5-Star Chicken Recipes

Updated June 24, 2009

Choose one of our top-rated outstanding chicken recipes to please your family tonight at the dinner table.

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Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup

Credit: Kelsey Grace Harrison

Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup Recipe

Chicken soup flavored with coconut and curry make this Thai recipe a reader favorite. Snow peas, spinach, and chicken breast give this coconut curry chicken soup flavor, texture, and a wealth of nutrients.

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Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa Recipe

A three-minute dip into a pungent cilantro-lime marinade is all that's needed to deliver big flavor to chicken breasts. Serve with saffron rice.

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Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca Recipe

Saltimbocca means "jump in the mouth"–apt for a fast dish that marries woodsy sage, bright lemon, and salty prosciutto.

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Chicken Piccata

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Chicken Piccata Recipe

This recipe uses half the oil than the classic without sacrificing any of the flavor. Try serving the chicken with mashed potatoes, couscous, angel hair pasta, or roasted seasonal root vegetables for a meal that's easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but fancy enough to serve guests.

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Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken Recipe

The tangy-sweet flavor combination of this sauce will work equally well with chicken thighs or pork. Serve with hot cooked rice and steamed haricots verts or a tossed green salad.

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Quick Chicken-Corn Chowder

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Quick Chicken-Corn Chowder Recipe

This 5-star corn chowder can be on your table in less than 30 minutes for dinner tonight thanks to convience items like rotisserie chicken and frozen corn.

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Spicy Chicken Shawarma

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Spicy Chicken Shawarma Recipe

This chicken shawarma is a Middle Eastern version of a gyro and features thin slices of chicken mixed with yogurt and wrapped in pita bread spread with a tahini mixture.

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Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe

Coconut milk tames the heat and combines deliciously with shredded chicken breast in Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup.

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Sweet-Spicy Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Sweet-Spicy Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe

This colorful chicken and veggie stir-fry features a sweet-spicy sauce and a topping of dry-roasted peanuts, which add delicious crunch.

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Bacon and Butternut Pasta

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Bacon and Butternut Pasta Recipe

Broth, thickened with flour and enriched with crème fraîche, forms the savory sauce in this dish. We like the earthy heartiness of kale, which helps balance the sweetness from the squash.

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Hoisin Barbecued Chicken

Hoisin Barbecued Chicken Recipe

Serve dinner guests a guaranteed favorite complete with a zesty homemade barbecue sauce. Marinate drumsticks and thighs in the sauce overnight to let the flavors marry, then bake for 50 minutes, basting with the reserved marinade. While the chicken bakes, reduce the reserved marinade on the stovetop to crate a thick, flavorful sauce for the chicken.

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Chicken Parmesan with Oven-Roasted Tomato Sauce

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chicken Parmesan with Oven-Roasted Tomato Sauce Recipe

Smoky, low-sodium, oven-roasted tomatoes stand in for jarred sauce, and fresh mozzarella adds a cheesy finish to this portion-perfect Chicken Parmesan.

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Two-Cheese Penne with Chicken and Spinach

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Two-Cheese Penne with Chicken and Spinach Recipe

To balance out the meal, serve this rich and saucy pasta alongside a crisp romaine salad with bright acidic dressing.

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Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup

Credit: Kelsey Grace Harrison

Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup Recipe

Chicken soup flavored with coconut and curry make this Thai recipe a reader favorite. Snow peas, spinach, and chicken breast give this coconut curry chicken soup flavor, texture, and a wealth of nutrients.

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Chicken & Summer Vegetable Tostadas

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chicken & Summer Vegetable Tostadas Recipe

A south-of-the-border supper is ready in a snap thanks to quick-cooking chicken tenders. The tostadas can easily become soft tacos if you skip broiling the tortillas. Serve with black beans.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu

Credit: Beau Gustafson

Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe

This lightened version of Chicken Cordon Bleu remains tres délicieuse despite a modest amount of butter. Fix mashed potatoes and a side of green beans while the chicken bakes.

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Balsamic Chicken with Olives and Walnuts

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Ginny Branch

Balsamic Chicken with Olives and Walnuts Recipe

In Balsamic Chicken with Olives and Walnuts, we dressed the bird boldly with briny olives and tangy-sweet vinegar.

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Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa Recipe

A three-minute dip into a pungent cilantro-lime marinade is all that's needed to deliver big flavor to chicken breasts. Serve with saffron rice.

