From chicken nuggets to chicken chili, ground chicken (also called minced chicken or chicken mince) is a tasty source of lean protein with endless uses. This post shows you how to make ground chicken from chicken breast, using either a food processor or a blender. (You don’t need a meat grinder for this!)
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Why grind chicken at home?
- Grinding chicken yourself is quick and easy and usually saves a bit of money.
- If you make ground chicken yourself, you have control over which cut of chicken to use.
- If you grind chicken yourself, you can be sure that there are no additives.
How do you grind up chicken breast?
There are several different ways to grind up boneless, skinless chicken breast. This post shows you how to make ground chicken using either a food processor or a blender.
How do I make ground chicken in a food processor?
Step 1. Using a sharp knife, remove excess fat and cartilage so you only have pure chicken breast meat left, as shown in the photo below.
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, then check to see if the grind is fine enough or if it needs another pulse.
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.
Step 4. Transfer the ground chicken into a resealable plastic bag or another airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer.
Can you grind chicken breast in a blender?
Yes, you can grind chicken breast in a blender. To do that, prepare the chicken as described above. (Remove excess fat and cartilage, then cut the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes.)
Next, add the cubes to the blender and pulse 4 to 5 times for 1 second each. Scrape down the sides of the blender after each pulse to make sure everything gets ground evenly.
Recipe notes & tips:
- Grind no more than a single layer of chicken breast cubes in a food processor and about two layers of cubes in a blender at a time. That will ensure that you get an even grind. If you want to grind more than that, do it in batches.
- As long as you grind small batches of chicken breast at a time (see the note above), there is no advantage to freezing the cubes before grinding. I tested freezing the cubes to firm them up before grinding but found that it really wasn’t necessary and only added time.
- Be sure to thoroughly rinse the food processor or the blender right away after transferring the 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:
You can store ground chicken in an airtight container in the fridge in the same way you would store a whole chicken breast.
You can also freeze ground chicken in a resealable plastic bag.
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Full Printable Recipe
Homemade Ground Chicken from Chicken Breast
Equipment:
- knife and cutting board
- food processor or blender
- rubber spatula
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast
Instructions:
- Using a sharp knife, remove excess fat and cartilage from the chicken.
- Cut the chicken breast meat into 1-inch cubes.
- Add the chicken cubes either into the food processor or the blender.
If using the food processor:
- Pulse 3 times for ~3 seconds each, then check to see if the grind is fine enough. If it isn't, pulse another time.*
If using the blender:
- Pulse 4 to 5 times for ~1 second each. Scrape down the sides of the blender after each pulse with a rubber spatula.*
Notes:
Nutrition Information (Estimated):
Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.
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