Ground chicken: it’s the unsung hero of the poultry world. Often overlooked in favor of its more glamorous cousin, the chicken breast, ground chicken is a versatile tool in the kitchen. It’s the culinary equivalent of that friend who’s always up for anything, from tacos to meatballs to…well, you’ll see soon enough.
So, if you’re tired of the same old chicken routine and ready to embrace the ground, you’ve come to the right place. We’re about to unleash a couple of the best ground chicken recipes that will have you saying, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner…made with ground chicken!”
1. Chicken and Cheese Meatballs
Ingredients:
- 500g ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions:
Preparing Meatballs:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) by setting the temperature and allowing it to heat up completely. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes and ensures even cooking of the meat.
- While the oven is preheating, line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the meatballs from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper.
- Mix all these ingredients well until you have a firm mixture. This will ensure that the meatballs are flavorful and have a consistent texture.
- Using your hands or a scoop, form the mixture into meatballs, making them roughly the same size to ensure even cooking.
- Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Aim to space them about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet.
Baking:
- Place the baking sheet with the meatballs into the preheated oven. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C). Testing at least one meatball will make sure they are baked properly.
- The meatballs should be golden brown on the outside. They should also be firm to the touch.
Combining:
- While the meatballs are baking, heat marinara sauce in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, carefully add them to the skillet with the marinara sauce.
- Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs.
- Cover the skillet and cook until the cheese melts and becomes soft and delicious.
Finishing:
- Once the cheese has melted, remove the skillet from the heat.
- Serve the meatballs garnished with freshly chopped basil for an added burst of flavor and a pop of color.
- Enjoy your delicious chicken Parmesan meatballs.
2. Asian Basil Chicken
Let’s make dinner memorable with these ground beef dinner recipes.
Ingredients:
- 500g ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bird’s eye chilies, chopped (adjust to the amount of spice you want)
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- Steamed rice, for serving
Instructions:
Cooking:
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Allow the oil to get hot before adding any ingredients to ensure proper cooking. This can typically take about 1-2 minutes.
- Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and chopped chilies to the skillet.
- Sauté them for about 1-2 minutes until they become fragrant and start to release their flavors. This step will infuse the oil with the flavors of garlic and chilies.
- Next, add the sliced onion to the skillet.
- Cook the onion until it becomes softened and clear, which should take about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning and to ensure even cooking.
- Add the ground chicken to the skillet.
- Break up the chicken with a spatula or wooden spoon as it cooks.
- Continue cooking until the chicken is no longer pink, which should take about 5-7 minutes.
- Make sure the chicken is cooked through and browned. This step is important so increase the cooking time if any uncooked portions are present.
- Stir in the soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar.
- Mix everything together thoroughly, ensuring the chicken is well coated with the sauces.
- Cook for another 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Finally, add the fresh basil leaves to the skillet.
- Stir the basil into the chicken mixture until the leaves wilt, which should take about 1 minute. This step adds a fresh and aromatic flavor to the dish.
Finishing:
- Once everything is cooked, serve the chicken mixture hot over steamed rice.
- The rice will soak up the delicious sauce, making for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
3. Ground Chicken Lasagna
For a tasty salmon alternative, give these salmon pasta recipes a try.
Ingredients:
- 500g ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar marinara sauce (about 2 cups)
- 1 box lasagna noodles
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions:
Cooking Pasta:
- Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the noodles, and cook until they are all soft. This typically takes about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain the cooked noodles and set them aside. This ensures they are ready to be layered in the lasagna later.
Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. This step can take about 1-2 minutes.
- Once the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic.
- Sauté them for about 3-4 minutes until they become fragrant and the onion turns clear. This step will create a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Add the ground chicken to the skillet.
- Cook the chicken, breaking it apart into smaller pieces with a spatula, until it is no longer pink. This typically takes about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to mix together.
Assembling:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the oven is hot and ready for baking the lasagna.
- In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and egg.
- Mix everything together thoroughly until you have a uniform mixture. This will be the creamy, cheesy layer of the lasagna.
- Spread a layer of the chicken sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
- Place a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce.
- Then, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. This layer can be roughly a quarter inch in height.
- Repeat these layers, alternating with more chicken sauce and noodles, until you reach the top of the dish.
- End with a final layer of the chicken sauce.
Baking:
- Cover the assembled lasagna with aluminum foil to prevent the top from becoming too dry.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the lasagna is heated through.
Finishing:
- Once the lasagna is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Serve the lasagna garnished with fresh basil leaves for added flavor and a pop of color.
- Enjoy your delicious homemade lasagna.
From meatballs to lasagnes and toppings, ground chicken’s versatility shines through in these easy ground chicken recipes. Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to explore the endless possibilities this humble ingredient offers. Everything from Asian ground chicken recipes to keto ground chicken recipes can be explored. For delicious baked chicken leg recipes, click here.
Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight meal or a new family favorite, ground chicken provides a healthy and delicious alternative to other proteins. So, embrace the ground, get creative in the kitchen, and discover just how flavorful and adaptable this often-overlooked ingredient can be.