Gluten-Free Ground Chicken Tacos are a family favorite! A quick and easy weeknight meal with only a few simple ingredients. Serve with your favorite taco toppings!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Get ready for Taco Tuesday with this recipe for gluten-free ground chicken tacos! This is a quick and healthy way to make flavorful tacos the whole family will love!
Using ground chicken instead of ground beef to make tacos is a simple swap for a healthier taco. This is because ground chicken is a leaner protein, lower in fat and calories, compared to ground beef. Chicken is mild in flavor so kids usually don't notice or mind the swap either!
Ground chicken is also easy and convenient to use because it is easier to break up into taco meat than whole chicken pieces.
The recipe calls for black beans as a cost-effective way to stretch the the meat so you can serve more people for less money. Black beans also provide a plant-based source of protein and add more flavor and texture to the tacos.
For more ground chicken recipe inspiration, check out this round up of 26 gluten-free ground chicken recipes, where you're sure to find even more easy weeknight dinners!
Simple Ingredients
- Ground Chicken: You can find ground chicken in the meat case near the chicken at most grocery stores. If you can't find ground chicken, feel free to substitute ground turkey or whole chicken breast or thighs, see below for instructions.
- Black Beans: Just a can of drained black beans is perfect and simple.
- Taco Seasoning: Use homemade taco seasoning or store-bought. I usually use store bought because it's easy to find gluten-free taco seasoning these days. I like the Spice Islands brand, which was a gluten-free Costco find. McCormick and Pioneer also sell a gluten-free taco seasoning packet.
What to Serve with Gluten-Free Tacos
- Taco Toppings: Use your favorites such as lettuce, diced tomatoes, green onion, bell peppers, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, or shredded cheese. (Yes, store-bought is gluten-free!)
- Sauces: Make a quick and easy homemade chipotle salsa or guacamole. A dash of store-bought gluten-free taco sauce, hot sauce, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice are also good choices!
- Gluten-Free Taco Shells or Tortillas: I usually go with corn tortillas, for hard or soft shell tacos. There are many gluten-free options available at grocery stores, just check the labels before you purchase. You can usually find gluten-free flour tortillas as well, if you prefer. Grab some iceberg or butter lettuce for low carb lettuce wraps.
- Sides: A side of Mexican rice or cilantro-lime rice is always a hit.
Equipment You'll Need
This easy recipe only requires basic cooking equipment: a non-stick skillet, wooden spoon, a measuring cup and measuring spoon, and a meat chopper, which is nice to have but not required!
How to Make Ground Chicken Tacos
- Brown the chicken. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil to the hot skillet, then add the ground chicken. Brown the chicken, breaking it up into smaller pieces with the back of a wooden spoon or meat chopper. This process will take 5-10 minutes, keep cooking until the excess liquid released from the chicken has evaporated from the pan.
- Add seasoning, black beans, and water. Stir the mixture to combine.
- Simmer. Turn the heat down to low and allow the mixture to simmer until the sauce thickens. Stir occasionally and add in a splash of water as needed to keep the mixture from drying out.
- Keep warm. Keep the mixture on warm while you prepare the your favorite toppings or until you're ready to serve. Don't forget to stir occasionally and add more water if needed.
Whole Chicken Pieces Variation
If you would prefer to use whole chicken pieces for this recipe, such as chicken breasts or chicken thighs, you definitely can! Here's how to do it:
- Dice chicken into 1-inch pieces.
- Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add in some oil and then the chicken pieces.
- Brown the chicken on one side and then flip the pieces over.
- Next, use a meat chopper or wooden spoon to break up the chicken into small pieces.
- Finish as above by stirring in the black beans, seasoning, and water. Simmer until the sauce thickens and you're ready to serve.
Storage
- Leftover taco meat can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or so.
- To freeze, place cooked and cooled ground chicken taco meat in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, place taco meat in a non-stick skillet. Heat over medium-low heat adding water as needed to thin the sauce.
While most taco seasoning does not contain wheat ingredients, it's always best to check the ingredient label first. There are several spice companies that offer gluten-free taco seasoning, such as Spice Islands, Pioneer, McCormick, or Siete.
Most corn tortillas are gluten-free. Many are labeled as such or even certified gluten-free. Always check the labels first and buy the brand you're most comfortable with.
One taco seasoning packet or 3 Tablespoons of taco seasoning is sufficient for about one pound of ground meat.
Top Tip
Don't forget to stir occasionally and add in a splash of water as needed to keep the taco meat moist and tender.
I hope you enjoy this easy gluten-free taco recipe! It's so simple but definitely one of our favorite recipes! For more easy dinners, check out chipotle chicken cheesesteaks or gluten-free baked chicken meatballs!
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Recipe
Gluten-Free Ground Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 Tablespoons taco seasoning, or 1 seasoning packet
- ¾ cup water
- gluten-free tortillas or taco shells
- taco toppings, such as lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, green onion, salsa, and sour cream
Instructions
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the hot skillet, then add the ground chicken.
- While the chicken cooks, break it up into smaller pieces with the back of a wooden spoon or meat chopper. Continue to sauté the chicken until it is browned and cooked through, allowing excess moisture that the chicken releases to evaporate, about 5-10 minutes.
- Once the chicken is cooked, add the taco seasoning, black beans, and water to the skillet. Stir the mixture to combine.
- Turn the heat down to low and allow the taco meat to simmer until the sauce thickens. Stir occasionally and add in a splash of water as needed to keep the mixture from drying out.
- Keep the mixture on warm while you prepare the rest of your toppings or until you're ready to serve. Don't forget to stir occasionally and add more water if needed.
Notes
- Dice chicken into 1-inch pieces.
- Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the oil and then the chicken pieces.
- Brown the chicken on one side and then flip the pieces over.
- Use a meat chopper or wooden spoon to break up the chicken into small pieces.
- Finish as above by stirring in the black beans, seasoning, and water. Simmer until the sauce thickens and you're ready to serve.
Kathy
These look great. I’ve never used ground chicken before. I think I’ll give it a try!