Let’s talk step by step about how long to cook ground chicken on stove, in a pressure cooker or in the oven on a sheet pan. A high protein meal that can be made into spaghetti sauce or folded into a casserole. Similar to How Long to Cook Ground Turkey fresh or frozen, we will explain it all here.
Jump To
- How Long Does Ground Chicken Take to Cook?
- How to Cook Frozen Ground Chicken
- Can you overcook ground chicken?
- Boil Ground Chicken
- How to Cook Ground Chicken on the Stove
- How to Cook Ground Chicken in the Oven
- How to Cook Ground Chicken in an Air Fryer
- What happens if you eat undercooked ground chicken?
- How do I know if ground chicken is cooked?
- What is the best temperature for ground meat?
I mean I am sure you can figure out how to cook ground chicken since it is similar to beef but the cook time is different. A bit quicker to make, packed with protein and a healthier alternative to other meats you can make many recipes with it packed with flavor.
How Long Does Ground Chicken Take to Cook?
That depends on the method you choose. Typically I would say that you are looking at about 8 minutes or so if it is fresh or thawed. Broken up into smaller chunks can speed up the process like we do when making Ground Beef in Oven.
How to Cook Frozen Ground Chicken
The best bet is to follow our Instant Pot Frozen Ground Turkey cook time and directions to get this done well. During the time it takes to heat up the protein can slowly warm and defrost a bit before it cooks just the outsides leaving the middle still a bit icy. From there you can saute right in the same pot or on the stove.
Can you overcook ground chicken?
For sure. Just like any other type of ground up meats you can cook it too long which will dry it out and make it rather chewy. The key to this is to heat until it is no longer pink and has turned white in color. When adding into a recipe like our Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes remember that it will be heated again with the sauce.
I mean I wouldn’t. Boiling meat leaves it with zero flavor. Now if you brown and then add it into our Healthy Spaghetti Sauce you are kinda’ boiling it in the sauce though which will add a ton of flavor and make it heartier.
Boil Ground Chicken
Prepare by removing it from its packaging and breaking it up into smaller pieces if it’s compacted.
Season with your desired seasonings and spices according to your recipe or personal preference. Common ones include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
Then cook however you’d like until juices are clear and meat is no longer pink. You can pour intoa. Crockpot and make Chopped Cheese Sandwich with it if you like!
How to Cook Ground Chicken on the Stove
Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add a small amount of olive oil or cooking spray to the skillet. Add the seasoned meat to the pan, breaking it up with a spatula or spoon to ensure even cooking. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it is browned/turns white and cooked through. Typically this will take about 5-7 minutes.
How to Cook Ground Chicken in the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F or 190°C. Break up seasoned ground chicken into a sprayed baking dish or sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Spread out in one layer to ensure even cooking. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through until it is no longer pink.
How to Cook Ground Chicken in an Air Fryer
This is great if you only have countertop appliances. It doesn’t take long, just toss every few minutes after breaking up into pieces in a preheated basket set to 380 degrees F. The same way as we made air fryer ground beef. The best part of this is the grease drains away as it cooks so it’s the healthiest of them all.
What happens if you eat undercooked ground chicken?
Like any undercooked poultry, can pose health risks because of the presence of harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. These bacteria can cause food poisoning, so make sure it reaches a safe temperature before consuming. You need to be a bit more careful vs. What to Cook with Ground Beef since that can be left a bit pink.
Whether you are precooking to make our Shepherds Pie with Ground Turkey or eating as is with simple seasonings, break it up as it cooks to ensure the thickest pieces are no longer pink or clear in color with clear juices in the pan.
How do I know if ground chicken is cooked?
What color is ground chicken when cooked? White. You will be able to see that if you have it alone in a pan or if it’s breaded like our Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Ground Chicken you’d want to cut one in half to check the color.
What is the best temperature for ground meat?
165 degrees F. is what you are looking for. You may be familiar with this when Cooking Chicken Breast in Oven at 350 but it is the same if it has been ground like this as well. Use a digital meat thermometer removed from the heat for the most accurate temp.
