Taco night has been a weekly occurrence for me since I was a kid. So its no wonder that I come up with various taco recipes on a regular basis. Today. Ground Chicken Tacos with the best taco meat ever. Pair this up with some guacamole and chipotle salsa.
As a home cook and recipe developer, I’m always looking for ways to liven up boring ingredients. Ground chicken tends to lack the rich, savory flavor of beef. But with the right techniques, you can easily transform mild chicken into a tasty beef doppelganger.
In this article, I’ll share my best tips for making ground chicken taste remarkably similar to juicy, flavorful ground beef. You’ll learn tricks like:
- Seasoning with a special blend of spices
- Adding umami-rich ingredients
- Using cooking methods that enhance flavor
- Mixing in a bit of ground pork or beef
With these easy steps you can enjoy all the texture and versatility of chicken, with the full-bodied taste of beef. Keep reading to become a ground chicken flavor expert!
Why Boost Ground Chicken’s Flavor?
There are several good reasons to jazz up bland ground chicken
-
Health benefits – Chicken is leaner and lower in saturated fat than beef. Enhancing flavor lets you enjoy a healthier alternative.
-
Variety – When recipes call for ground beef, chicken adds a lighter spin.
-
Budget – Ground chicken is usually cheaper per pound than ground beef. Boosting its flavor saves money.
-
New combinations – Flavorful chicken opens up options like chicken burgers and meatballs with a gourmet twist.
With the right techniques, ground chicken can be so tasty, no one will miss the beef! Let’s look at some simple ways to boost flavor.
Easy Ways to Make Ground Chicken Taste Like Beef
Here are my top methods for giving ground chicken a major flavor upgrade:
1. Season Aggressively
The easiest way to improve bland chicken is to season it generously. A starting blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and cumin adds lots of flavor complexity.
Always season chicken more robustly than you would beef, since chicken has a milder taste.
2. Add Umami Flavor
Ingredients like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and mushrooms contain savory umami compounds that make chicken richer and meatier. Adding a splash of one boosts the flavor intensity.
3. Use Bold Spice Rubs
For next-level flavor, coat chicken in a spice rub before cooking. Blends with chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, and paprika give chicken a tasty crust when cooked.
4. Mix in Ground Pork
The high fat content and richer taste of pork enhances chicken’s flavor. Try substituting 20% of the ground chicken with lean ground pork.
5. Cook at High Heat
Get a nice sear on chicken using high heat to caramelize the exterior and develop a more complex, beef-like taste.
Chicken Flavor Enhancers to Try
Here are some of my favorite ingredients to mix into ground chicken:
- Bacon (diced cooked)
- Balsamic vinegar
- Beef or chicken broth
- Dijon mustard
- Grated parmesan
- Minced garlic
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Tomato paste
- Worcestershire sauce
Experiment to find your perfect flavor combinations!
Cooking Methods that Boost Chicken Flavor
How you cook the chicken also impacts final flavor. Use these high-heat methods:
- Pan frying
- Broiling
- Grilling
- Roasting
Aim for nicely browned and caramelized exterior bits on the chicken. This adds texture and flavor complexity similar to ground beef.
Sample Recipe: Chicken Tacos with Bold Flavor
Here’s a tasty recipe putting all these flavor tips into action:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Corn tortillas
- Toppings: cheese, lettuce, salsa
Instructions:
- Combine chicken, spices, garlic, tomato paste and soy sauce. Mix well.
- Cook chicken mixture in skillet over high heat until browned and cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
- Serve chicken in warmed tortillas with desired toppings.
The combination of bold spices, umami ingredients and high heat cooking gives the chicken incredibly beefy, Mexican flavors.
Make Flavorful Chicken Dishes with Ease
With the right strategies, you can easily transform mild chicken into a flavor powerhouse. Season generously, incorporate umami ingredients, use spice rubs, add pork, and cook over high heat.
In no time, you’ll become a pro at making ground chicken taste just as hearty, juicy and satisfying as ground beef. Get ready to enjoy the health, cost and versatility benefits of chicken, without sacrificing any flavor.
Why I Love This Recipe
For the past few months, this Ground Chicken Taco meat has been on my list of things to prepare for meals. It’s also one of the first things in my fridge to go bad every week. The best part is that it couldnt be easier to make. You just need to make the ground chicken taco meat, grill some of your favorite tortillas, and serve it with guacamole, a few different kinds of cheese, and my game-changing traditional arbol chile salsa. Now anyone can make their own perfect taco. There you have it. This is an easy meal that everyone loves. It’s great for a family or for people who are picky eaters. No one is going to be disappointed. Even though I love my Picadillo Tacos and Chicken Tinga, these are a better choice for weeknights because they are lighter and faster.
- You can use ground beef or turkey instead of ground chicken in these Ground Chicken Tacos if you’d like.
- For the past few months, I’ve been making this recipe and putting it in tacos. But you could make this ground chicken mixture without the taco fixings and use it any other way you like. The same goes for any chili you have left over from your own taco night. You could put it into a rice/quinoa taco bowl. Use it in this southwestern lasagna. Throw it on top of your taco salad. Make chicken flautas. Skies the limit.
- Ground chicken—You can use ground turkey or beef instead of chicken.
- Taco Seasoning—What makes my taco meat taste so good is my taco seasoning. It tastes great in these chicken tacos, but I use it on almost everything, like to roast vegetables, season refried beans, chili, you name it! We can all make this spice mix at home in just a few minutes with spices we already have on hand.
- I can’t get enough of Vista Hermosa flour tortillas, which I found at Erewhon.
- To make shredded cheese, I like to use a mix of freshly shred cheddar and Monterey jack.
- You can use any of the following in salsa: red, green, mild, medium, or hot.
- If you want to go with your Ground Chicken Tacos, you should add some avocado or guacamole.
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below
How to Freeze Ground Chicken
You can also freeze this recipe for times when you don’t have time to cook. As with refrigeration, store in a proper container and reheat to a safe temperature when eating. To thaw frozen chicken, the easiest way is to leave in the fridge for a day. I would recommend not freezing for longer than 2-3 months!.
- After the ground chicken is cooked, add 2 tablespoons of water and lower the heat. Let it cook for 10 minutes. This step helps clean out the pan and fills the ground meat mixture with water again.
How to make CHICKEN taste like BEEF? | Kitchen review show
FAQ
Can you cook ground chicken like ground beef?
Does ground chicken taste the same as ground beef?
Should I marinate ground chicken?
Is ground chicken a good substitute for ground beef?
But cooking with ground chicken isn’t without its risks: It’s not a simple substitute for ground beef or pork. Here’s what you need to know to make your ground chicken recipes taste every bit as delicious as they should be. Think about it this way: Ground chicken is Han Solo. Ground chicken is Ren, Sherlock Holmes, and Mulder.
What dishes can I make with ground chicken?
Ground chicken can be used to make tacos, chili, burgers, meatballs, soups, sausage gravy—you name it. It also works as a substitute for ground beef or ground turkey in any recipe. Here are some of my favorite recipes: For more ideas on how to cook ground chicken, check my roundup of easy ground chicken recipes.
Does chicken need more seasoning than beef?
Ground chicken requires more seasoning than ground beef. Allow the meat to cook and sear well before trying to flip or turn. Once the meat is completely seared, it will release from the pan, but before that, it may stick and make browning the meat challenging.
How do you cook ground chicken for tacos?
To cook ground chicken for tacos, once it’s no longer pink, add taco seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder, then stir well. Add 1 Cup of chicken broth to the pan, put a lid on it, and allow it to simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and if there is still water in the pan, increase the heat to medium high and allow the excess water to cook off.