Chicken and lentil meatball tacos recipe

Chicken and lentil meatball tacos

This tasty Mexican-inspired tacos recipe is made with chicken mince and nutritious green lentils. Ready in just over half an hour and freezable, it would make a lovely lunch or speedy dinner and everyone will love loading their taco shells with all the trimmings!

See method
  • Serves 4
  • 15 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook
  • 581 calories / serving

  • Freezable

Ingredients

  • 390g tin green lentils in water, drained
  • 500g pack chicken mince
  • 15g taco seasoning (from a 30g sachet)
  • 3 tbsp dried white breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 1 large, ripe avocado
  • ½ lime, juiced​
  • 8 crunchy taco shells
  • 150g chargrilled peppers (from a 285g jar), cut into strips
  • 200g pot fresh salsa
  • soured cream, to serve (optional)

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Each serving contains

Energy
2425kJ 581.0kcal
29%
Fat
32g
high46%
Saturates
5g
medium26%
Sugars
7g
low7%
Salt
1.7g
medium29%

of the Reference intake

Carbohydrate 37.6gProtein 31.3gFibre 9.2g

Method

  1. Pat dry the lentils with kitchen paper, then add to a large bowl with the mince, taco seasoning and breadcrumbs; mix well to combine. Use slightly wet hands to shape into 16 golf ball-sized meatballs.
  2. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large nonstick frying pan over a medium heat. Cook half the meatballs for 6-8 mins, turning frequently, until browned all over (see Cook's tip). Transfer to a lined baking tray, then repeat with the remaining oil and meatballs. Bake for 10-12 mins until cooked through.
  3. Meanwhile, mash the avocado with the lime juice and a little black pepper. Serve the meatballs in the taco shells with the roasted peppers, avocado, a spoonful of salsa and a dollop of soured cream, if you like.
  • Tip: To avoid frying, preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Put the meatballs on a lined baking tray and bake for 18-20 mins.
  • Freezing and defrosting guidelines

    Freeze meatballs only. In order to enjoy optimum flavour and quality, frozen items are best used within 3 months of their freezing date. For more tips on freezing and defrosting food, read our article Love Your Freezer.

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