How to Make Ground Chicken

Why You Will Like This Recipe

I admit, that I have a meat grinder attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer and I NEVER use it. Got it as a gift from someone years back. Using a food processor to grind meat is so much easier and MUCH easier to clean. Have you ever tried to clean one of those meat grinder attachments? It's not fun.

Grinding meat in a food processor is really easy. I have only ever done this with chicken breasts before but you can definitely use whatever type of meat you like. 

If you like making your own recipes from scratch try Easy Homemade Pickles or this recipe for How to Make Homemade Almond Extract

How to Grind Chicken in a Food Processor

Step 1: Choose the Right Cut of ChickenWhen it comes to grinding chicken, you want to use the right cut of meat. Chicken thighs are generally the best option, as they have a higher fat content than chicken breasts, which makes for a more flavorful and moist ground chicken. However, if you prefer leaner meat, you can use chicken breasts instead.

This is just some Perdue chicken I picked up at Aldi.

Step 2: Cut the Chicken into Small Pieces Before you start grinding the chicken, you need to cut it into small pieces.

This will make it easier for the food processor to grind the meat evenly. Cut the chicken into pieces that are about 1 inch in size. You can also remove any excess fat or gristle from the chicken at this point.

Step 3: Chill the Chicken: Chilling the chicken before grinding it can help to keep the meat from getting too warm and becoming mushy. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes before grinding it. (this is an optional step)

Step 4: Grind the Chicken in Batches. It's important to not overload the food processor when grinding the chicken. You should grind the chicken in batches, putting about ⅓ to ½ of the chicken in the food processor at a time. This will ensure that the chicken is ground evenly and that the food processor doesn't get clogged with too much meat.

Step 5: Pulse the Food Processor.

When grinding the chicken, you want to pulse the food processor instead of running it continuously. Pulse the food processor for about 10-15 seconds at a time, and then check the consistency of the ground chicken. You want the chicken to be evenly ground, but not too fine or mushy.

Pro Tips for Ground Chicken

• Slightly freezing the chicken is the most important step for good texture
• Do not overfill the food processor or it will not grind evenly
• Pulse instead of blending continuously to avoid turning the chicken into a paste
• Clean your food processor right after use to make cleanup easier
• Use chicken thighs if you want a juicier result
• If the mixture looks too wet, it may have been overprocessed

Storage

Store ground chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 to 2 days.

For longer storage, freeze it. Divide the ground chicken into portions, wrap tightly, and place in freezer bags. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

Equipment Needed 

Here are some tools that will help will help you with the recipes. All links will open in Amazon. Yes I do get a small earning if purchase from the link 

Food Processor 

Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper for Slicing, Shredding, Mincing, and Puree, 10 Cups - Spiralizing, Silver

Sharp Knife 

Chef Knife, DDF iohEF 8 Inch Kitchen Knife In Stainless Steel, Professional Sharp Knife, Antiseptic Non-slip Ultra Cooking Knife with Ergonomic Handle Ideal for Kitchen / Restaurant