25 Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes For A Guilt-Free Meal (2024)

Kick off the year with these nutritious, delicious, and healthy ground chicken recipes. Everything from cabbage rolls to apple sausage, awesome one pan dinners, salads, and more!

25 Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes For A Guilt-Free Meal (1)

Like I already said in the last post, I am against those New Year’s resolutions which are made carelessly just to make them and break a week later but I am strongly for serious commitments to change lifestyle habits whether it’s improving your fitness situation, spending more time with family, or choosing healthier meals. You don’t need to wait until January 1st to make such promises to yourself but I understand that this date has its symbolism and it’s perfectly fine to start your big changes on it. The most important thing is to start at all, instead of only talking about your goals.

I made a promise to eat healthier a few years ago. Now let’s make it clear:

  • I am not following vegan, vegetarian, clean eating, or any of these diets.
  • I’m also not one of those who would kill herself for that extra calorie.

On the blog, you can find such calorie bombs as Baked Ziti with three different cheeses (it makes top 3 of the most popular blog recipes by the way), tons of pasta dishes, desserts, and other not-so-healthy-stuff. I just try to keep the majority of my meals healthy and I don’t see a problem to enjoy one or a few cheat meals from time to time. Balance is everything!

Ground chicken is one of those staple ingredients I have quite often in a fridge. High in protein, low in fat, what else do you need? However, after so many years of using it, I caught myself on a thought that my ideas have run dry. What to do when you want something delicious but your head is empty? That’s right, check fellow food blogs for inspiration! Thankfully, there are more than enough of them.

I needed only a few hours and now I am full of ideas of what to do with that ground chicken. The problem is to choose now, ha ha!

1. Amazing Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

25 Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes For A Guilt-Free Meal (2)

These delicious pork and chicken stuffed cabbage rolls simmered in tomato sauce are popular in many countries all over the world!

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

2. Italian Wedding Soup with Chicken Meatballs

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A bowl of comfort food! This easy soup is perfect to enjoy on a cold winter’s day.

Recipe by: Simply Stacie

3. Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage

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This Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage recipe is an easy way to make your own fabulously fresh sausage right at home ~ it freezes beautifully, too, so be sure to make extra so you can enjoy it anytime.

Recipe by: The View From Great Island

4. Pineapple Stuffed Chicken Meatballs

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Covered in a tomato and melted mozzarella sauce with basil and stuffed with pineapple, these chicken meatballs are crazy delicious!

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

5. Thai Basil Chicken

This easy Thai basil chicken is hot, pungent, salty and smoky. Squeeze a littlefresh lime juice on top and your taste buds will be dancing in no time!

Recipe by: Pickled Plum

6. Chicken Sausage Rolls

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Chicken Sausage Rolls! These healthier sausage rolls feature a ground chicken and veggie filling wrapped in flaky, golden puff pastry. Bet you can’t eat just one!

Recipe by: Maple + Mango

7. Baked Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs

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Get dinner on the table in 25 minutes or less with this recipe for extra-moist baked teriyaki chicken meatballs tossed in a homemade teriyaki sauce.

Recipe by: Just a Taste

8. Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats

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Stuffed zucchini boats filled with the flavors of chicken Parmesan. This low carbohydrate, high protein meal will leave you feeling satisfied!

Recipe by: The Wholesome Dish

9. Gluten Free Orange Chicken

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This Gluten Free Orange Chicken is paleo and AIP and made with ground chicken tossed in a delightfully tangy and sweet orange sauce that comes together in 20 minutes for an easy, quick and delicious meal.

Recipe by: Heal Me Delicious

10. Chicken Taco Twice-Baked Potatoes

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A delicious side your family will love! Potato shells are stuffed with seasoned chicken taco mixture and loaded with cheese and toppings.

Recipe by: Simply Stacie

11. Spicy Ground Chicken Stir Fry

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This spicy ground chicken stir fry recipe is a quick weeknight meal with a kick! It has a tasty Asian-inspired sauce that’s made from scratch along with fresh vegetables.

