Ground Chicken is a healthy ground meat alternative to ground beef. It’s higher in protein and leaner than ground beef. This recipe only has three basic ingredients of ground chicken, taco seasoning and cashews.
It’s similar to taco meat with the use of a ground meat and of course with the use of taco seasoning. The cashews give a nice crunch that add a textural dimension to the dish. The nuts also provide more protein and cashews provide essential natural fats that are heart healthy.
Cashews are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are good for lowering cholesterol, helping heart disease and reducing stroke risks. Using the cashews with the ground chicken creates not only a delicious meal, but a healthy one too. It’s high in protein, low in carbohydrates and the cashews are high vitamins and minerals.
The best part is that this dish is super versatile. There may be three ingredients, but the add-ons are never ending. You could throw in some color with bell peppers or add even more protein with a soft boiled egg.
Since the dish is low in carbohydrates, you could eat it with tortillas, like a taco, or mix in some pasta or rice. I make salads with it for lunch that I take to school. I like to add lettuce and even some shredded cheese to my dish. You could also turn it up a notch by creating lettuce wraps out of it with romaine or iceberg lettuce. The chicken can keep for a week after it’s cooked and you could also use it as a meal prep ingredient.
Ground Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
Instructions
Chop any vegetables you want to add and if you don’t want any then you can skip this step.
Put ground chicken into a pan on your stovetop. Cook for 10 minutes on medium heat or until chicken is cooked through.
From here you will follow the taco seasoning directions. So, drain the liquid out of the pan. Remember to never pour grease down the drain. You can pour it into a bowl and then throw it away.
Season the meat with the taco seasoning, add the water and cashews (along with any vegetables if you’re using them). Turn the temperature down to low and cover with a lid for 5 to 10 minutes. Then you’re ready to eat!
I chose to use Spice Islands Taco Seasoning and Perdue lean ground chicken, but you can choose your favorite brands as well. I garnished my plate with green onion and a squeeze of lime. This quick, easy, and affordable dish is the perfect way to go for a college student. Go on, give it a try!