Delicious 15-Minute Weeknight Ground Chicken Tacos

Looking for a low effort dinner on weeknights? These ground chicken tacos are bursting with flavor and protein, and they only require 15 minutes to make.

this recipe

If you’re looking for a quick, nourishing, flavor-packed dinner, these ground chicken tacos are about to become your new weeknight savior. I’ve made my fair share of taco recipes, but this one is a game-changer for that busy 5pm hour. Everything comes together in just 15 minutes, and the juicy ground chicken taco meat is packed with flavor from taco seasoning and salsa. It's actually inspired by the taco meat I use for 20-minute turkey taco quinoa bowls, so we're basically making some variation of this once per week at our house!

Whether you're a busy working professional, meal prepping, trying to get in some more protein, or just someone who loves a good taco, this recipe for ground chicken tacos is here to make dinner both effortless and delicious. Let’s get cooking!

Key Ingredients & Notes

• Ground chicken - Ground turkey could also work! The key here is to not go too lean with your ground meat because a little fat helps prevent the meat from getting too dry. I usually work with 93% lean ground chicken with delicious results.
• Salsa - Any salsa will work, but I suggest using a thicker one for depth of flavor. I use the pepita salsa from Trader Joe's, and it has the perfect consistency for this recipe (it's also one of my favorite store bought salsas!). If you only have thinner or watery salsa, try adding one or two tablespoons of tomato paste when you add your taco seasoning.
• Taco seasoning - Feel free to use store bought or homemade, whatever you prefer! I've been loving the Siete brand, but I often swap in a good Southwest or chipotle seasoning when I can find it. If your seasoning is salt-free, be sure to add some salt to your taco meat (recipe card will have full details on this).
• Toppings - It's hard to go wrong with toppings, so use your favorites! We're obsessed with feta or cotija cheese with onions, cilantro, and lime. Avocado is always a hit too, and if you have some time, this delicious loaded guacamole.

See recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.

Let's Make These Tacos!

1. Step 1: Preheat a sauté pan with olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for a few minutes, then add ground chicken. Turn heat down slightly (low-medium), and cook the onions and chicken together for a couple minutes, breaking up the chicken as you cook. Add taco seasoning and continue to brown, until almost fully cooked through.

2. Step 2: When turkey is almost fully cooked through, add your salsa and use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir and break up turkey, incorporating the salsa throughout.

3. Step 3: Stir in black beans and simmer everything together for another 2-3 minutes until everything fully cooked and heated through.

4. Step 4: If desired, heat up corn tortillas in the microwave or lightly fry them in olive oil in a separate pan. You can leave the taco meat covered on low on the stovetop while you do this. Then assemble each with the ground chicken taco meat and toppings. We love feta, onions, cilantro, and lime!

Sustainability Tips

• Don't be afraid to use up what's in your pantry! If you don't have one of the ingredients on the list, in some cases you can work with what you have without making a trip to the store. Other beans instead of black beans (pinto, garbanzo, white beans), tortilla chips instead of corn tortillas, etc.
• Storing cilantro to make it last. When you purchase your cilantro, rinse it well and store upright in a glass or jar with water in your fridge. If it came in a plastic bag or or other plastic container, save that for storing partly used veggies or keeping food scraps in your fridge for compost.
• Use up veggies. If you have some veggies you'd like to use up, you can add them into the skillet with the onion. Carrots, bell peppers, potatoes, greens... as long as they're diced up small and uniform, they'll blend into the texture and add flavor.
• Change up leftovers. If you made a full batch for one or two people, or just don't feel like eating the same thing twice, don't throw away leftovers! Use leftover taco meat in burrito bowls, nachos, taco stuffed sweet potatoes, or taco sweet potato bowls using roasted sweet potatoes as a base.

Ground Chicken Tacos FAQ

Pairing Ideas

If you have a little extra time, all of these recipes are delicious both as toppings or side dishes with these tacos!

Did you try these delicious ground chicken tacos? Don't forget to leave a star rating 🌟 and comment below, and tag me on Instagram and Pinterest so I can see what you made!