Chorizo is always delicious, but sometimes it is nice to skip the gut bomb associated with traditional chorizo. The answer is chicken chorizo.
What is chorizo?
Chorizo is a type of seasoned sausage. There are two main types of chorizo: Spanish chorizo, which is usually cured and closer to salami, and Mexican chorizo, which is crumbly, minced meat traditionally stuffed in a pig intestine casing.
In the States, most people imagine the dark red, crumbly chorizo when using the term, which is the kind we will be focusing on today.
While pork is the most common meat used for chorizo, beef, and chicken are also popular choices.
Mexican chorizo gets its red tint from the spices used. There are many variations and every culture has its own way of making it, but chorizo usually has a healthy amount of chiles (guajillos, ancho chile), paprika, garlic, and cumin. Vinegar is also used to achieve that signature texture.
Other ingredients may include cinnamon, cloves, oregano, and other spice blends.
What is chicken chorizo made of?
Chicken chorizo is usually a blend of light and dark chicken meat and is seasoned in the same fashion as pork chorizo: so any combination of chili powder, garlic, and vinegar at its most basic.
Some chicken chorizo is made with ground chicken, but it is best with a blend of dark meat or entirely thigh meat. The fattier the chicken is, the closer it will feel to pork chorizo. Both options are delicious, though, and it is easier to make ground chicken chorizo during the week.
What does chorizo go well with?
Chorizo, like any other protein, fits into a lot of meals. Here are a few ways you can use chorizo:
- Breakfast tacos
- Fried rice chorizo with eggs
- Chorizo and potato casseroles
- Chorizo, rice, and beans with a simple salad
- Breakfast burritos
- Nachos
- Chorizo pizza
And the list goes on. You can really sneak it into anything.
How to cook chicken chorizo
Cooking chicken chorizo could not be simpler.
- Heat a skillet to medium-low, just enough for water to sizzle.
- Add a light dash of oil (there is already a lot of oil in chorizo).
- Place chorizo in an even layer on the skillet.
- Cook on medium-low for 5-10 minutes.
- Drain off any fat (optional) to keep things leaner and drier.
- Flip and cook until the texture is crumbly.
If you want to be extra safe, check that the chicken has reached 165º. You can also add diced onions with the oil for extra flavor.
Best chicken chorizo recipes
You can swap chicken chorizo for any normal chorizo recipe. Here’s a good mix of recipes. We tried to add a variety of dishes and difficult levels.
1. Chicken chorizo hash & scrambled eggs
Chorizo, while versatile, is most often served as a breakfast protein. Potatoes + chorizo is a match made in heaven. Use this recipe for the perfect start to your day. Don’t skimp on the tortillas, either.
2. Easy chorizo street tacos
The essence of a street taco is simplicity. A double layer of good tortillas, some diced onions, some cilantro, and a tasty protein. This recipe from AllRecipes shows you how it’s done.
3. Homemade chorizo pizza
Chorizo on pizza is unsurprisingly delicious. Salted Mint does a nice job here, showing you how to make a chorizo pizza from scratch. If you want to up the game even more, try topping the pizza with a Mexican crema sauce or guacamole puree after it comes out of the oven.
4. Easy chorizo chickpea soup
This chickpea chorizo recipe from TheBeachHouse Kitchen is really healthy and delicious when you sub chicken chorizo in. Don’t add the spinach too early, otherwise the color will be lost.
5. Homemade chicken chorizo
If you’re curious about making your own chicken chorizo, check out this recipe Megan vs. Kitchen. It’s really just ground chicken spiced in a certain way, but it’s really tasty. If you want to go to the next level, try roasting and blending your own mix of thigh and breast meat.
6. Chicken and chorizo ragu
You can fit chicken into a dish in two different ways with this chicken and chorizo ragu recipe. Three if you use chicken broth as well. This is a nice weeknight recipe from BBCGoodFood. Enjoy.
7. Mexican chorizo and potato casserole
For the winter months, or anytime really, a chorizo casserole is filling and absolutely delicious. Top this recipe from AllRecipes with some fresh avocado, Mexican source cream, and cilantro, and you will be put to sleep in the best possible way.
8. Creamy chicken and chorizo pasta
This recipe from Skinny Spatula is great for a winter night. Use the highest quality pasta you can find (or make your own) for the best results, and make sure your chicken chorizo is salted correctly so it really pops.
9. Papas con chorizo
For the ultimate classic chorizo experience, use this papas con chorizo recipe from AllRecipes. It’s potatoes, chorizo, and eggs. That’s it, and that’s the point.
10. Chorizo smash tacos
Here’s a clever recipe from OverTheFire Cooking if you are looking for something a bit more adventurous. It’s sort of a spin of birria tacos. This would really impress on a grill night.
Chicken chorizo FAQ
Here are a few common chorizo questions we come across.
What is the correct way to cook chicken chorizo?
Low and slow on a skillet! Just cook it a good while in a skillet on medium-low heat until all the meat is darkened and the texture is crumbly. If you are worried about it being done, just check and see if it has reached 165º.
What is chorizo traditionally served with?
Papas (potatoes), avocado, fried eggs, and a light salad is a classic Mexican breakfast. You can use it in just about anything, though.
How long does chicken chorizo last in the fridge?
Cooked chicken chorizo will last around 3-4 days in the fridge. Unopened chicken will likely last a week or two, but make sure to check the date on the package. Frozen chorizo can last over a month.
What is a non-pork alternative to chorizo?
The most popular alternatives to pork chorizo are beef and chicken chorizo. Both are good, but chicken chorizo will be leaner.
Is chicken chorizo healthy?
Health is relative to your diet and the frequency with which you consume any particular ingredient, but yes! Chicken chorizo is leaner than pork chorizo and has a higher protein content. This makes it a good choice for people who want to have chorizo but cut back on some of the fat.
Where to buy the best chicken chorizo
Unsurprisingly, the best chicken chorizo starts with the best chickens. The best way would be to use a local butcher selling high-quality meat and make the chorizo yourself, but that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Alternatively, you could get something like US Wellness Meats Sugar-Free Pasture-raised Chicken Chorizo Sausage delivered to your door.
Our chickens are raised in floorless schooners which are moved daily to fresh pasture. The chickens are given a mineral-rich, nutrient-dense, custom grain mix with probiotics that contains no hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs.You won’t find better-tasting chicken that is raised with the highest standards of nutrition in mind.
We use light breast meat, dark drumstick meat, and a proprietary blend of spices and herbs to give it that signature kick.
See how good our pasture-raised chicken chorizo is.
A lean and delicious alternative to pork chorizo
Don’t sleep on chicken chorizo. It hits the chorizo spot while being higher in protein and lower in fat. It is a wonderful protein to have around the house.
Keep some in the freezer and pull it out the night before a weekend brunch. You won’t regret it.
Nathan Phelps
Nathan Phelps owns and writes for Crafted Copy, a boutique copywriting shop that finds the perfect words for interesting products. He is also an ethical foodie, outdoors-aficionado, and hails from Nashville, TN. He splits his time between helping sustainable businesses find new customers and managing his ever-increasing list of hobbies, which include playing guitar, baking bread, and creating board games.
