5-Star Chicken Recipes

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

Photo: Kelsey Grace Harrison
Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup Recipe
Snow peas, spinach, and chicken breast give this 5-star Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup flavor, texture, and a wealth of nutrients.
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Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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.

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Quick Chicken-Corn Chowder

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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 and Summer Vegetable Tostadas

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr
Chicken and 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
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

Photo: 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

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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Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
It's no surprise that this recipe rang up as a user favorite. The ingredient list alone (green chiles, cream cheese, Monterey Jack, whipping cream) is enough to make your mouth water. Make this one-dish dinner for your next potluck, neighborhood gathering, or cozy night in. Serve with sangria and enjoy.
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