Ground Chicken Tacos Recipe (Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

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By: Melissa

Updated: October 7, 2024

This is one of my favorite recipes! Ground chicken cooks so quickly with easy, homemade seasoning, and they can be made as spicy as you want them. They’re perfect for easy dinners during the week, and they’re healthy and clean eating friendly too!

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Why I love this ground chicken tacos recipe

I’ve always been a fan of ground meat tacos – the kind you make with a kit – and crispy taco shells. It’s probably because it reminds me of school lunches and easy weeknight dinners growing up. The taste was always so familiar, and I was never disappointed on nights we had tacos.

Even as an adult, I still buy crispy, corn tortillas and my favorite bottled taco sauce. But, I’ve upgrade my taco seasoning a bit and swapped out the beef for ground chicken – because I’m always looking for ways to be healthier.

Now that we’re dairy free, we also made some changes to our taco toppings, but you can use whatever toppings you want. Do what makes you and your belly happy.

This recipe would be great with: jalapeno margaritas / mexican quinoa / refried black beans / refried bean dip / chipotle salsa

Here’s what you’ll need to make them

• Large skillet
• Measuring spoons
• Liquid measuring cup
• Wooden spoon or rubber spatula

Ingredients note: I made my own tacos seasoning for this recipe. If you don’t want to make your own, that’s totally cool. Just omit the spices and skip straight to the tomato paste. If you’re looking for a great dairy free taco seasoning, this is our favorite.

How to make tacos with ground chicken

Brown the chicken. Heat a large skillet to medium-high. Add the ground chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink. Stir and break up the meat as it cooks.

Add some seasoning. Stir in fresh minced garlic – or cheat and use pre-minced, but you definitely want fresh – and the rest of your spices.

If you want your tacos to be spicy, use the crushed pepper flakes. If you prefer them mild, only use a little or leave it out all together.

Simmer the taco meat. Next, add some tomato paste and about 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup water. Let that come to a simmer and stir to blend in the tomato paste.

Let it simmer until the water evaporates and the meat gets a little bit darker. Give the meat a taste and adjust the seasoning with salt & pepper, to taste.

Serve with your favorite toppings. Prepare your toppings and your shells while the meat is simmering.

Time saving tip: Do yourself a favor, and buy your toppings already prepped. You’ll spend a little more money, but that can make this dinner come together in under 30 minutes with minimal clean up.

FAQs and Tips for making the best chicken tacos

How much taco seasoning do I need for 1 pound of meat?

Depending on the brand, you’ll want about 2 – 4 tablespoons on taco seasoning per pound of meat.

How long does it take ground chicken to cook?

The time it takes to cook will depend on your heat level, but for this recipe, it should take from 5 – 7 minutes.

What goes well with chicken tacos?

I like to serve this recipe with simple Spanish rice and beans, or refried black beans.

What are some good toppings for tacos?

When it comes to tacos, we like to keep things simple. Pico de gallo (or the more traditional chopped onions & cilantro), salsa, avocado, and shredded lettuce are all great dairy free taco toppings.

More awesome taco recipes:

• Shredded beef tacos
• Carnitas tacos
• Breakfast tacos
• Pork wonton tacos
• Easy fish tacos

More chicken recipes you’ll love:

• Coconut milk chicken
• Buffalo chicken meatballs
• Asian chicken wraps
• Tequila lime chicken
• Kung pao chicken
• Baked chicken parmesan

Ground Chicken Tacos Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 5 minutes minsCook Time 20 minutes minsTotal Time 25 minutes minsServings 8 This is one of my favorite recipes! Ground chicken cooks so quickly with easy, homemade seasoning, and they can be made as spicy as you want them. They’re perfect for easy dinners during the week, and they’re healthy and clean eating friendly too! Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground chicken
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes - optional
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• Salt & pepper - to taste

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet to medium-high. Add meat and cook until it’s no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks.
• Stir in minced garlic and spices and mix until the ground chicken is evenly coated.
• Add tomato paste and 2/3 cup water, and stir until tomato paste has dissolved.
• Allow the mixture to simmer until the water evaporates.
• Before serving, adjust the seasoning with salt & pepper, to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 21gFat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 281mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 2mg Melissa

Melissa Belanger is the founder and food-obsessed visionary behind Simply Whisked, where she creates dairy free recipes with simple ingredients. She lives in Wisconsin with her milk-allergic husband and two kids. Melissa's experience in developing dairy free recipes is unparalleled and she strives to make dairy-free living accessible and enjoyable. In addition to running Simply Whisked, Melissa also manages two other publications: Another Cocktail Blog, a cocktail recipe website, and The Pasta Twins, a joint venture with her twin sister.

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2 Comments

1. Hello! I’m trying this recipe this week, but is this supposed to have cocoa powder?

   Reply

   1. Yes. It gives it a little extra depth of flavor. You can leave it out if you want though.

      Reply

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

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