillet! 
  • Quick: It’s a true 30 minute meal!
  • Healthier: Chicken is a lean source of protein. Bell peppers are high in vitamin C, and radishes are a great source of calcium and potassium. Also dairy-free and gluten-free.
  • Balanced: A complete meal with protein, fiber, fats and complex carbohydrates.

Ingredients for Ground Chicken Tacos

You will need just a few simple ingredients to make these ground chicken tacos.

Corn tortillas, chicken, onion, bell peppers, corn, radish, tomato sauce, oil, smoked paprika, salt, garlic, lime, cilantro, .
  • Ground chicken: You can use store-bought ground chicken which is usually a combination of white and dark meat. Or you can grind your own chicken breasts or chicken thighs in a food processor, that’s what I did.
  • Bell peppers: I like to use a combination of green and red bell peppers for flavor but you can use only sweet pepper if you are not a fan of bitter green pepper. Any other color works.
  • Aromatics: Onion and garlic.
  • Corn: Canned, fresh or frozen corn for more “veggie factor”, sweetness and extra crunch.
  • Radishes: Strengthen the “veggie factor”, and “sauciness”, extra crunch and peppery zest to the taco meat. You can use less or let everyone add at the table.
  • Tomato sauce: To make dry chicken meat more juicy.
  • Spices: Homemade taco seasoning, smoked paprika and salt are all you need for this taco recipe.
  • For serving: Corn tortillas, lime, cotija or feta cheese, cilantro, sour cream and any other favorite taco toppings.

How to Make Ground Chicken Tacos

Here is a quick overview how to make ground chicken tacos. You can also find full recipe card below.

Step by step process how to make ground chicken tacos in a skillet on the stove.
  • Sauté the vegetables: First pan fry the garlic and onion, then bell peppers. This allows their taste to be absorbed by other ingredients.
  • Add ground chicken and spices: Sauteing spices in oil is a quick way to deepen their flavor. Ground chicken cooks really fast, just make sure to break it into pieces with spatula.
  • Add tomato sauce and corn: Sauce will “marry” taco meat filling together and add the “sauciness” factor.
  • Last add radishes, cilantro and salt: Radishes at the end will retain crunch and zest, cilantro adds a fresh taste and salt strengthens all other flavors.

Tips for Best Results

  • Don’t overcook the veggies: Follow the recipe and cook vegetables just enough to soften them or become flavorful.
  • If you would like to use other meat: Use ground turkey if you do not have ground chicken. Ground beef or ground pork could be used as well, but make sure to drain the fat after sauteing.
  • Other vegetables: Skip radishes or use shredded jicama or turnips instead. Cauliflower rice is an obvious choice!
  • To warm up tortillas: If you have gas stove, warm up tortilla right on the burner to char the edges. Or make a crispy tostada shell if you have air fryer!
  • If you are not a fan of cilantro: Use parsley or skip altogether and add a pinch of ground coriander with other spices.

Variations

  • Add some heat: Feel free to add some heat with chopped jalapeno peppers, minced chipotle in adobo sauce, cayenne pepper or any hot sauce.
  • Additional seasonings: Add cumin or chili powder with other spices.
  • Add beans: You can add canned or cooked black beans (I like Instant Pot black beans) with the sauce to add additional protein.
  • Different sauce: I like the simple ingredients of a plain tomato sauce, some readers have used picante taco sauce instead with great results.
  • Make low carb: Skip tortillas and serve over lettuce, similar to low carb enchiladas. Or transform this into ground chicken taco bowl with cilantro lime cauliflower rice.
Slow cooker with ground chicken taco meat, corn tortillas, feta cheese, lime and Greek yogurt on a counter. Fruit bowl behind.

Toppings Ideas and How to Serve

For serving tacos later, I placed taco filling in small slow cooker and turned on “keep warm”. This is a great option for both busy weeknights or game day parties!

The only fix-ins I had to prepare were limes, crumbled feta cheese and Greek yogurt. But here are a few more ideas:

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Since filling is saucy and radishes are sturdy, there is not much to get soggy in this ground chicken taco meat. Reheat on a skillet with a splash of chicken broth on low heat. That’s it!

To make ahead and cook later: You can chop garlic, onion and bell pepper and refrigerate for up to 3 days. You can also slice radishes. That is when meal prep containers with 2 sections come in handy.

Then just cook when ready. Makes a weeknight healthy dinner a breeze.

FAQs

How do I cook ground chicken without drying it out?

To cook ground chicken without making it dry, don’t overcook it. Also you don’t have to worry about dry chicken in this recipe because we add tomato sauce and plenty of juicy vegetables to make the filling moist.

Are ground chicken tacos healthier than beef tacos?

I love both! Chicken is more lean than beef, however I believe in everything in moderation and if you drain fat after cooking extra lean ground beef, it becomes one of wholesome dinner options.

What type of skillet should I use?

I recommend to use large skillet with tall walls because we cook meat and add toppings to the same skillet. You will be able to stir all ingredients comfortably.

I like to use ceramic non-stick skillet. If you have regular stainless steel skillet, you will just need to use more oil. You can also use cast iron skillet, just keep an eye on things as once it gets hot, cast iron starts to cook ingredients more quickly.

Can I use rotisserie chicken or previously cooked chicken?

Yes. You can use previously cooked Instant Pot shredded chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken. Just stir it in with the sauce, which makes this recipe even quicker, ready in about 25 minutes.

More Taco Recipes to Try

More Quick Dinner Recipes

Looking down on three tacos with ground chicken filling. Bowl with lime and Greek yogurt on a serving platter.
Ground chicken tacos with vegetables and mexican spices served in corn tortillas.

Ground Chicken Tacos

The best Ground Chicken Tacos with juicy, flavorful taco meat and toppings cooked in one skillet, in 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights!
4.98 from 37 votes
Servings 10 tacos
Calories 129
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add garlic and onion, sauté for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add bell pepper and sauté for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add chicken, taco seasoning, smoked paprika and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking chicken into pieces.
  • Decrease heat to low, add tomato sauce and corn, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
  • Add cilantro, radishes and salt; stir.
  • Serve hot over corn tortillas with lime, crumbled feta or shredded Monterey Jack cheese and Greek yogurt.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate filling leftovers up to 5 days in an airtight container. Since filling is saucy and radishes are sturdy, there is nothing to get soggy. Reheat on a skillet with a splash of water or chicken broth on low heat.
  • Make ahead: Chop garlic, onion and bell pepper and refrigerate for up to 3 days. You can also slice radishes. Then just cook when ready.
  • For serving cooked tacos later, I placed taco filling in small slow cooker and turned on “keep warm”.
  • Warm tortillas: If you have gas stove, warm up tortilla right on the burner to char the edges or in the microwave.
  • Other vegetables: Skip radishes or use shredded jicama or turnip instead. Cauliflower rice is an obvious choice!

Nutrition

Serving: 1taco | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 355mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Olena Osipov
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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    First time I had ground chicken. This recipe was very good. I didn’t add the tomato sauce. Didn’t need it. Delicious. I will always use ground chicken from now on for Tostadas and tacos using your recipe. Thanks for sharing.

  2. 5 stars
    I won’t make the regular tacos again after trying this recipe! I used ground chicken and just the Old Elpaso taco seasoning because I had on hand. Topped with avocado and Greek yogurt, it was delicious! Thank you for sharing!

4.98 from 37 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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