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Spiced Chicken Thighs with Garlicky Rice

Credit: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Spiced Chicken Thighs with Garlicky Rice Recipe

High-flavored seasonings coat this easy, 40-minute meal of Spiced Chicken Thighs with Garlicky Rice. Serve with Raspberry and Blue Cheese Salad.

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Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca Recipe

Saltimbocca means "jump in the mouth"–apt for a fast dish that marries woodsy sage, bright lemon, and salty prosciutto.

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Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken Recipe

The tangy-sweet flavor combination of this sauce will work equally well with chicken thighs or pork. Serve with hot cooked rice and steamed haricots verts or a tossed green salad.

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Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

A favorite for fundraisers, family reunions, and offerings for neighbors in need, this generous chicken pot pie recipe makes 100 servings. Once the filling is made, the filled refrigerated piecrusts cook in about 30 minutes, making this rich dish deliciously giftable.

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Indian Cashew Chicken

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Indian Cashew Chicken Recipe

Indulge in a fresh-take of the full-bodied sauce that typically accompanies this classic Indian dish. Marinate chicken in a dynamic sauce of cashews, Greek yogurt, garam masala, and white vinegar before cooking. The marinade is added back to the dish at the end of cooking, so not a drop of flavor is lost.

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Rosemary-Garlic Chicken

Credit: Maura McEvoy

Rosemary-Garlic Chicken Recipe

Prepare chicken scallopine style, then cook with garlic, sherry vinegar, chicken broth, and rosemary for a comfort-style dinner in about 20 minutes. Pair with steamed veggies or mashed potatoes, to soak up the extra sauce.

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Chicken Verde Enchiladas

Credit: Andrew Purcell; Styling: Alistair Turnbull

Chicken Verde Enchiladas Recipe

Enchiladas are always easy, always delicious, and always fun. Need a top-rated tip for how to shred chicken superfast? Insert two forks into the meat while it's still warm. Then pull apart to shred.

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Chipotle Chicken with Coriander Rice

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chipotle Chicken with Coriander Rice Recipe

A spicy-sweet sauce is just the thing you need to make a humble chicken dinner wow-worthy. Coriander rice and a simple green salad with parmesan are the perfect mild accompaniments to balance the flavors in the sauce.

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Smoky Chicken Chili

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Smoky Chicken Chili Recipe

Save time on this top-rated recipe by picking up a pound of smoked chicken from your local barbecue shack. Once your ingredients are prepped, the hands-on time for this chili is about 15 minutes. After that, let the chili simmer for about an hour to let the flavors marry.

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Sweet-Spicy Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Sweet-Spicy Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe

This colorful chicken and veggie stir-fry features a sweet-spicy sauce and a topping of dry-roasted peanuts, which add delicious crunch.

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Greek Chicken and Barley Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Greek Chicken and Barley Salad Recipe

Dress up a Greek salad by adding barley to the cucumber, tomato, feta and kalamata olives. The addition of chicken makes this a one-dish meal that’s high in fiber and also a source of vitamins A and C.

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Yakitori

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Yakitori Recipe

Add bold flavor to cubed chicken thighs by soaking them in a marinade of sake, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, red pepper, and a hint of sugar. Grill the chicken cubes, brushing with the soy-sugar mixture to create a tangy glaze.

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Chicken Cutlets with Mushrooms and Pearl Onions

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Ginny Branch

Chicken Cutlets with Mushrooms and Pearl Onions Recipe

This is a fantastic chicken dish, according to reviewers. The brandy-spiked sauce adds an elegant touch to this simple supper; you can sub wine.

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Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Recipe

Nicknamed "Anytime Chicken" by Test Kitchen Specialist Vanessa McNeil Rocchio, this winner of a chicken dinner is our new favorite roasting-pan supper for weeknights or easy entertaining with friends.

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Cajun Chicken Pasta

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

One easy way to kick up the flavor in a dish is to add Cajun seasoning. Here, the seasoning is sprinkled on the chicken strips before they're sautéed and tossed into the linguine-vegetable mixture.

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Tortilla Soup

Credit: David Prince

Tortilla Soup Recipe

Invite guests to dinner for a dinner party featuring this top-rated recipe. Make the soup ahead of time and allow guests to customize their toppings. Options include avocado, sour cream, Monterey jack cheese, cilantro, and green onions. Pair with chips and salsa and welcome the raves.

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Honey Chicken Salad

Honey Chicken Salad Recipe

Traditional chicken salad gets a sweet facelift by adding cranberries, pecans, and orange-blossom honey. The mayonnaise-and-honey mixture is reminiscent of poppy seed dressing, making this rich dish taste refreshing and flavorful.

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