36 Ground Chicken Recipes to Lean On for Quick, Easy and Nourishing Meals

Parade

February 17, 2024 at 5:41 AM·10 min read

Ground chicken is a great protein if you're looking for a healthier, leaner option beyond ground beef. So to help you answer the question, "What can I make with ground chicken?" we've compiled over 30 of our best ground chicken recipes.

To ease your chicken cravings, we've included a wide array of ground chicken-based recipes, including chicken lasagna, chicken burgers, chicken meatballs and chicken chili.

Related: 25 Easy Roast Chicken Recipes

We also added some hearty meals like Tuscan chicken shepherd’s pie, flavor-packed dinners like chicken and cilantro bites, keto-friendly fare like bacon ranch chicken pizza, plus some cheesy and easy ideas like chicken parmesan burgers.

We hope you'll enjoy these delicious recipes using ground chicken and enjoy the healthy benefits.

Related: 60 Best Lemon Chicken Recipes

Ground Chicken Recipes

Chicken Chili

<p>Heather Donahoe</p> — Heather Donahoe

When temps drop, turn to a winter-weather favorite recipe—in a snap! Get a satisfying chili dinner on the table in 30 minutes with help from the Instant Pot. Our recipe uses ground chicken instead of beef to cut saturated fat. No Instant Pot? No problem. Just use a large soup pot and increase the simmering time to 45 minutes.

Get the recipe: Chicken Chili

Thai Chicken Basil Lettuce Wraps

<p>We Are Not Martha</p> — We Are Not Martha

This ground chicken-based recipe for Thai Chicken Basil Lettuce Wraps is one of my favorite weeknight meals because it's a snap to put together after a long day at work. If you're feeling that it's lacking carbs, feel free to replace the lettuce with rice.

Get the recipe: Thai Chicken Basil Lettuce Wraps

Curried Chicken Burger

<p>Travis Rathbone</p> — Travis Rathbone

Cook the curry powder with the onions for a brief time to mellow the flavor and bring out the sweetness in this delicious curried chicken burger.

Get the recipe: Curried Chicken Burger

Ground Chicken Parmesan Burgers

<p>Flavor The Moments</p> — Flavor The Moments

Easy chicken Parmesan burgers are juicy ground chicken burgers topped with marinara, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves. Now you can enjoy the classic flavors of chicken Parmesan burger-style!

Get the recipe: Ground Chicken Parmesan Burgers

Eat BBQ Bacon Meatloaf

Bread crumbs are traditionally used in meatloaf and meatballs to add moisture to the finished dish and sometimes, even to add bulk to stretch the meat for your dollar. I often use oatmeal instead, as it will do the trick to create moist and delicious dishes while adding fiber—it’s not just a bunch of white flour. I don’t add too much because I still want the dishes to be predominantly protein-based, but it’s very important to add some, especially with leaner meat like chicken and turkey breast. With the right recipe, turkey and chicken loaves can taste just as fattening as their beef counterparts!

Get the recipe: Easy BBQ Bacon Meatloaf

30-Minute Tuscan Chicken Shepherd's Pie

My husband is a Midwestern meat-and-potatoes-loving man, so when it's comfort food season, you better believe shepherd's pie is on my must-cook list. This fall I decided to make it with a lighter, healthier twist. To lighten it up, I've replaced the traditional beef with chicken and added white beans making it extra hearty and satisfying. The chicken gravy creates an excellent thick, rich base, and the finishing layer of Italian-seasoned shredded cheese adds a new dimension of flavor while pairing perfectly with the creamy layer of mashed potatoes.

Get the recipe: 30-Minute Tuscan Chicken Shepherd's Pie

Ground Chicken Bolognese

With this speedy, healthy pasta sauce, adapted from celebrity fitness trainer Bob Harper's book, The Super Carb Diet, dinner comes together in just 20 minutes. Spiralized zucchini—zoodles—stand in for traditional pasta. If you prefer more traditional noodles, Harper recommends brown rice pasta.

Get the recipe: Ground Chicken Bolognese

Healthy Chicken Burgers

Everyone loves a good hamburger. But, chicken burgers are easily just as tasty. And they're much lower in fat and calories. Once you throw them on the grill and deck them out with all of your favorite toppings, they offer a seriously comparable replacement for the traditional burger. Try them at your next cookout!

Get the recipe: Chicken Burgers

30-Minute Italian Sausage, Pepper, Chicken and Potato Skillet

A while back I was flipping through a magazine and ran across a drool-worthy photo of a sausage and pepper hoagie. I had to have sausage and peppers! Putting a healthy twist on my old favorite was so much fun; I even decided to use fresh ground chicken breast and created my own sausage flavor to make this as wholesome as possible. This Italian Sausage, Pepper, Chicken and Potato Skillet goes from prep to plate in only 30 minutes.

