20 Easy Ground Chicken Recipes

Updated August 14, 2013
Credit: Scott Rounds

Get out of the ground beef grind and use easy, economical ground chicken for a variety of recipes from burgers and chili to tostadas and calzones. Whether you're in the mood for an easy stew (this one fits the bill) or classic comfort food (who doesn't love chicken pot pie?), you'll love this collection of ground chicken recipes. 

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Thai Chicken Curry Stew

Credit: Julie Bidwell; Styling: Stephanie Hanes

Thai Chicken Curry Stew Recipe

Ground chicken works perfectly in this hearty soup recipe to bring out the best of the delicate spices.

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Chicken-Chile Tostadas

Credit: Randy Mayor

Chicken-Chile Tostadas Recipe

Top baked corn tortillas with a mixture of spicy ground chicken, shredded lettuce, cheese and salsa for an easy weeknight dinner. Because the tortillas are baked instead of fried, this recipe is lower in fat than a traditional tostada.

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Chicken Parmesan Burgers

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Chicken Parmesan Burgers Recipe

Get out of your burger rut with these grilled ground chicken burgers. Serve on ciabatta rolls and top with marianara sauce and mozzarella.

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Thai Chicken in Cabbage Leaves

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Thai Chicken in Cabbage Leaves Recipe

The ground chicken filling in this main dish ground chicken recipe has seasonings similar to those in larb, a popular Thai appetizer.

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Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs with Edamame and Snow Peas

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs with Edamame and Snow Peas Recipe

Make Asian-style meatballs by adding ginger and scallions to ground chicken and serving the meatballs over a mixture of rice, edamame, and snow peas.

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Indian-Spiced Chicken Burgers

Credit: Beau Gustafson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Indian-Spiced Chicken Burgers Recipe

These ground chicken burgers get their Indian flavor from garam masala, ginger, and a topping of mango chutney and yogurt.

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Chicken Lettuce Cups

Credit: John Autry and Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chicken Lettuce Cups Recipe

Add Mediterranean flavor to lettuce cups by combining ground chicken with chopped artichoke hearts, oregano, green olives, and fresh mozzarella.

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Chicken Burgers with Caramelized Shallots and Blue Cheese

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Chicken Burgers with Caramelized Shallots and Blue Cheese Recipe

All-American Cheeseburgers get a makeover with ground chicken and gourmet toppings.

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Chicken and Basil Calzones

Credit: Beau Gustafson; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chicken and Basil Calzones Recipe

Use ground chicken in these super-easy calzones featuring convenience products such as refrigerated pizza dough and prepared pizza sauce.

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BLT Chicken Burgers

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Basil Friedman

BLT Chicken Burgers Recipe

Poultry burgers have a reputation for being dry and bland, but jazzed up with sharp cheddar, parmesan, and garlic—and then topped with crisp bacon, juicy tomatoes, and lettuce—they're boldness in a bun.

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(Low-Fat) Chicken Chili

(Low-Fat) Chicken Chili Recipe

Chili can be cheaper when you make it with ground chicken instead of ground beef. And this chili is great for a last-minute supper because all the ingredients are items that you can keep on hand in either the freezer or pantry.

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Chicken Empanadas

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Chicken Empanadas Recipe

This recipe is a favorite because it can be made ahead of time and chilled until you're ready to bake. That means if your family enjoys dinner in waves, everyone can have a warm, tasty dinner.

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Green Curry Chicken Fritters

Credit: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Green Curry Chicken Fritters Recipe

Green curry paste (found in the Asian-foods section) and chile paste impart tons of savory-spicy-fragrant hits to ground chicken. Serve this recipe with a spicy slaw on the side.

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Orzo and Chicken Meatball Soup

Credit: Melina Hammer; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Orzo and Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe

Skip the ho-hum chicken noodle soup and make a soul-satisfying soup that's sure to please everyone at the dinner table. A hint of lemon brightens the entire dish.

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Baked Chicken Moussaka

Credit: Greg DuPree

Baked Chicken Moussaka Recipe

This Greek dish is similar to lasagna, but it's traditionally layered with eggplant, tomatoes, ground beef or lamb, and a béchamel sauce. Our lightened version for the Cooking Light Diet calls for ground chicken, using a mix of light and dark meat for added richness, and a yogurt-based sauce. Brown the chicken well; most of the rich, meaty flavor comes from that step. Serve the casserole with a Greek salad and toasted whole-wheat pita.

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Chicken Chili Pot Pie

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Chicken Chili Pot Pie Recipe

This hearty and comforting chicken chili is made with poblano chiles and butternut squash. You can make individual servings in 10-ounce ramekins or one large pot pie using a 3-quart baking dish. Either way, everyone will love the puffed, cheesy cilantro-grits crust.

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Chicken-and-Mushroom Dumplings with Bok Choy

Credit: Photography: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen.

Chicken-and-Mushroom Dumplings with Bok Choy Recipe

We keep these dumplings weeknight-doable by using easy-to-find wonton wrappers (look for them near the tofu) and the simplest folding method. To make this a communal meal, set out the steamer baskets on a towel so your family can help themselves. If your bok choy is larger than what we call for, cut it into quarters so it will fit in the baskets.

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Cornbread-Stuffed Zucchini

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cornbread-Stuffed Zucchini Recipe

Choose squash that are uniform in shape so they will cook evenly. The best kind for this recipe are long, straight, and not too skinny.

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Chicken and Chile Hash

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken and Chile Hash Recipe

Ground chicken has a touch more fat than ground chicken breast, key for a more flavorful hash. Let cooked potatoes dry out so they'll be extra crisp in the hash. Leftover potatoes would be even better. While the potatoes cook, make sure to cook the chicken mixture. As the hash crisps, start poaching the eggs to save on time while cooking. The dish is perfect for dinner, lunch or a weekend savory brunch option. You can easily make this a vegetarian hash but omitting the chicken and adding other vegetables such as zucchini or sweet potatoes. 

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Gingery Chicken Pot Stickers

Credit: Scott Rounds

Gingery Chicken Pot Stickers Recipe

No tricky dance moves. These come together with mostly supermarket ingredients. You may have to go to an Asian market to get gyoza wrappers, but the trip is worth it. For extra-crispy dumplings, dip the bottoms in 2 teaspoons cornstarch before panfrying. The filling may be made up to two days ahead. Assembled dumplings can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for two hours. Cook them straight from the fridge. Or, freeze dumplings on the baking sheet, and after they’re rock hard, transfer to a plastic freezer bag to store up to three months; partially thaw for about 15 minutes on a baking sheet dusted with flour before panfrying as instructed.

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