Chicken Tacos (20 Minute Recipe) - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (2024)

Why I Love This Chicken Tacos Recipe

There are so many reasons to love these chicken tacos – I don’t even know where to start – but okay, I’ll start with the fact that they only take 20 minutes to make! That’s right, this is a healthy meal that the whole family will love, and it’ll be on the table in less than a half hour.

This is definitely the recipe to lean on when you’re craving Mexican food and you want a simple and wholesome meal. There’s tender ground chicken, the mild spice of poblano peppers, cumin chili powder and taco seasonings. Plus you can add whatever toppings you want. Taco Tuesday will never get boring in your house!

You can even prepare the filling a few days in advance and reheat it for those busy weekdays when you just want to collapse as soon as you walk in the door. Now grab your tortillas, it’s time for tacos!

Key Ingredients

Full measurements and instructions can be found below in the recipe card. Here are some helpful tips about the ingredients, purchasing tips, and substitutions.

Corn Tortillas

We like soft corn tortillas, but if you prefer the crunch of a crispy corn tortilla, go ahead and use them instead. Follow the heating instructions on the package.You can also use flour tortillas. Keep in mind a flour tortilla is larger than corn tortillas so look for taco size or Fajita size.

Cooking Oil

Choose whichever neutral-flavored cooking oil you prefer. I like avocado oil or organic canola oil but olive oil is fine too.

Poblano Chili Pepper or Green Bell Pepper

Poblano peppers are relatively mild chili peppers and add great mild spice to this recipe. If you do not like spicy food or you can’t find poblano, simply sub in one green pepper.

Chopped Onion

You’ll need one cup of diced onion. Read more here about how to dice an onion. You can use any color onion. If you have a lot of scallions or leeks and want to sub them, that is fine. Measure out 1 cup chopped.

Minced Garlic

For great flavor use freshly chopped garlic. I prefer to use fresh over jarred because the jarred chopped garlic often contains preservatives and the flavor is not as clean.If you’re short on time you can use a little garlic powder and mix it in with the other dry spices.

Ground Chicken

I adore cooking with ground chicken and really love the tender texture. It is easier than boneless skinless chicken breasts because there is no cutting! If you cannot find it you can use ground turkey instead.

Spices

I’ve found that the best spices for chicken tacos are cumin, chili powder, chipotle, salt and pepper. If you don’t like heat, skip the chipotle. If you prefer to take a shortcut, you can substitute 2 tablespoons of Taco or Mexican seasoning plus salt to taste.

Tomato Paste and Water

This helps to create the sauce for the taco filling. You can freeze any leftover tomato paste in 1 tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray.

Optional Garnishes: Lime, Salsa, Lettuce, Cabbage, and Avocado

I skip the high-calorie cheese and sour cream and use the above healthy garnishes, but if you like to add in dairy, go for it!Feel free to improvise with your favorite toppings for tacos.

What can I use for chicken taco toppings?

You can top your ground chicken tacos with your favorite things! Some of my favorite choices are limes, salsa, lettuce, cabbage, and avocado. I tend to swap the cheese and sour cream for those garnishes, but if you like to add in dairy, go for it!

How should I season chicken for tacos?

Start with sauteeing garlic and onion before adding in your ground chicken. Onion and garlic alone add a lot of flavor, but then once the chicken has cooked through, you can add in the best spices for chicken tacos! Sprinkle cumin, chili powder, salt and chipotle over your chicken mixture, but if you don’t like heat, skip the chipotle. If you prefer to take a shortcut, you can substitute 2 tablespoons of Taco or Mexican seasoning, plus salt to taste.

How long do you cook ground chicken?

Ground chicken should take 4 to 6 minutes to cook over medium to high heat. Be sure to break up your chicken to help it cook evenly. You’ll be able to know if it’s done by eye if the chicken is opaque.

Can I meal prep this recipe?

This filling can be meal prepped ahead up to four days. To reheat, heat until it’s steaming hot in the microwave. Alternatively, rewarm it with a couple of tablespoons of water in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often until steaming hot.

More Mexican Food and Taco Recipes

• My new Veggie Tacos with Black Beans are hearty and filling and nobody will miss the meat!
• These Cod Fish Tacos are amazingly delicious and super speedy too. The avocado crema is the best!
• These Maple Chipotle Flank Steak tacos are a little sweet and spicy and will rock your world.
• This meal prep Beef Barbacoa Taco recipe is made in the slow cooker and has a delicious corn salsa that goes with it.
• This Picadillo Taco recipe can be made with beef, venison or bison.
• If you love Mexican food, make sure to check out these Easy Chicken Enchiladas and Steak Fajitas. They’re both great fast weeknight dinners!
• Ground Turkey Enchiladas are a super easy variation on a Mexican classic! Enjoy these bold and authentic flavors in just 45 minutes!
• These Healthy Chicken Quesadillas are packed with seasoned and shredded chicken breast, black beans, corn, and cheese, all encased in a crispy whole-wheat tortilla! This is a 30-minute weeknight meal everyone will love.