Leave a Review

Once-A-Week Ground Chicken Tacos (15 Minutes)

DF Dairy-Free GF Gluten-Free
Posted by Jess Larson on September 26th, 2024
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE SALES LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY FULL DISCLAIMER POLICY FOR DETAILS.
Ready in 15 minutes or less, these Ground Chicken Tacos are a once-a-week staple here at the PWWB House! Simmer lean ground chicken with onion, tomato paste, and a homemade taco spice blend, creating juicy taco meat with a bold punch of flavor. Serve it in tortillas with your favorite toppings for a fast, feel-good, and fuss-free weeknight dinner that always hits the spot!
Jump to Recipe
An overhead shot of five assembled chicken tacos and bowls of taco meat and salsa on a white scalloped oval platter atop a white marbled surface.
Photography by Gayle McLeod
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Serves: 4

Nostalgic Smoky-Spiced Ground Chicken Tacos—A Weeknight Dinner Dream!

Chris and I make these ground chicken tacos for dinner literally every week, and we never get tired of them. They’re easy to make, incredibly satisfying, and ready in 15 minutes or less—the perfect meal for even the laziest weeknights! 🙌🏼

The beauty of this recipe is that it’s a one-skillet wonder with very minimal prep required. It centers around the most flavorful ground chicken taco meat, inspired by the epic 90s-style tacos of my childhood, but with a leaner twist—I swap ground beef for chicken.

It’s just as quick-cooking, and when simmered with pantry staples like tomato paste and bold taco spices, it creates juicy taco meat with a hefty punch of protein.

A close-up angled shot of chicken tacos topped with shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa and sour cream on a white scalloped plate. this Recipe for Later!
These ground chicken tacos are bold, extra-juicy, and packed with lean protein. The perfect 15-minute recipe for your weeknight dinner rotation!

From there, dinner is as simple as tucking the meat into tortillas with your favorite toppings. We like to keep it nostalgic and simple with shredded lettuce, cheese, and a little sour cream.

But it’s super versatile! Feel free to dress it up with your favorite salsa or guacamole (my 15-Minute Guacamole recipe is absolute perfection thanks to a few secrets I picked up while working behind a guacamole cart in college!), or any of your favorite taco fixings. You can even layer it on nachos or pile it into a taco salad or burrito bowl—whatever you love.

And the best part? This recipe is perfect for meal prep—make a double batch and enjoy it all week long!

Shop This Post

An overhead shot of ingredients displayed on a white marbled surface: ground chicken on parchment paper, chopped onions, tomato pasta, salt, pepper, water, olive oil, and a bowl of taco seasonings.
These quick and easy tacos come together with just 6 simple ingredients: lean ground chicken, olive oil, onion, tomato paste, and homemade taco seasoning.

Avoiding Dry Chicken Taco Meat—It’s All in the Fat Content!

The secret to seriously juicy chicken taco meat is using ground chicken with a good fat content. Look for at least 93% lean, but if you can find 90-92%, that’s even better. If you’re buying from your grocery store’s butcher counter, ask for ground chicken thighs.

Can’t find 90-93% lean ground chicken or chicken thighs? Ground turkey is a great substitute!

Homemade Taco Seasoning—the Secret to Bold, Smoky Flavor in Seconds!

Chicken is naturally lean and mild, making it the perfect canvas for bold flavors. The secret to transforming ground chicken into extra-flavorful taco meat? Tons of punchy spices!

My Go-To Homemade Taco Seasoning is a quick blend I’ve perfected over the years using staple spices I always have on hand—chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of brown sugar. It strikes the perfect balance of smoky flavor with just the right kick of heat.

Meal Prep Tip! ⇢ Mix up a 4x batch of homemade taco seasoning so you’re ready for a month’s worth of once-a-week chicken tacos.

Prefer store-bought taco seasoning? ⇢ Go for it! Swap this homemade blend with your favorite 1- to 1.3-ounce packet of taco seasoning—my personal favorite is Siete Spicy Taco Seasoning. 😋

How to Make Juicy Ground Chicken Tacos (One Skillet)

With the taco seasoning mixed up, these ground chicken tacos come together quickly in just 3 main steps: brown the chicken, season it, and let it simmer until perfectly juicy.

An overhead shot of cooked onions and tomato paste in a black skillet atop a white surface. Dishes of tomato paste and pepper sit alongside the skillet.
Step 1: Bloom the aromatics. Sauté diced onion in olive oil until softened and fragrant, then stir in the tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes longer to brown the tomato paste and deepen its flavor.
An overhead shot of ground turkey and cooked aromatics in a cast iron skillet atop a white surface.
Step 2: Brown the chicken. Push the onion mixture to the edges of the skillet, then add the ground chicken. Tip! ⇢ Press the meat flat to create maximum surface area for browning. More browning = more flavor!
An overhead shot of a woman's hand pouring water over a skillet full of cooked ground chicken topped with taco seasoning. The skillet sits on a white surface alongside an almost-empty bowl of spices.
Step 3: Crumble and season. Once the chicken is browned, crumble it into small pieces and stir in the taco seasoning with ½ cup of water. Craving bolder flavor? ⇢ Use a splash of beer instead! 🍻
An overhead shot of ground chicken taco meat in a cast iron skillet atop a white surface. A wooden spoon sits in the skillet, and the skillet is surrounded by dishes of tortillas, shredded cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.
Step 4: Simmer. Let the mixture simmer until the liquid reduces slightly. The chicken taco meat is ready when it’s evenly coated in seasoning and has a saucy, almost luscious texture.
An overhead shot of ground chicken taco meat in a cast iron skillet atop a white surface. A wooden spoon sits in the skillet, and the skillet is surrounded by dishes of tortillas, shredded cheese, salsa, cilantro, lettuce, and sour cream.
Dinner’s ready! Serve the ground chicken taco meat in tortillas with your favorite toppings, or use it for burritos, nachos, bowls, or salads.
An overhead shot of five assembled chicken tacos and a bowl of taco meat on a white scalloped oval platter atop a white marbled surface.
We love nostalgic tacos with flour tortillas, shredded lettuce, cheese, and a little sour cream. Feel free to spice things up with your favorite salsa or hot sauce!
A close-up angled shot of chicken tacos topped with shredded cheese, lettuce and sour cream on a white scalloped plate.
A fast, feel-good, and fuss-free 15-minute dinner perfect for any night of the week!

