Ground Chicken: The Unsung Hero of Weeknight Cooking

Directions

You know those ingredients you always keep on hand because they just work? Ground chicken is one of those for me. It’s easy, fast, and plays well with just about any flavor you throw at it. Whether I’m throwing together lettuce wraps on a rushed Tuesday or meal-prepping meatballs for the week, ground chicken is my secret weapon—and it might become yours too.

If you haven’t given it a fair shot, especially when it’s made from real pasture-raised chicken like the kind from Ferguson Farms, you’re missing out on something both comforting and nourishing.

Why I Reach for Ground Chicken More Than Ever

Let’s be honest: ground beef and pork get all the love. But ground chicken? It’s quietly dependable. Here’s why I love it:

It’s lighter, but still satisfying.
It’s incredibly versatile—like a culinary blank slate.
It’s quick to cook, even when you’re half-asleep and hungry.
It doesn’t fight with spices. Instead, it absorbs flavor like a sponge (in a good way).

And when that chicken is pasture-raised and hormone-free, it just hits different.

How I Make Ground Chicken at Home (It’s Easier Than You Think)

This might sound fancy, but grinding your own chicken is actually ridiculously simple—especially when you start with Ferguson Farms’ high-quality chicken breasts.

Here’s what I do:

I take the chicken out of the freezer and let it thaw just enough so it’s firm but not hard.
Chop it into chunks.
Toss it into the food processor and pulse until it looks ground—not paste.

That’s it. No additives, no mystery ingredients. Just clean, beautiful chicken ready to transform into something delicious.

My Go-To Ground Chicken Recipes

I’ve experimented with ground chicken enough to have a few standbys. These are the ones I keep coming back to:

1. Quick Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Sauté with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. Add some chopped water chestnuts for crunch. I serve them in butter lettuce leaves with a little drizzle of sesame oil. So simple, so good.

2. Spicy Chicken Tacos

Season the chicken with smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder. Pile it into corn tortillas with avocado, pickled onions, and lime crema. They disappear fast in my house.

3. Lemon-Herb Chicken Meatballs

Mix with breadcrumbs, an egg, a handful of chopped parsley, and lemon zest. Bake and serve with tzatziki or pasta, depending on the mood.

4. Everyday Chicken Burgers

I season it with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Press into patties and grill or pan-fry. Juicy, lean, and surprisingly satisfying.

5. Weeknight Stir-Fry

Brown the ground chicken with garlic and scallions. Add shredded cabbage and carrots, a splash of tamari, and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil. Serve over rice. Done and done.

Why I Choose Ferguson Farms

Here’s the truth: not all chicken is raised the same. I used to grab whatever was on sale, but once I tasted the difference with Ferguson Farms’ pasture-raised chicken, there was no going back.

Their birds are raised the way they should be—on grass, in fresh air, without antibiotics or shortcuts. The result? Chicken that actually tastes like something. Richer. Cleaner. Just better.

And when you're feeding your family (or yourself, let’s be real), that kind of quality matters.

One Last Thought

If your dinners have been feeling a little... uninspired lately, maybe it’s time to let ground chicken do its thing. It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of ingredient that shows up and does the job—quietly, deliciously, and without any fuss.

And when it comes from a farm like Ferguson’s, you’re not just making dinner—you’re making better choices for your health and for the folks who raise your food the right way.

Trust me: once you start cooking with it, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.

👉 Get your Pasture-raised Ground Chicken at Ferguson Farms

by Mike Ferguson