How to Cook Ground Chicken Recipes

Learning how to cook ground chicken recipes is fairly new to American dining. Although this bird has a greater number of cooking variations all over the world, when I was growing up I never heard of cooking it in the ground form. When I was first married someone gave me a book which had hundreds of recipes just for cooking chicken; not one was for “ground chicken”. I also was given a book which had hundred of recipes for hamburger “or ground beef”.  These two books were so popular because chicken and hamburger were the two cheapest forms of protein (Back then no one was a vegetarian). As a young homemaker I wore the books out cooking all the recipes.


Two things brought about cooks learning how to cook ground chicken recipes and I cannot remember which came first. The price of beef started to rise. Even hamburger became more expensive to purchase but chicken remained very economical. The other thing that brought about the ground chicken recipes was that so many people developed heart disease. Doctors were recommending that everyone eat more chicken and turkey instead of beef and pork. People did use more turkey but the preference of taste was the chicken.

I learned how to cook ground chicken recipes was much like ground beef or turkey recipes. Most of the time the chicken can be substituted for one of the other meats. The big difference when replacing chicken for other meats is the fat content. Turkey is most like chicken, maybe a little dryer than chicken but chicken has less fat than beef or pork. When substituting turkey or chicken for beef or pork, more fat may need to be added to the recipe. I have made many recipes, like chili and spaghetti, with ground chicken that I typically made with ground beef; family and friends never knew the difference.

CHICKEN MEATBALL RECIPE this ground chicken recipe is a family favorite

how to cook ground chicken recipesHow to Cook Chicken Meatballs with Pasta
  • 1 Pound ground chicken
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • Olive oil for cooking meatballs
  • 1/2 Cup minced onion
  • ½ Cup fine breadcrumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 Beaten egg
  • 1 Box whole wheat pasta
  • 1 Jar pizza sauce
  • 1 Can stewed tomatoes
  • Parmesan cheese

Below: Making My Own Ground Chicken

Ground ChickenGround Chicken
Ground ChickenGround Chicken

Below: Ground Chicken Meatballs Mixed and Ready to Brown

ground chicken recipes like these meatballs ready to brown

Combine chicken, breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons olive oil, Italian seasoning and egg.
Blend mixture well and roll into meatballs; brown in skillet in small amount of olive oil.
In separate pan cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
In another saucepan combine pizza sauce and stewed tomatoes; cook over medium high heat until hot.
To serve divide equal amounts of pasta on dinner plates; top with sauce.
As meatballs are cooked, roll hot balls into Parmesan cheese; place on dinner plates on top of sauce.

HOW TO COOK CHICKEN STIR FRY RECIPE

Ground chicken stir fryChicken Stir Fry
  • 1 Pound ground chicken
  • ½ Cup sliced green onions
  • Cooking oil
  • 2 Bell peppers cut in strips
  • 1 Bag frozen stir fry vegetables
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons minced ginger
  • 3 Cloves minced garlic
  • ½ Cup orange juice
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ Cup chopped almonds
  • Salt/pepper

Cook chicken and green onions in a little cooking oil until slightly browned and cooked; move to plate.
Add a little more oil if needed; stir in vegetables until heated through.
Add in juice and soy sauce; stir in almonds and cooked chicken mixture.
Serve with hot cooked rice.

SPANISH RICE RECIPE

Spanish rice recipeSpanish Rice Recipe

I learned how to make Spanish rice as one of my first ground chicken recipes. I have always loved this flavorful dish and I found no one recognized the difference in meats with all the spices. I just added a little fat to brown the chicken.

  • 2 Pounds ground chicken
  • 3 Tablespoons cooking oil
  • 1 Teaspoon paprika
  • 2 Medium chopped onions
  • 3 Cloves minced garlic
  • 1 Large chopped green bell pepper
  • 3 Stalks chopped celery
  • 1 Teaspoon cumin
  • 1 Cup raw brown rice
  • 2 Cups chicken or beef broth
  • 1 Quart tomatoes
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Heat oil in large Dutch oven; brown chicken with onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic.
Add rice, broth and tomatoes; simmer for about 30 minutes or until rice is tender stirring occasionally.
Add water if needed; stir in cumin, salt and pepper.
NOTE: This makes a lot; should feed about 10 to 12 people.

spanish rice recipeSpanish Rice Recipe

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS RECIPE

ground chicken enchiladesChicken Enchilades

Today many people have learned how to make enchiladas with chicken instead of beef. I have loved Mexican food since my first bite but back then most recipes were made with beef and they were not ground chicken recipes. I learned years ago how to make enchiladas with ground chicken and love the taste.

  • 4 Cups cooked ground chicken (you can use leftover cooked chicken or get fresh ground chicken and cook in skillet)
  • 2 Small finely diced carrots
  • 1 Finely diced green bell pepper
  • 2 Cloves minced garlic
  • 1 Small finely chopped onion
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Package (8 ounces) cream cheese
  • 1 Can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 4 Cups salsa
  • 7 to 8 large or 16 small Soft tortillas
  • 1 1/2 Cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese
  • ¼ Cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat butter and oil in large skillet; sauté carrots, onion, pepper and garlic until tender.
Add cream cheese and chilies and heat until melted; stir in cooked ground chicken.
Pour 2 cups salsa into 9 X 12 inch baking dish.
Spread about 1 cup for large or 1/2 cup for small of chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up carefully and place on salsa.
Repeat until all tortillas are rolled and placed in baking dish.

Chicken Enchiladas

Spread top with remaining salsa; sprinkle top with shredded cheese.
Bake in preheated oven at 350F degrees for about 25 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle top with chopped cilantro before serving. Serves 8