Smash Chicken Tacos

Servings: 8 Total Time: 25 mins Difficulty: Beginner
Golden, crispy-edged chicken smashed right onto a tortilla and topped with all your favorite taco fixings.
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Smash Chicken Tacos

Smash Chicken Tacos

These Smash Chicken Tacos are crispy, cheesy and packed with flavor. Seasoned ground chicken is pressed directly onto a tortilla and cooked until golden, then topped with melty cheese and all your favorite taco toppings. They’re quick, easy and incredibly versatile — swap the chicken for ground beef or turkey, change up the cheese, and add whatever toppings your family loves.

Perfect for Taco Tuesday or an easy weeknight dinner.

Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 15 mins Total Time 25 mins Difficulty: Beginner Servings: 8

For the Smash Chicken Tacos

For the Taco

For the toppings

For the creamy taco sauce

Make the Smash Chicken Tacos

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken with taco seasoning and mix until evenly seasoned.
  2. Divide the chicken mixture into 8 equal portions.
  3. Place one portion of chicken onto each tortilla and spread it into a thin, even layer, pressing the chicken all the way toward the edges.
  4. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and lightly coat with oil or cooking spray.
  5. Place the tortilla chicken-side down in the hot skillet. Press gently with a spatula and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and nicely browned.
  6. Flip the taco so the tortilla side is down. Sprinkle cheese over the chicken and cook for another 1–2 minutes, until the tortilla is lightly crisp and the cheese is melted.
  7. Remove from the skillet and repeat with the remaining tacos.
  8. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, salsa, cilantro or your favorite taco toppings. Fold and serve warm.

Note

  • Don’t make the chicken layer too thick. Spread it thinly and evenly over the tortilla so it cooks quickly and gets nicely browned.
  • Use smaller tortillas. Street-taco or small flour tortillas are easiest to flip and give you the best chicken-to-tortilla ratio.
  • Get the skillet hot first. A properly heated skillet helps create that crispy, golden “smash” on the chicken.
  • Check for doneness. Ground chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Make them your own. Try pepper jack instead of cheddar, add sliced jalapeños, or finish with avocado, pico de gallo, salsa, or your favorite taco sauce.
  • For gluten-free: Use your favorite gluten-free tortillas and double-check that your taco seasoning and toppings are labeled gluten-free.
  • Nutrition note: Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the tortillas, cheese, toppings and other ingredients used.
Keywords: Smash chicken tacos, ground chicken tacos, easy chicken tacos, Taco Tuesday, weeknight dinner, family-friendly recipes, 30-minute meals, crispy chicken tacos, homemade tacos
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Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken?

Yes. Ground turkey works well in this recipe and can be prepared the same way. Just make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

 

How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

The chicken should be browned and cooked completely through. For food safety, ground chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

 

Can I make Smash Chicken Tacos gluten-free?

Yes. Simply use gluten-free tortillas and check your taco seasoning and other packaged toppings to make sure they are gluten-free.

 

What toppings are good on Smash Chicken Tacos?

Try shredded lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, pico de gallo, cilantro, sour cream, salsa, jalapeños or your favorite taco sauce.

 

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