Dill Pickle Ranch Smash Chicken (Printable Version)

Flavor-packed chicken tacos with crispy cheese crust, tangy dill pickles, and creamy ranch sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken Filling

01 - 1 pound ground chicken
02 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
03 - 1 teaspoon paprika
04 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
05 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Tacos & Toppings

06 - 8 small gluten-free tortillas
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Jack cheese
08 - ½ cup chopped dill pickles
09 - 2 tablespoons pickle brine
10 - 1 cup shredded green cabbage

→ Ranch Cottage Cheese Sauce

11 - ½ cup cottage cheese
12 - 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning
13 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken mixture, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - In a blender or food processor, blend cottage cheese, ranch seasoning, and lemon juice until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
04 - Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet or directly over a gas flame until pliable. Keep covered to stay warm.
05 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese in a circle slightly larger than a tortilla. Let melt and cook until golden and lacey, about 2 minutes. Carefully place a tortilla on top, press gently, and cook for 30 seconds. Flip and cook for another 30 seconds, then transfer to a plate cheese-side up. Repeat with remaining tortillas and cheese.
06 - Top each cheese-crusted tortilla with a generous spoonful of chicken, a handful of shredded cabbage, chopped dill pickles, and a drizzle of pickle brine.
07 - Finish with a dollop of ranch cottage cheese sauce. Serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The crispy cheese lace is addictive—it's like eating a savory tuile that actually holds your taco together.
  • Ready in 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinner without the stress or the takeout guilt.
  • Dill pickle and ranch is a flavor pairing that just works, and here it gets to shine without apology.
02 -
  • Don't skip warming the tortillas properly—cold tortillas tear and won't hold the cheese layer as well.
  • The cheese lace is forgiving once you understand the timing; medium heat and patience matter more than perfection.
  • Cottage cheese sounds strange in tacos, but once blended smooth, it becomes a creamy vehicle for ranch flavor that doesn't taste heavy or artificial.
03 -
  • Use a non-stick skillet for the cheese lace—it makes flipping so much easier and you're less likely to tear the delicate cheese.
  • If your cheese lace breaks when you flip it, just patch it by pressing another small piece of melted cheese over the hole; no one will ever know.
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