Description
These Dill Pickle Ranch Smash Chicken Tacos combine savory ground chicken seasoned with garlic and paprika, crispy cheese lace, tangy dill pickles, crunchy cabbage, and a creamy ranch-flavored cottage cheese sauce with a splash of pickle brine for a unique and flavorful taco experience. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal with a crunchy and tangy twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Toppings and Fillings
- 8 small tortillas
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
- 2 tablespoons pickle brine
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (a squeeze)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the ground chicken with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to evenly season the meat.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the seasoned ground chicken until fully browned and crumbled, ensuring it is completely cooked through with no pink remaining.
- Make the Cheese Lace: In a separate pan, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella or Jack cheese in small circles to form cheese crisps. Cook until the cheese is melted and crispy, then carefully remove and set aside.
- Warm the Tortillas: Heat the tortillas briefly in a dry skillet over low heat or microwave until warm and pliable, ready for assembling the tacos.
- Prepare the Ranch Sauce: Blend the cottage cheese with ranch seasoning and a squeeze of lemon juice until smooth and creamy to create a tangy ranch-flavored sauce.
- Assemble the Tacos: Fill each warmed tortilla with a scoop of the cooked ground chicken, topped with a crispy cheese lace, chopped dill pickles, shredded cabbage, and a generous drizzle of the cottage cheese ranch sauce.
- Finish with Pickle Brine: Drizzle each assembled taco with 2 tablespoons of pickle brine for an extra burst of tangy flavor just before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for chicken if preferred.
- Use any shredded cheese that melts well to make cheese lace, such as cheddar or pepper jack.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the chicken seasoning.
- Cheese lace can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to a day.
- Warm tortillas just before serving to keep them soft and pliable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: dill pickle tacos, ranch chicken tacos, ground chicken recipe, cheese lace tacos, quick taco recipe, savory chicken tacos