Recipe by: Salt & Lavender

12. Baked Chicken Egg Rolls

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Crispy Baked Chicken Egg Rolls are stuffed with ground chicken and yummy veggies for an easy Game Day appetizer that’s way better than takeout!

Recipe by: Simple Sweet Savory

13. PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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A copycat recipe that you can easily make right at home in just 20 minutes. And it tastes a million times better too!

Recipe by: Damn Delicious

14. Healthy Ground Chicken Burger

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This ground chicken patties recipe will knock your socks off! And the best part is they are super lean, use minimum ingredients and kids love them.

Recipe by: iFoodReal

15. Buffalo Chicken Potstickers

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Buffalo Chicken Potstickers are a surprisingly easy and healthy dinner with chewy wrappers filled with lean ground chicken, vegetables and buffalo sauce served over a crunchy blue cheese broccoli slaw.

Recipe by: The Creative Bite

16. Healthier One Pot Skillet Lasagna

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This Healthier One Pot Skillet Lasagna is loaded with sneaky veggies, ground chicken, and a homemade tomato sauce making it an easy, healthy dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes!

Recipe by: The Recipe Rebel

17. Greek Ground Chicken Stuffed Peppers

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Greek inspired ground chicken stuffed peppers with rice, herbs, and feta. A perfect all-in-one dinner recipe.

Recipe by: Peel with Zeal

18. Chicken Kebabs

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Incredibly juicy and delicious chicken kebabs cooked without oven. Smoked and grilled to perfection!

Recipe by: Ruchis Kitchen

19. Orange Ground Chicken

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Easy Orange Ground Chicken recipe. A quick and simple weeknight dinner idea using fresh orange juice.

Recipe by: A Taste of Madness

20. Ground Chicken Burrito Bowls

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Ground chicken burrito bowls cook fast and are a great alternative to takeout. Assemble the bowls to serve right away, use as meal prep, or set out toppings and let everyone build their own.

Recipe by: Inquiring Chef

21. Ground Chicken Stir Fry with Honey Sriracha Sauce

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This Ground Chicken Stir Fry is incredibly easy to make with all pantry ingredients! A 20 minute dinner recipe made with an irresistible sweet and spicy honey sriracha sauce.

Recipe by: Kitchen At Hoskins

22. Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Muffins

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These Parmesan-crusted chicken muffins are quick and easy and meant to remind you of chicken Parmigiana. Serve them with a simple marinara sauce and a green salad, and you’ve got dinner. Or take them for lunch as a high protein snack.

Recipe by: Ugly Duckling Bakery

23. Ground Chicken Meatloaf

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This is the most delicious, juicy, and flavorful Ground Chicken Meatloaf that’s a perfect go-to family dinner main dish! This recipe takes chicken and infuses it with huge flavor from garlic, onions, worcestershire sauce, parmesan cheese, and ketchup.

Recipe by: Talking Meals

24. Chicken Meatball Mulligatawny Soup

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This Chicken Meatball Mulligatawny Soup features juicy cumin-scented meatballs swimming in a rich chickpea-heavy mulligatawny soup.

Recipe by: Rhubarb and Cod

25. Creamy Chicken Kofta Curry

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A healthy recipe with chicken meatballs cooked to juicy perfection in a delicious curry. This easy chicken kofta curry is one of the best Indian recipes with ground chicken.

Recipe by: Go Healthy Ever After

25 Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes For A Guilt-Free Meal (2024)

FAQs

Is ground chicken healthy to lose weight? ›

Ground chicken is typically lean and has plenty of protein, keeping you full longer, so you won't find yourself snacking later in the day. It is also easy to cook on the stovetop, and you can use it in any recipe that calls for other ground meats, like beef.

What can I add to ground chicken to keep it moist? ›

Chopped up bacon (and/or bacon fat), pork or beef can all be added to ground chicken to enhance its fat content, moisture, and flavour. You don't need to add a lot – a little goes a long way. Chicken, vegetable, or beef stock can be added—just don't add too much and turn it into soup!

