Ground chicken is a versatile, lean protein perfect for quick weeknight dinners and easy meals. These recipes are flavorful and most prepared in 30 minutes or less!
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Why You’ll Love These Ground Chicken Recipes
Easy to Use – Can be used in a wide range of recipes and is an easy substitute for recipes calling for ground beef or turkey.
Healthy – A lean source of protein while providing a valuable source of vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, selenium, and phosphorus.
Versatile & Tasty – Whether you’re making burgers, chili, meatballs, tacos, or stir-fries, ground chicken easily takes on the flavors of many dishes.
Affordable – Chicken is generally more affordable than other types of meat and ground chicken can be even more cost effective because it’s easier to produce and can use a variety of less expensive chicken cuts.
What Is Ground Chicken?
Ground chicken is made from boneless chicken meat, such as drumsticks, thighs, ribs and breasts, which has been ground or chopped. It can include dark or white meat, or a combination of both, plus skin with attached natural fat trimmings (no extra fat added), but not other parts, such as giblets or organs.
Types of Ground Chicken
Here are a few common types of ground chicken you’ll find available:
- Breast meat: Only contains chicken breast meat that is leaner and fewer calories than dark meat but drier and not as flavorful.
- Chicken breast with rib meat: Often more affordable than only chicken breast meat and is considered an extension of the chicken breast only darker and a bit higher in fat content.
- White meat: Similar to chicken breast meat but can also include tenderloins, wings and back portions.
- Thigh meat: Only contains dark meat from the chicken thigh, resulting in more protein, flavor and moisture than white chicken meat but a higher fat content.
- Dark meat: Similar to thigh meat but also includes dark drumstick meat.
- Chicken meat blend: A mixture of both dark and white meat such as drumsticks, thighs, ribs and breasts, which offers a balance of lean meat, moisture and flavor.
- Chicken trimmings: Similar to a blend, these are the leftover pieces of meat that has been trimmed off when it is cut to size and ground or chopped.
- Skinless: Prepared and labeled skinless, if that is your preference.
- Boneless: This label has very little meaning as all ground chicken for human consumption is prepared boneless.
- Extra lean ground chicken: Labels will often range from 98% lean, 2% fat to 97% lean, 3% fat.
- Lean ground chicken: Labels will often range from 96% lean, 4% fat to 95% lean, 5% fat.
Ground chicken labels are not required to include the type of meat cut but if identified, only those cuts can appear on the label.
It’s important to check the label to identify the type of ground chicken cut or blend, what it contains and how the chicken was raised and stored. What the label doesn’t list is also a good indication of the type of ground chicken, as typically you’ll only find desirable product descriptions, unless required. USDA labeling requirements are mostly limited to listing the nutrition, with or without seasonings, if it was frozen or previously frozen and accurate and truthful descriptions.
Ground chicken can have dizzying amount of labels including farm raised, pastured, cage free, California raised, free range, humanely raised, organic, vegetarian fed, mechanically separated, minimally processed, kosher, halal, allergen free and gluten-free. Labels can also include what ground chicken doesn’t contain such as no antibiotics, artificial ingredients, preservatives, hormones, by-product, or added water.
26 Quick and Easy Ground Chicken Recipes
These ground chicken dinner ideas promise lean meat and flavor, while most can be prepared in 30 minutes or less!
The Best Spicy Chicken Burgers
A healthy alternative to hamburgers. These juicy and flavorful ground chicken burgers are made up of just the right ingredients.
Healthy Nachos
Healthy nachos are made with your choice of ground chicken, turkey, or beef and loads of veggies, and mixed with your favorite salsa.
Ground Chicken Tacos
This quick and easy recipe is perfect because it's completely customizable to your taste preference and what's available in your kitchen.
10 Minute Air Fryer Ground Chicken Meatballs
Ground Chicken Meatballs make for an easy weeknight meal. Serve them over noodles, rice, vegetables, or eat them a la carte.
Ground Chicken Chili
A perfect weeknight meal on a cold night that is healthier and has fewer calories than chili with beef. Use this recipe or swap out your favorite chili recipe that calls for ground beef.
Ground Chicken Meatloaf
This is not your mom's meatloaf with this healthy twist on a classic comfort food.
Asian Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Wow the family with this easy, healthy dish that is also packed with a ton of flavor.
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
The kids will love this one and so will mom because these baked nuggets are not only tasty but a healthier way to eat nuggets.
Ground Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers
This nutritious alternative is low carb, gluten-free and features bell peppers stuffed with meat, veggies and a little heat.
One-Skillet Ground Chicken Pasta
This versatile dish includes your choice of pasta and is made with meat, veggies, Italian seasoning, marinara sauce and two types of cheese.
Creamy Ground Chicken Soup
This soup is ready in 30 minutes and is made with simple ingredients such as potatoes, mushrooms, celery, onion, spinach and seasonings.
Ground Chicken Casserole
This keto friendly casserole is made with red onions, cauliflower rice, tomatoes, cream cheese and cheddar with only 20 minutes prep and cook time each.
Ground Chicken Stir Fry with Green Beans
Just a few pantry ingredients and 30 minutes is all you need to make this naturally gluten and dairy free dish.
Ground Chicken Enchiladas
Not only is this recipe easy to make, it's ideal for making ahead on a busy weeknight when you won't have time to prepare.
Easy Chicken Spaghetti
Enjoy this quick and budget-friendly chicken spaghetti in under 30 minutes with a pre-made marinara sauce that is infused with garlic, rosemary, and red wine for added flavor.
Ground Chicken Teriyaki
Just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes is all you need to have this meal ready for the dinner table.
Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes
This kid-friendly meal is incredibly simple to make and perfect for almost any budget.
Chicken Taco Salad
If you're looking for something lighter but still packed with lean protein then this salad is for you.
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
This soup is made with simple ingredients such as corn, white beans, sour cream, peppers, green chilis and sour cream, and is ready in 40 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs (kababs)
These are really easy to make and you can make a meal out of these with naan and saffron rice, or even a sandwich.
Healthy Ground Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
Packed with broccoli and protein this dish is ready in 25 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
Buffalo Chicken Sliders with ground chicken
The easy recipe is ready in 15 minutes using store bought buffalo sauce, ranch and slider buns.
Easy Chicken Lasagna Recipe
This clever recipe uses frozen cheese ravioli, pre-made marinara sauce, Italian seasoning and two cheeses. The prep time is minimal and all you have to do is wait for it to bake.
Chicken Gyros
Enjoy a Mediterranean style dinner with this easy meal loaded with vegetables and lean meat.
Firecracker Ground Chicken
This high protein, no carb recipe is made with chicken simmered in chili oil and coated in a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce.
Cajun Chicken Meatballs in Cajun Cream Sauce
This one-pan meal with with a Cajun cream sauce is perfect over rice or pasta for a hearty family dinner.
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