Enjoy a tasty, healthy, and gluten-free twist on taco night with these Ground Chicken Tacos! Juicy ground chicken cooked with bell peppers, onions, and spices makes a flavorful filling that everyone will love.
Taco night is a crowd-pleaser in my family, but basic ground beef tacos with packaged taco seasoning goes only so far. Given that I’m always looking for opportunities to mix it up with healthy, gluten-free ingredients, I thought I’d share this easy and healthy take on tacos with ground chicken, instead of ground beef.
In addition to the chicken, chopped veggies — two types of bell peppers and onion — add extra texture, color, flavor and nutrition to these awesome tacos.
For those who know me well, my focus is on gut health, which means I’ll take any opportunity to add plants to recipe ingredients!
If you’re interested in gut health, eating 40 different plants per week is ideal to incorporate diversity to your gut microbiome. Modern diets (especially American diets) are notorious for being repetitive and unoriginal. Even if you’re regularly eating heathy ingredients, if you’re eating the same ones over and over, you are not doing your gut any favors.
By adding veggies as a toppings for these tasty tacos (e.g., cilantro, avocado, shredded lettuce, slaw, robust slaw), you could easily hit at least 6 – 9 plants in this one dish alone!
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for exact quantities:
- Avocado or olive oil
- Diced red or orange bell pepper
- Diced green bell pepper
- Chopped white/sweet onion
- Fresh garlic
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Chicken stock
- Corn or potato starch (to thicken sauce)
- Gluten-free corn tortillas
How to Make Ground Chicken Tacos
Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add diced bell peppers and onion. Saute until veggies are tender.
Stir in minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne. Cook for about a minute.
Add ground chicken, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking chicken apart completely so there aren’t any large chunks.
In a small bowl, make a slurry by mixing the corn/potato starch with the chicken stock. Add the slurry to the pan and simmer until the sauce thickens a bit.
Assemble tacos with chicken, diced avocado, cilantro and lime wedges on the side. For extra crunch, you can also add shredded lettuce or your favorite slaw.
Ground Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced red or orange bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 tsp corn or potato starch adjust for desired sauce thickness
- 12 gluten-free corn tortillas
- cilantro, lime, diced avocado for serving
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add diced bell peppers and onion. Saute until veggies are tender.
- Add ground chicken, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking chicken apart completely so there aren't any large chunks.
- In a small bowl, make a slurry by mixing the corn/potato starch with the chicken stock. Add slurry to the pan and simmer until the sauce thickens a bit.
- Assemble tacos with chicken, diced avocado, cilantro and lime wedges on the side. For extra crunch, you can also add shredded lettuce or your favorite slaw.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQs
How do I keep the ground chicken from drying out?
Cook the chicken over medium heat and avoid overcooking. Adding a bit of chicken broth or tomato sauce can help keep it moist.
Can I make the taco filling ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the filling ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it in a pan over medium heat before serving.
Can I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken?
Yes, ground turkey is a great substitute and will work well with the same seasonings and vegetables.
How do I use this for a taco bowl instead of a taco?
Serve this taco meat over greens, beans, and/or grains, and add lots of delicious toppings (think robust salsa, cilantro, guacamole, sour cream).
How can I make the tacos spicier?
Add diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a splash of hot sauce to the ground chicken mixture.
What are some good toppings for ground chicken tacos?
Popular toppings include shredded lettuce, your favorite salsa, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.
Is there a vegetarian version of this recipe?
Yes, you can use crumbled tofu, tempeh, or a plant-based ground meat substitute instead of ground chicken. Season and cook it the same way.
How do I store leftovers?
Store leftover taco filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave.
3 Comments
So good. I used avocado oil and a little extra cayenne pepper. This is great in the summer!
These tacos are definitely kid-friendly. I get to sneak in veggies with the taco meat, plus use leaner chicken rather than beef. GREAT flavor.
Who doesn’t love Taco Tuesday – and these are a great addition to our taco rotation. Super easy, quick and flavorful. Great in a taco salad too!