Get the recipe: 30-Minute Italian Sausage, Pepper and Potato Skillet

30-Minute Chicken Parmesan Meatball Poppers

Chicken Parmesan is likely an Italian favorite in every household, but I especially love dishes covered in sauce and cheese so it was only a matter of time before this fabulous dish was transformed into a meatball popper. Tender and flavorful ground chicken is combined with lots of herbs and Parmesan cheese, and baked to perfection. Once the meatballs are golden brown they are drizzled with marinara sauce and covered in cheese. That’s Amore! These meatball poppers go from prep to plate in just 30 minutes.

Get the recipe: 30-Minute Chicken Parmesan Meatball Poppers

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmigiana Meatloaf

<p>Stephanie O'Dea</p> — Stephanie O'Dea

This is exactly how you’d expect it to taste: cheesy, gooey, Italian-y goodness. If you’d like, you may nestle washed king potatoes around the pan in the cooker to make a complete meal.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Parmigiana Meatloaf

Harry Potter Sausage Rolls

These sausage rolls are perfect for making in bulk—the mince needs little more than a squeeze and a stir, and can easily be doubled or tripled in quantity.

Get the recipe: Harry Potter Sausage Rolls

Chicken Cordon Bleu Balls

This revamped Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe featuring ground chicken, parsley and Swiss cheese can be made ahead of time and is easy to pass around on a serving plate.

Get the recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Balls

Chicken & Cilantro Bites

Be sure to use ground chicken to make these party bites, and serve with a zesty chili sauce.

Get the recipe: Chicken & Cilantro Bites

Pesto-Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

So with my cravings for all things comfort food, meatloaf has been at the front of my mind. But of course, I can't leave things alone, can I? This version popped into my head one night while I was lying in bed. I knew there really wasn't any way I could go wrong really. I mean, chicken parm meets pesto?! Oh ya!

Get the recipe: Pesto-Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

Egg Roll Skillet

<p>Krista Marshall</p> — Krista Marshall

One of my biggest weaknesses is Asian cuisine—I could probably eat it every single day and never tire of it! But let's face it, sometimes it isn't the healthiest choice out there. So when I find a way to have all the flavors I love in a dish that is a little better for me, you can bet I'm a happy camper. That's exactly what you get with this recipe— all the great flavors inside an egg roll, with no wrapper!

Get the recipe: Egg Roll Skillet

Carla Hall's Chicken Meatloaf Balls

<p>Gabriele Stabile</p> — Gabriele Stabile

Chef Carla Hall, former co-host of The Chew, based this recipe from her cookbook Carla Hall’s Soul Food on the meatloaf her mother used to make. “Mama doesn’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen,” Hall says. These meatballs cook in half the time; cooking them in a skillet gives them a tasty caramelized crust.

Get the recipe: Carla Hall's Chicken Meatloaf Balls

The Pollan Family's Chicken and Vegetable Burgers with the Works

<p>Mark Boughton Photography</p> — Mark Boughton Photography

Grated zucchini ensures these chicken burgers, from Mostly Plants by Tracy, Dana, Lori and Corky Pollan (sisters and mom of famed food activist Michael Pollan), stay nice and moist.

Get the recipe: The Pollan Family's Chicken and Vegetable Burgers with The Works

Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf

<p>Devin Alexander</p> — Devin Alexander

I don't think a single season of The Biggest Loser has gone by without some of the contestants complaining that they miss their chicken wings. At first, I created a lighter plate with the typical wings, carrots, celery, and blue cheese. But then I realized that the components would be excellent if turned into a meatloaf, so here it is.

Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf

Chicken Meatball Sliders

These chicken meatball sliders enjoy south-of-the-border flair with some taco seasoning, salsa, and avocado. To really kick up the flavor, serve with an onion and cilantro garnish.

Get the recipe: Chicken Meatball Sliders

Chicken Burgers with Guacamole

This is not your average burger, and it’s about to become your favorite! Lean ground chicken is first blended with cilantro and seasoned bread crumbs and then crowned with southwestern toppings of seared tomatoes and garlicky guacamole.

Get the recipe: Chicken Burgers with Guacamole

Chicken Burger

The yummy flavor in this chicken burger comes from the hints of mint and crumbled feta mixed into the patty.

Get the recipe: Chicken Burger

Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf

Enjoy the flavor of Buffalo chicken without all the mess. Blend in your favorite wing sauce into the ground chicken and you have the makings for a fantastic meatloaf dinner.

Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf