Give taco night a delicious twist with this quick and easy recipe that’s ready to fold into shells, tortillas, or lettuce leaves in less than 30 minutes!
We didn’t really do taco night while I was growing up. We occasionally had pizza night, but it was always homemade, never delivered. Most of my experience cooking tacos at home came about when I was married and eating vegetarian for a few years. I used a store-bought faux meat product made from mushrooms and seasoned it with a store-bought taco packet. I often stuffed the mixture into commercially made tortillas or corn shells. It’s still surprising to me that I consumed so many highly processed foods in an effort to skip animal proteins.
Now that I’ve embraced a low-carb lifestyle, my priorities have shifted. This ground chicken tacos recipe is not only more delicious than those faux meat tacos—it feels way healthier because I control everything that goes into it! No added sugars or starches, no weird food colorings, just ground chicken, veggies, broth, and seasonings that I choose and measure myself.
This dish has a lighter character than beef-based tacos, but it’s just as flavorful! You get a deeply savory base of sautéed onion, garlic, and bell peppers, accented by the warm earthiness of cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, and chili powder. Together with the mild chicken and broth, this dish delivers complex taco flavors that rival any food truck!
Plus, it’s ready in less than half an hour, making it a go-to weeknight meal. Whether you’re feeding picky little ones or just looking for a lighter twist on your usual taco fare, this recipe is a winner!
Low-carb taco options
This recipe for ground chicken tacos offers lots of flexibility. Besides tweaking the seasonings to your preferences, you can serve it a variety of ways. Some of my faves include stuffing it into lettuce wraps and subbing it in for the ground beef topping in this Healthy Taco Salad. It’s also a great swap for the ground beef in this Taco Bowls – Keto Recipe.
You could pair it with pork rinds or Keto Tortilla Chips, some shredded cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream for homemade loaded nachos. Or keep it old-school with soft and comforting Keto Tortillas and an array of toppings, like salsa, sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, and a little hot sauce.
How do I store leftovers?
Let your ground chicken tacos cool completely before storing, but don’t leave them at room temp for longer than 2 hours. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. This dish also freezes well for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers or bags. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until steaming hot throughout, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to restore moisture.
Similar recipes to try
Hungry for more creative ways to spice up taco night? Skip the added carbs in those store-bought packets and make Low-Carb Beef Tacos With Homemade Taco Seasoning. Or combine taco night and burger night with this quick and easy recipe for Keto Taco Cheeseburgers. For something really different, bake up this crustless, low-carb Keto Taco Pie Recipe.
Ground Chicken Tacos (Keto, Paleo, Dairy-Free, Whole30)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 3/4 cup bell pepper any color, chopped, about 4 1/2 ounces
- 1/4 cup red onion diced, about 1 1/2 ounces
- 2 garlic cloves minced or pressed
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 pound ground chicken or turkey
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- Cilantro for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the peppers, onions, and garlic. Sauté until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cumin, salt, coriander, pepper, paprika, and chili powder. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the ground chicken to the skillet. Cook, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the xanthan gum into the mixture and stir. Add the chicken broth. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the dish has thickened, reduced, and finished cooking through, about 5 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired, and serve immediately.
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