Name: Ground Chicken Tacos
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1.5 cups finely chopped white onion; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1 pound ground chicken (preferably dark meat); 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin; 0.5 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 to 2 teaspoons minced chipotle in adobo sauce, plus 1 teaspoon sauce; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 0.25 freshly ground pepper; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 0.25 cup low sodium chicken broth or water; 1 vine tomato, seeded and finely chopped (¾ cup); 0.25 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped (1 tablespoon); 1 lime, juiced (2 tablespoons); 0.25 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems; Taco shells, grated cheddar or jack cheese, shredded lettuce, and sour cream, for serving

Prep Time:

35 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

4

Fast and tasty on Tuesday or any day, these ground chicken tacos are an easy weeknight meal. Cook the chicken, mix up a quick pico de gallo, and get out your favorite taco shells (or char some tortillas) because dinner will be ready in 35 minutes.

The ground chicken is amped up with spices and chipotle in adobe so it's flavorful and juicy—and topping the tacos with pico de gallo adds another level of deliciousness. Serve them with sour cream, grated cheese, shredded lettuce, and lime wedges so everyone can assemble their perfect taco.

Key Ingredients

Ground chicken: Ground chicken is a very lean meat with a mild taste. We prefer to use dark meat ground chicken for these tacos, but it can be hard to find. Regular ground chicken works just as well.
Canned chipotle in adobe: Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are sold in small cans and are a pantry staple for our food editors. They are smoked and dried jalapeño chiles that have been rehydrated and canned in a sweet and tangy purée of tomato, vinegar, garlic, and other spices. They pack some heat and have a complex, yet balanced flavor.
Ground cumin: You may associate the spice cumin with Middle-Eastern and Indian cuisines, but it's also widely used in Mexican cooking. Cumin is available as whole seeds and a ground spice, which is what we use in this ground chicken tacos recipe. Cumin has a warm, earthy flavor and smell and touches of both sweetness and bitterness.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ cups finely chopped white onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 pound ground chicken (preferably dark meat)
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 to 2 teaspoons minced chipotle in adobo sauce, plus 1 teaspoon sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
¼ cup low sodium chicken broth or water
1 vine tomato, seeded and finely chopped (¾ cup)
¼ jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped (1 tablespoon)
1 lime, juiced (2 tablespoons)
¼ cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
Taco shells, grated cheddar or jack cheese, shredded lettuce, and sour cream, for serving

Directions

Cook onion and garlic:

In a large skillet, preferably cast iron, heat oil over medium-high. Add 1 cup onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add chicken and spices:

Add chicken, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat with the back of a wooden spoon, until browned and crumbly, 5 to 6 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, chipotle, and broth:

Stir in tomato paste, chipotle, and broth. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Keep warm.
Make pico de gallo:

Stir together remaining onion, tomato, jalapeño, lime, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper.
Assemble and serve:

Fill taco shells with meat mixture and pico de gallo. Top with cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.

Julia Gartland

Variations

Swap out the ground chicken in these ground chicken tacos for ground beef or turkey if you prefer.

The Best Way to Heat Taco Shells

For the best texture, place taco shells in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until crisp, about five minutes. Alternatively, heat shells in the microwave at 10-second increments until crisp.