This tasty chicken hearts recipe is garlicky, tender, and packed with both flavor and nutrients. Not to mention, it's a dish that is quick and easy to prepare! And it's perfect as a main dish, appetizer, or satisfying side dish. So, if you've never had chicken hearts before, get ready to fall in love with this delicate and ultra-nutritious chicken heart recipe!
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The Best Chicken Hearts Recipe
If you enjoy making different types of chicken dishes, then this chicken hearts recipe is going to absolutely blow you away.
There is so much flavor packed into this dish, and it's actually really easy to make! On top of that, you can pair it with so many great options making it an all-around versatile recipe.
You can pair this chicken hearts recipe with everything from salads to sauteed vegetables to rice and everything in between. Personally, I love serving it with these brussel sprouts, turmeric rice, and fried dumplings.
Oh, and did I mention it only takes about 20 minutes to make?
Yup, it's that easy!
What Are Chicken Hearts?
Chicken hearts - similar to chicken gizzards - are small, but mighty organs, packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals. If you're not familiar with the different organ meats, chicken hearts have a more delicate texture than gizzard and an even sweeter, less "mineral" flavor.
While most people associate chicken with lean meat, chicken hearts have plenty of selenium, folate, and B6 too!
Plus, it's jam-packed with protein - a 100g serving of chicken hearts has a whopping 26 grams of protein!
Finally, chicken hearts are easy to find in pretty much every grocery store. Look for them near other frozen meats like chicken breasts, thighs, or wings. You can also find them in small quantities at local butchers or farmers' markets - just ask your grocer or market vendor to point them out for you.
Ingredients
The key to making amazing chicken hearts is to keep it simple. So we are going to use a few strong ingredients that are going to deliver a ton of flavor and give it a delicious taste.
Besides the chicken hearts though, all of these are common pantry ingredients. So, you'll probably have everything you need to make this recipe at home already - besides the hearts of course.
Ok, so you'll only need seven things to make these tasty fried chicken hearts, and they are:
- 1 lb chicken hearts
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 cup green onions, sliced
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- ½ lemon
- Salt
- Pepper
So simple, right?
Now, just so you know, you can also add other ingredients to jazz up the flavor or make it a full meal. For example, I love adding mushrooms and chopped bacon or pancetta. It's also delicious with rosemary, thyme, oregano, or parsley.
If you want, you can substitute lime instead of lemon. If you want to add some kick, throw in a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes. Really anything goes, just like regular chicken recipes!
Oh, and if you like dishes with garlic and lemon, give this air fryer mahi mahi a try next!
How To Cook Chicken Hearts
Ok, so it's time to learn how to cook chicken hearts the right way! This dish comes together so quickly that you'll feel like a pro chef even if you've never cooked chicken hearts before.
Trust me, the results are restaurant-worthy good, and it's a guarantee that everyone will love these chicken hearts.
Now, let's not waste any more time and get started!
Step 1: Prep Work
First things first, take the chicken hearts out of the package, rinse them with cold water and then pat dry with paper towels.
Now, take out a large frying pan and put it over medium heat on the stovetop. Add a dash of olive oil to the pan and move it around to coat the surface.
Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and green onions to it. Saute for about one minute, moving the garlic and onions around the pan the entire time.
By the way, don't let your garlic get too brown, or else it will make your chicken hearts taste a bit bitter.
Step 2: Cooking The Chicken Hearts
Next, add the raw chicken hearts, salt, and pepper to the frying pan with the onions and garlic.
Cook the chicken hearts on medium heat for about 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is tender. And make sure to frequently stir/flip the chicken hearts while they are cooking to make sure that they cook evenly and brown on all sides.
Now, once the chicken hearts are nice and tender, you can take them off the heat.
Step 3: Serving
Finally, you can finish the dish with a light squeeze of lemon juice on top of the chicken hearts.
Once you've done that, go ahead and transfer everything to a plate and top with more green onions. Enjoy!
How To Store Chicken Hearts
This chicken hearts recipe will make about 4 servings, so it's plenty for a family dinner or to have leftovers for the week.
The best way to store cooked chicken hearts is in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just make sure to let them cool down completely before storing them.
By the way, if you want to keep them for longer, you can also put the cooked chicken hearts in the freezer for up to 4 months. The best way to store them this way is to put them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag with all the excess air squeezed out. Then, just label the container with the date so you know how long they've been in there.
How to Reheat Chicken Hearts
The best way to reheat fried chicken hearts is to put them back in a pan on the stovetop.
Take out a frying pan and add some olive oil - or cooking spray to it - and put it over medium-high heat. Then, add the chicken hearts, and cook for a few minutes moving them around constantly until they are warm and reach your desired temperature.
My Final Thoughts
Well, that is how to make chicken hearts!
I bet once you give these pan fried chicken hearts a try, you'll find yourself making them all the time.
It's such a versatile dish that takes on flavors extremely well, making it perfect to pair with anything you want for a complete meal.
As always, if you gave these chicken hearts a try, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Oh, and for more delicious recipes like this one, be sure to check out our Youtube and Instagram. We post new recipes daily on them!
More Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed that chicken heart recipe, we have a ton of other chicken recipes on the blog that you have to try next!
Check out these delicious recipes:
PrintChicken Hearts Recipe
This tasty chicken hearts recipe is garlicky, tender, and packed with both flavor and nutrients. Not to mention, it's a dish that is quick and easy to prepare! And it's perfect as a main dish, appetizer, or satisfying side dish. So, if you've never had chicken hearts before, get ready to fall in love with this delicate and ultra-nutritious chicken heart recipe!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chicken
Ingredients
1 lb chicken hearts
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup green onions, sliced
1 tsp. olive oil
½ lemon
Salt
Pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in the small pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, chicken hearts, and chopped green onions. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes, frequently stirring, until the chicken is tender.
- Add some lemon juice on top and serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 170
- Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Protein: 17
Keywords: chicken hearts, chicken hearts recipe, how to make chicken hearts, fried chicken hearts, chicken hearts recipe fried,
Bill
This was good.
★★★★★
Emily
Loved ‘em!!
★★★★★
Dillon
Actually like this a lot.
★★★★★
Yehudit Rouzaud
The mushrooms really helped make it substantial. Was very nice over a little quinoa with a side of green beans. And it was fast!
Mark
This chicken hearts recipe was so good. They turned out super succulent.
★★★★★