These 20-minute chicken tacos with poblano peppers come together so fast for an easy healthy dinner recipe. So whether you’re using it as a family-friendly weeknight dinner recipe or a festive Taco Tuesday, you’ll want to keep this recipe in your back pocket! 

a black plate with two chicken tacos on it

I originally shared this recipe on July 13th, 2017. I have added more useful tips and step-by-step instructions on how to make chicken tacos perfectly to share it with you again today. 

Table of contents

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Why I Love This Chicken Tacos Recipe

There are so many reasons to love these chicken tacos – I don’t even know where to start – but okay, I’ll start with the fact that they only take 20 minutes to make! That’s right, this is a healthy meal that the whole family will love, and it’ll be on the table in less than a half hour.

This is definitely the recipe to lean on when you’re craving Mexican food and you want a simple and wholesome meal. There’s tender ground chicken, the mild spice of poblano peppers, cumin chili powder and taco seasonings. Plus you can add whatever toppings you want. Taco Tuesday will never get boring in your house!

You can even prepare the filling a few days in advance and reheat it for those busy weekdays when you just want to collapse as soon as you walk in the door. Now grab your tortillas, it’s time for tacos!

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Key Ingredients

Full measurements and instructions can be found below in the recipe card. Here are some helpful tips about the ingredients, purchasing tips, and substitutions.

Corn Tortillas

We like soft corn tortillas, but if you prefer the crunch of a crispy corn tortilla, go ahead and use them instead. Follow the heating instructions on the package. You can also use flour tortillas. Keep in mind a flour tortilla is larger than corn tortillas so look for taco size or Fajita size.

Cooking Oil

Choose whichever neutral-flavored cooking oil you prefer. I like avocado oil or organic canola oil but olive oil is fine too.

Poblano Chili Pepper or Green Bell Pepper

Poblano peppers are relatively mild chili peppers and add great mild spice to this recipe. If you do not like spicy food or you can’t find poblano, simply sub in one green pepper. 

Chopped Onion

You’ll need one cup of diced onion. Read more here about how to dice an onion. You can use any color onion. If you have a lot of scallions or leeks and want to sub them, that is fine. Measure out 1 cup chopped. 

Minced Garlic

For great flavor use freshly chopped garlic. I prefer to use fresh over jarred because the jarred chopped garlic often contains preservatives and the flavor is not as clean. If you’re short on time you can use a little garlic powder and mix it in with the other dry spices.

Ground Chicken

I adore cooking with ground chicken and really love the tender texture. It is easier than boneless skinless chicken breasts because there is no cutting! If you cannot find it you can use ground turkey instead. 

Spices

I’ve found that the best spices for chicken tacos are cumin, chili powder, chipotle, salt and pepper. If you don’t like heat, skip the chipotle. If you prefer to take a shortcut, you can substitute 2 tablespoons of Taco or Mexican seasoning plus salt to taste. 

Tomato Paste and Water

This helps to create the sauce for the taco filling. You can freeze any leftover tomato paste in 1 tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray. 

Optional Garnishes: Lime, Salsa, Lettuce, Cabbage, and Avocado 

I skip the high-calorie cheese and sour cream and use the above healthy garnishes, but if you like to add in dairy, go for it! Feel free to improvise with your favorite toppings for tacos.

Step By Step Instructions To Make Chicken Tacos

Full instructions and the printable recipe are available below in the recipe card. 

wrap tortillas in foil

Step 1: Preheat Oven and Warm Tortillas

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and wrap your tortillas in foil stacked in two packages of four. Place the tortillas in the hot oven to warm.

crumble the chicken with a wooden spoon

Step 2: Cook Vegetables and Chicken

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add poblano, onion, and garlic, and cook. Stir often until the vegetables are softened and begin to brown, which should be 5 to 8 minutes. Add chicken, and cook, breaking it up into small pieces as it becomes opaque and until the chicken is completely cooked. This should take 4 to 6 minutes.

Add the chili, powder, cumin, salt and chipotle and stir to coat.

Step 3: Add Seasonings and Form Sauce

Sprinkle the vegetable and chicken mixture with chili powder, cumin, salt, and chipotle, and stir to coat it evenly and until fragrant, 30 to 90 seconds. Add the tomato paste and water and then stir until the tomato paste is dissolved into the water and it forms a sauce to coat the chicken mixture.

spooning salsa over the tacos

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy!

Finally, once the chicken mixture is cooked you’re ready to assemble your chicken tacos. Fill each tortilla or taco shell with some of the chicken mixture, and top with cabbage, salsa, lettuce, and avocado. A little acidity also is great with them so I add on a squeeze of lime juice and salsa. Or simply serve with the lime wedges, pico de gallo, and guacamole on the side or set up as a topping bar so everyone can customize with their favorite toppings! 

a platter of chicken tacos with lime, avocado, and poblano peppers

FAQs and Expert Tips

What can I use for chicken taco toppings?

You can top your ground chicken tacos with your favorite things! Some of my favorite choices are limes, salsa, lettuce, cabbage, and avocado. I tend to swap the cheese and sour cream for those garnishes, but if you like to add in dairy, go for it!

How should I season chicken for tacos?

Start with sauteeing garlic and onion before adding in your ground chicken. Onion and garlic alone add a lot of flavor, but then once the chicken has cooked through, you can add in the best spices for chicken tacos! Sprinkle cumin, chili powder, salt and chipotle over your chicken mixture, but if you don’t like heat, skip the chipotle. If you prefer to take a shortcut, you can substitute 2 tablespoons of Taco or Mexican seasoning, plus salt to taste. 

How long do you cook ground chicken?

Ground chicken should take 4 to 6 minutes to cook over medium to high heat. Be sure to break up your chicken to help it cook evenly. You’ll be able to know if it’s done by eye if the chicken is opaque.

Can I meal prep this recipe?

This filling can be meal prepped ahead up to four days. To reheat, heat until it’s steaming hot in the microwave. Alternatively, rewarm it with a couple of tablespoons of water in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often until steaming hot.

What To Serve With Chicken Tacos

a platter of tacos and cutting board with avocado and lettuce

More Mexican Food and Taco Recipes

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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a black plate with two ground chicken tacos on it

Chicken Tacos with Poblanos

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Description

20 minute ground chicken tacos with poblanos are the perfect super simple kid friendly Summer entree!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 corn tortillas
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or organic canola oil
  • 1 poblano chili pepper or green bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup water
  • limes, salsa, lettuce, cabbage and avocado for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Wrap tortillas in foil stacked in two packages of four. Place tortillas in hot oven to warm.
  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add poblano, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often until the vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chicken, and cook, breaking up into small pieces as it becomes opaque, until the chicken is completely cooked, 4 to 6 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, salt and chipotle, and stir to coat until fragrant, 30 to 90 seconds. Add tomato paste and water and stir until the tomato paste is dissolved into the water and it forms a sauce to coat the chicken mixture.
  4. Serve the chicken in the warm tortillas and top with desired toppings.

Notes

To Meal Prep This Recipe

This filling can be meal prepped ahead up to four days. To reheat, heat until steaming hot in the microwave. Alternatively, rewarm with a couple tablespoons of water in a medium skillet over medium high heat, stirring often until steaming hot.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: entree
  • Method: stove top
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tacos each
  • Calories: 333
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 487 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 25 g
  • Cholesterol: 105 mg

Keywords: ground chicken recipe, Chicken Tacos, ground chicken tacos, 20 minute taco, Healthy Chicken Tacos, pollo tacos, Healthy Ground Chicken Tacos, Ground Chicken Soft Tacos

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