Dill Pickle Ranch Smash Chicken Tacos Recipe
These Dill Pickle Ranch Smash Chicken Tacos combine seasoned ground chicken with zesty dill pickles, crispy cheese lace, and a creamy ranch-cottage cheese sauce for a flavorful and satisfying meal. Perfectly seasoned and bursting with tangy, savory notes, these tacos are quick to prepare and make for a delicious twist on classic tacos.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 small tacos 1x
- Category: Tacos
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Tacos
- 8 small tortillas
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Jack cheese
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles
- 2 tablespoons pickle brine
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
For the Ranch Sauce
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning
- Squeeze of lemon juice
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the ground chicken with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper, mixing well to evenly distribute the spices.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the seasoned ground chicken until it is fully browned and crumbled, ensuring there is no pink left and the meat is cooked through.
- Make Cheese Lace: In a separate non-stick pan, sprinkle small circles of shredded mozzarella or Jack cheese and cook over medium heat until the cheese crisps up and forms lacy, crispy rounds. Remove and set aside to cool.
- Warm the Tortillas: Warm the tortillas either in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 20-30 seconds per side or microwave them wrapped in a damp paper towel for about 20 seconds to make them pliable.
- Prepare Ranch Sauce: Blend the cottage cheese with ranch seasoning and a squeeze of lemon juice until smooth and creamy, creating a tangy ranch sauce to complement the tacos.
- Assemble the Tacos: On each warmed tortilla, layer the cooked ground chicken, a piece of crispy cheese lace, chopped dill pickles, and shredded cabbage. Drizzle the ranch sauce on top to taste.
- Finish with Pickle Brine: Before serving, drizzle each taco lightly with pickle brine to add an extra tangy kick that enhances all the flavors.
Notes
- You can substitute ground chicken with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- If you prefer, feel free to use store-bought ranch dressing instead of making the cottage cheese ranch sauce.
- For extra crunch, add sliced radishes or jalapeños.
- Cheese lace can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for a day to save time.
- Warm tortillas gently to avoid drying or cracking.
Keywords: dill pickle tacos, chicken tacos, ranch chicken tacos, cheese lace tacos, quick chicken tacos, tangy chicken tacos