Is minced chicken the same as ground chicken? ›

Mincing involves finally chopping chicken meat into very small pieces using a sharp knife, food processor, or blender. Minced chicken is great for making stir-fries, rissoles, or burger patties. Ground chicken is made with special equipment called the meat grinder (electrical or hand).

How do I cook ground chicken without drying it out? ›

You've come to the right place.
  1. Cook ground chicken at a lower temperature. Chicken doesn't have as much fat content as ground beef, and because of that, it will dry out more easily. ...
  2. Add some moisture. ...
  3. Make sure there's no more pink. ...
  4. Don't skimp on seasoning.
Jan 28, 2022

What is the best meat to eat to lose belly fat? ›

Lean meats include skinless chicken breast, the white meat part of the turkey, and lean cuts of beef. Leafy greens, green tea, and bright vegetables can help reduce swelling and turn off fat-storage genes. Bright, colorful vegetables also add color and crunch to the meal plan.

Can I eat ground chicken everyday? ›

Even if you commit to only consuming chicken cooked in a healthy way and not pairing it with any sauces high in sodium or sugar, both dietitians recommend only having it a few times a week.

Why is there vinegar in ground chicken? ›

Is anything added to the ground chicken? Yes, vinegar and lemon juice (less than 1%) are added to the ground chicken for flavoring and to act as a natural preservative.

Do you season ground chicken before cooking? ›

add a pinch each of garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Add it to the pan and place it over medium heat, sautéing the ground chicken for 5 to 10 minutes or until it's no longer pink.

Is ground chicken healthier than ground beef? ›

Lean beef (defined by government guidelines as having less than 10 grams total fat, 4.5 grams or less saturated fat and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3.5 ounces) can be healthier than chicken, fish - or tofu (bean curd) for that matter - depending on how much is eaten and how it's prepared.

Do you wash ground chicken? ›

From a food safety perspective, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb or veal before cooking it is not recommended as the safest method. If you wash meat or poultry, some bacteria can be splashed on the surfaces of your kitchen, which can make you sick if not properly cleaned and sanitized.

Why is ground chicken so much cheaper? ›

The US raises and slaughters an overwhelming number of chickens compared to any other animal, and the industry keeps costs low by relying on government subsidies for genetically modified grain used as feed. These subsidies save factory farms billions of dollars while burdening taxpayers.

Should I marinate ground chicken? ›

Ground chicken: surprisingly, marinating ground chicken is a great way to add flavor to meatballs, burgers, or other ground chicken dishes.

Why does ground chicken turn gray? ›

Spoilage bacteria can cause meat or poultry to turn a dark color, develop an objectionable odor, and become slimy,” according to a knowledge article on the USDA's website. “Meat with these characteristics should not be used.”

How to tell when ground chicken is bad? ›

Spoiled chicken may be slimy or sticky to the touch or have an off odor. If you notice any of these things, discard the meat (3).

What is ground chicken good for? ›

Ground chicken is a real jack of all trades in the kitchen. From lasagna to burgers to chili, ground chicken works wonders in any recipe.

What ground meat is best for weight loss? ›

The Bottom Line

If you want to feel more satisfied after meals or are trying to lose weight, lean ground turkey or lean ground beef works well. If you're eating for a healthy heart, lean ground turkey—which is lower in saturated fat—is the better pick for you.

Is chicken good for losing belly fat? ›

Chicken helps lose overall body weight if consumed as a healthy and balanced diet. In the process, one can also lose belly fat. While eating chicken, remember to opt for lean chicken breast; it is a good source of protein with fewer calories.

How much weight is lost when cooking ground chicken? ›

In general, meat, poultry and fish will shrink about 25 percent when cooked. Sixteen ounces (1 pound) of raw boneless, skinless chicken breast will therefore yield about 12 ounces of cooked chicken.

Can I eat chicken and still lose weight? ›

Generally speaking, skinless chicken breast is the leaner option and often the cut most widely suggested for weight loss. This is because dark meat like the thighs (as well as the wings and legs) is higher in fat than the breast. In a 100g serving of chicken breast, you'll get about 3.24g of fat [2].

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