I can’t wait for you to try these Once-A-Week Ground Chicken Tacos! They’re the perfect low-effort dinner for when you don’t feel like cooking, but still want bold, punchy flavor.

If you do give them a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
An overhead shot of five assembled chicken tacos and a bowl of taco meat on a white scalloped oval platter atop a white marbled surface. The platter is surrounded by dishes of shredded cheese, lettuce and sour cream.

Once-A-Week Ground Chicken Tacos (15 Minutes)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: serves 3-4 1x
  • Category: Tacos, Burritos & Enchiladas Recipes, Chicken Recipes
  • Method: Stovetop, Skillet
  • Cuisine: Mexican & Tex-Mex-Inspired, American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

Ready in 15 minutes or less, these Ground Chicken Tacos are a once-a-week staple here at the PWWB House!

Simmer lean ground chicken with onion, tomato paste, and a homemade taco spice blend, creating juicy taco meat with a bold punch of flavor. Serve it in tortillas with your favorite toppings for a fast, feel-good, and fuss-free weeknight dinner that always hits the spot!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound 93% lean ground chicken (see Recipe Notes)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ yellow onion, finely diced
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • homemade taco seasoning (below, see Recipe Notes)
  • ½ cup water
  • for serving, as desired: flour tortillas, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream or avocado crema, salsa of choice, guacamole or mashed avocado, cilantro, etc.

for the homemade taco seasoning:

  • 1 heaping tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 heaping teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 heaping teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 heaping teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 heaping teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 heaping teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 heaping teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 heaping teaspoon brown sugar
  • optional: up to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook the aromatics: 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 (a pinch of garlic powder is also delicious!) 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.An overhead shot of cooked onions and tomato paste in a black skillet atop a white surface. Dishes of tomato paste, salt and pepper sit alongside the skillet.
  2. Brown the ground chicken: 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 a meat chopper to break it into fine crumbles and mix with the onions.An overhead shot of ground turkey and cooked aromatics in a cast iron skillet atop a white surface.
  3. Season and simmer: 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.An overhead shot of a woman's hand pouring water over a skillet full of cooked ground chicken topped with taco seasoning. The skillet sits on a white surface alongside an almost-empty bowl of spices.
  4. Serve the chicken taco meat as desired. We love making ground chicken tacos with warm flour tortillas, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and sour cream, though the seasoned taco meat is also great on nachos, taco salads, burrito bowls, and tostadas. Enjoy!An overhead shot of five assembled chicken tacos and a bowl of taco meat on a white scalloped oval platter atop a white marbled surface. The platter is surrounded by dishes of shredded cheese, lettuce and sour cream.

Equipment

Notes

Jess’ Tips and Tricks:

  • Ground chicken: The secret to seriously juicy chicken taco meat (that isn’t dry or tough!) is using ground chicken with a decent fat content. Look for at least 93% lean, though if you can find 90-92%, that’s even better. If you’re purchasing from your grocery store’s butcher counter, ask for ground chicken thighs. If you cannot find 90-93% lean ground chicken or ground chicken thighs, feel free to use ground turkey in its place.
  • Taco seasoning: This Homemade Taco Seasoning is a recipe I’ve tweaked and perfected over years – it’s perfectly spiced and aromatic with a great kick of heat. I often mix up a triple or quadruple batch all at once and keep it in a jar on my spice rack for a month’s worth of Once-A-Week Tacos – you’ll use about ¼ cup of the seasoning blend per pound of ground meat. Prefer store-bought taco seasoning? Go for it! Swap the homemade spice blend with your favorite 1- to 1.3-ounce packet of taco seasoning – my personal favorite is Siete Spicy Taco Seasoning.
  • Water: A little extra liquid gives the ground chicken taco meat an extra-juicy and almost luscious texture – delicious! In my experience, water works just fine! If you’re craving bolder flavor, swap the water for ½ cup of your favorite beer.

Storage and Freezing:

  • Storage and Reheating: Transfer cooled ground chicken taco meat to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through, adding a splash of water as needed to help recreate the sauciness of the original batch.
  • Freezer Instructions: This chicken taco meat is also a great freezer staple. To freeze, transfer the cooked and cooled meat to a freezer container or divide between multiple freezer containers for smaller portions. Freeze up to 3 months. To thaw, place the chicken taco meat in the refrigerator overnight. Easily reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through, adding a splash of water as needed to help recreate the sauciness of the original batch.

Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest for more unfussy recipes that pack a big punch of flavor!

Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

Topics

Sign up for our newsletter

Leave a Rating & Comment

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.