Smashed Chicken Tacos with Grinder Slaw
Seasoned ground chicken is smashed onto flour tortillas, seared until crispy, and topped with melty cheese and a tangy slaw inspired by an Italian grinder sandwich.
Ingredients
For the Smashed Chicken Tacos:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 6 small flour tortillas
- 6 slices provolone mozzarella, or cheddar
- Oil or cooking spray for the skillet
For the Grinder Slaw:
- 1½ cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ⅓ cup sliced banana peppers, optional
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
Instructions
Make the Grinder Slaw
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add lettuce, onion, banana peppers, and Parmesan (if using). Toss until coated. Let it chill while you cook the tacos—it gets better as it sits.
Season the Chicken
- Combine ground chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
Smash & Cook
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly oil the surface. Take a golf ball–sized scoop of chicken and place it on a tortilla. Use parchment paper or a spatula to smash the chicken into a thin layer across the tortilla.
- Cook chicken-side down first until golden and cooked through (about 3–4 minutes). Flip, add a slice of cheese, and cook 1–2 more minutes until the bottom is crispy and cheese is melty.
- Repeat for all tortillas.
Assemble & Serve
- Top each cheesy taco with a heaping scoop of grinder slaw. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.