How to Make Ground Chicken from Chicken Breast

Learn how to make ground chicken from chicken breast, using either a food processor or a blender. (You don't need a meat grinder!)

How to make ground chicken in a food processor:

Step 1. Using a sharp knife, remove and discard excess fat and cartilage from boneless, skinless chicken breast.

Step 2. Cut the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes and add to the food processor. Use the standard, S-shaped blade in the processor.

Step 3. Pulse 3 times for about 3 seconds each. Check to see if the grind is fine enough or if it needs another pulse.

NOTE: You want the chicken to be ground to the size of rice grains. (As shown in the photo below with an inch ruler for scale.) If you grind the chicken much finer than that, it will turn into a paste.

How to make ground chicken in a blender:

Step 1. Remove excess fat and cartilage from the chicken breast, then cut into 1-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the blender.

Step 2. Pulse 4 to 5 times for 1 second each. Scrape down the sides of the blender after each pulse to make sure the chicken gets ground evenly.

Recipe notes:

• I have found no advantage to freezing the chicken before grinding. I tested freezing the chicken cubes to firm them up before grinding but found that it was unnecessary and only added time.
• Be sure to thoroughly rinse the food processor or the blender right away after transferring the ground chicken out of them. You don't want any ground chicken to dry in the appliances or it will become cumbersome to clean them.

How to store ground chicken:

Transfer the ground chicken to a resealable plastic bag. Store in the fridge or freeze.