This is a complete tutorial on how to mince chicken at home with a food processor or by hand. Works for boneless chicken breasts, thighs, or any other cut of chicken. Get answers to your questions about minced chicken here. Bonus: 5 of my best chicken mince recipes are included!
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Why You’ll Love Minced Chicken
Chicken mince, or ground chicken, is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas for what to do with minced chicken:
- Chicken burgers: Mix chicken mince with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings to make chicken patties, then cook them on a grill or in a frying pan. Serve on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and your favorite toppings.
- Chicken meatballs: Combine chicken mince with breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan cheese, and spices to make flavorful meatballs. Bake them in the oven or cook them in a sauce or curry for a tasty meal.
- Chicken stir-fry: Cook chicken mince in a wok or frying pan with vegetables and a sauce for a quick and easy stir-fry. (My most popular recipe below!)
- Chicken chili: Use chicken mince instead of beef in a chili recipe, along with tomatoes, beans, and spices, for a lighter and healthier version of this classic dish.
- Chicken meatloaf: Combine chicken mince with breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, and herbs, then bake in a loaf pan for a comforting and delicious meal.
- Chicken kebabs: Thread chicken mince onto skewers and grill or bake until cooked through. Serve with a dipping sauce for a tasty appetizer or main dish. (another top recipe, link given below)
- Chicken tacos: Cook chicken mince with spices and serve in taco shells with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and salsa.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Chicken mince can be used in many other dishes, so feel free to experiment and try new recipes!
How To Mince Chicken at Home: Step by step
Prepare the chicken
Rinse boneless chicken (breasts, thighs or legs) and blot them dry with kitchen tissues. Some recipes, like kebabs and koftas require chicken mince that does not have excess moisture.
Mince chicken in a food processor
Chop the chicken roughly into 1-inch cubes as in chicken tikka or sesame chicken. This ensures that the mincing is uniform. Place them in the food processor bowl.
(Links in this post are Amazon affiliate links to products I love.)
Pulse a couple of times until the chicken is broken down into smaller chunks. If the recipe requires you to add spices and herbs as in minced chicken kebabs, add them now.
You might have to scrape the sides of the processor jar and process again. Repeat until you get minced chicken with a uniform texture. There you go!
Mince chicken breast by hand
If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a sharp knife. Halve each chicken breast lengthwise into thin slices first. (As in thin sliced baked chicken breasts and crispy panko crusted chicken breasts.)
Slice each half into thin strips. After that, mince the strips into smaller pieces (as small as you can).
This way you’ll get minced chicken similar to the one made with a food processor.
Expert Tips
- Processing: Stop when the mixture is minced but not blended all the way to a smooth paste.
- DO NOT use a high-speed blender to mince the chicken. You need a bit of texture and not mushy chicken.
- When you add herbs and aromatics to the chicken while mincing, ensure that they are dry and chopped into smaller pieces.
Common Questions about Minced Chicken
What cut of chicken is best for mince?
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are the most convenient for mincing. Chicken breasts give you the leanest low-fat mince while thighs provide you with chicken mince that’s slightly moister when cooked.
Is ground chicken good for you?
Ground chicken is a healthier alternative to red meat like ground beef with fewer calories, less saturated fat and less cholesterol. You can replace minced meat with minced chicken in almost any recipe.
Two things to keep in mind:
1. Chicken mince cooks faster (and tends to dry out if overcooked).
2. You need stronger flavors to make chicken mince taste as good as red meat.
Do you wash chicken keema before cooking?
You will find it difficult to wash anything minced. Store-bought minced chicken may contain fatty tissue that is practically impossible to be removed. It also contains excess moisture that’s hard to remove.
That’s why it is easier and more hygienic to mince the chicken yourself. You can rinse boneless chicken breasts (or thighs), blot them dry and mince them (instructions given above).
Can you marinate ground chicken?
Yes, you can marinate ground chicken, including chicken keema. Marinating can add flavor and help tenderize the meat.
When marinating ground chicken, it is important to keep in mind that it doesn’t need to be marinated for as long as larger cuts of meat, as the marinade will penetrate the meat much faster. In fact, marinating ground chicken for too long can cause the meat to break down and become mushy.
A good rule of thumb is to marinate ground chicken for about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the strength of the marinade.
How long to cook chicken mince?
The cooking time for chicken mince or keema can vary depending on the cooking method and the size of the pieces. Here are some general guidelines for pan-frying or sautéing:
If you are cooking ground chicken in a pan over medium-high heat, it typically takes around 8-10 minutes to cook through, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks.
The chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) to ensure it’s safe to eat.
If you don’t have a thermometer, follow this thumb rule: the chicken should be completely opaque and have a tender, crumbly texture.
Easy Chicken Mince Recipes
Chicken mince (ground chicken) can be used in a wide variety of recipes from Thai-style chicken mince stir fry to Indian minced chicken recipes like chicken keema. They are so easy to make and require minimum time and effort in the kitchen. Here are my top chicken mince recipes:
Easy Chicken Mince Stir fry Recipe
Easy Keema Chicken Recipe
Chicken Mince Kebab Recipe
Video
Healthy Chicken Kofta Curry Recipe
Spicy Deviled Eggs Recipe with Minced Chicken
How To Mince Chicken (+ 5 Best Minced Chicken Recipes)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 grams/1.1 pounds boneless chicken (breasts, thighs or legs)
STEP BY STEP IMAGES
Scroll back to find detailed recipe photos!
Instructions
Prepare the chicken
- Rinse 500 grams/1.1 pounds boneless chicken (breasts, thighs or legs). Blot them dry with absorbent tissues. (Some recipes, like kebabs and koftas require chicken mince that does not have excess moisture.)
- Chop the chicken roughly into 1-inch cubes. This ensures that the mincing is uniform.
Mince chicken in a food processor
- Place the chopped chicken cubes in the food processor bowl. Pulse a couple of times until the chicken is broken down into smaller chunks.
- If the recipe requires you to add spices and herbs as in minced chicken kebabs, add them now.
- You might have to scrape the sides of the processor jar and process again. Repeat until you get minced chicken with a uniform texture.
Mince chicken breast by hand
- If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a sharp knife. Halve each chicken breast lengthwise into thin slices first.
- Then slice each half into thin strips. After that, mince the strips into smaller pieces (as small as you can).This way you’ll get minced chicken similar to the one made with a food processor.
Notes
- Processing: Stop when the mixture is minced but not blended all the way to a smooth paste.
- DO NOT use a high-speed blender to mince the chicken. You need a bit of texture and not mushy chicken.
- When you add herbs and aromatics to the chicken while mincing, ensure that they are dry and chopped into smaller pieces.
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A nice handy compendium for minced chicken favorites 😍..I like it . Keep other such collections coming !
Thank you, Jesslyn!