Your weeknight dinner rotation just got a lot more satisfying! Whip up these quick and healthy Ground Chicken Soft Tacos (ready in 15 minutes!) for a family-friendly meal that’s loaded with protein and fiber. Plus, these tacos have hidden veggies (grated carrots and zucchini) for an added nutritional boost!
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Soft Tacos with Ground Chicken
Are you looking for a dinner that the entire family will eat, that can be made in 15 minutes AND has hidden veggies?
I’ve got you!
These Soft Tacos with Ground Chicken are an easy weeknight dinner (made in 15 minutes!) that the entire family will love. Shredded carrots and zucchini add a boost of nutrition and subtle flavor. You can experiment with plenty of different cheeses, salsas, and other toppings so that every family member finds a combination they love.
With dozens of dinner recipes for kids to choose from, like my crazy good Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, Easy 10 Minute Pita Pizza, or these readers favorite Hidden Veggie Mac & Cheese, there are zero reasons to be in a dinner food slump. Be sure to also check out my best-selling cookbook, Little Foodie: Baby Food Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste, for even more dinner ideas!
Reasons to Love Ground Chicken Tacos with Veggies
- great for the whole family – baby, toddler, kids and adults
- made in less than 15 minutes
- one pot meal
- extra nutritional boost from hidden veggies
- great for baby-led weaning or the finger food stage
- easy to customize with many toppings
- naturally gluten-free
- perfect for leftovers – nachos, quesadillas, salads, sandwiches
Ingredients
Make sure to read the full recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and instructions.
- Ground Chicken: you can also sub ground beef or ground turkey
- Carrot & Zucchini: finely shredded carrots and zucchini with the zucchini squeezed in a towel to remove excess moisture. Adding the veggies are optional.
- Seasoning: chili powder, cumin, paprika, ground garlic, ground onion, oregano, salt, pepper
- Olive Oil
- Tortillas
- Toppings: of your choosing, see list below
Gluten-Free Recipe Tip: The ingredients in these ground chicken tacos are naturally gluten-free. Serve with yellow corn taco shells or your favorite gluten free tortillas instead of flour tortillas to keep the whole dish gluten-free.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a warm skillet. Add the ground chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until just golden brown. Break the chicken into small pieces.
- Add in shredded carrots and zucchini and saute for 2-3 more minutes.
- Add in all of the spices and water.
- Let cook on low for at least 5-10 minutes.
Toppings
Feel free to mix up these ground chicken tacos based on what you have in the fridge and what your family likes. Here are several add-ins and toppings that go particularly well with these tacos:
- Serve with a side of brown rice, quinoa, or even Spanish rice
- Top with diced avocado or creamy guacamole
- Shredded lettuce
- Halved or quartered cherry tomatoes
- Sauteed green or red bell peppers and onions
- Shredded Mexican blend cheese or cotija cheese
- Pinto, black, or refried beans
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
- Salsa
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice
- You can also serve these tacos ‘nacho style’ – just use tortilla chips to scoop up the ground chicken and any other toppings
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Ground chicken tacos also freeze well for up to 6 months.
Recipe Tips
- You can also serve these ground chicken tacos with rice for burrito bowl style or with tortilla chips for scooping for a nacho style meal.
- Use yellow corn taco shells or soft corn or flour tortillas that are slightly warmed before serving.
- When serving to babies, make sure all fillings are cut into age-appropriate sizes and use soft, corn tortillas, as hard taco shells can be challenging to chew and flour tortillas can get gummy in the mouth, which can pose a choking risk.
- Serve the components of tacos separately or “deconstructed” for picky eaters so that they can choose which and how much of each topping they want to try.
- Kids can also help with age-appropriate meal prep for these tacos, such as cutting soft avocados or tomatoes or putting fillings into bowls.
Soft Ground Chicken Tacos
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup finely shredded carrots (optional)
- 1/4 cup finely shredded zucchini, excess moisture squeezed out in towel (optional)
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup water
Toppings:
- Serve with a side of brown rice, quinoa, or even Spanish rice
- Top with diced avocado or creamy guacamole
- Shredded lettuce
- Halved or quartered cherry tomatoes
- Sauteed green or red bell peppers and onions
- Shredded Mexican blend cheese or cotija cheese
- Pinto, black, or refried beans
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
- Salsa
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice