50 Easy Chicken Breast Recipes

January 16, 2019
Photo: Johnny Autry and Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr
A chicken breast dinner doesn't have to be a boring dinner. Check out some our favorite easy chicken breast recipes for a new take on a classic meal. 
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Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breast Tenders with Garlicky Dipping Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breast Tenders with Garlicky Dipping Sauce Recipe

A crunchy coating from a snacktime favorite is sure to win big with the kids--especially when paired with a creamy garlic dip. Honey mustard would be good, too.

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Parmesan Chicken Breast Tenders

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Parmesan Chicken Breast Tenders Recipe

We call for chicken breast tenders here to keep things easy, but you can also use skinless, boneless chicken breasts (which are less expensive). Just cut each breast lengthwise into 3 strips. (Cost for 4: $8.61)

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Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner

Photo: Justin Walker; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart
Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner Recipe

It doesn't get much easier, or more satisfying: a complete dinner in one pan in half an hour. Lemon brightens this hearty chicken and potatoes dinner.

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Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe

This is, quite honestly, the only recipe for grilled chicken breasts you’ll ever need. The simple combination of olive oil, lemon, and fresh herbs creates a clean, summery flavor profile that brings out the best of lean, white meat. Fresh garlic and red pepper elevate the marinade, as well as the inherent flavor of the bird. Relative to the amount of oil and liquid going in, the amount of each aromatic called for in the marinade may seem like a lot—however, this marinade is intentionally intense by design. Using a marinade this flavor-forward allows for overall less marination, which is what you want when it comes to chicken breasts.

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Mojo Grilled Chicken Breasts

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Mojo Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe

The red onions develop a nice char on the grill, but they finish cooking and develop a depth and sweetness once left to steam. Drizzle any juices from the onion mixture over the grilled chicken. Fresh cilantro and zesty lime add a refreshing brightness to this light summer meal, perfect for the whole family. For a sensitive palate, use less or omit red pepper flakes.

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Grilled Chicken Breasts with Satay Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Grilled Chicken Breasts with Satay Sauce Recipe

We turn the traditional appetizer of chicken skewers and dipping sauce into a main course by spooning the satay sauce over sliced grilled chicken breasts. This dish pairs well with Cucumber, Carrot, and Orange Salad.

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Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Antonis Achilleos
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts Recipe

If you need a break from chicken tenders, try this no-fuss, kid-friendly meal that will also please the adults around the table. The creamy sauce is a delicious companion to the chicken and potatoes, and it can be used as a salad dressing as well. Choose pieces of center-cut, not thick-cut bacon because they will wrap around the chicken more easily.

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Sheet Pan Greek Chicken with Roasted Potatoes

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos
Sheet Pan Greek Chicken with Roasted Potatoes Recipe

Two spice rack staples—cinnamon and nutmeg—give this chicken a wonderful depth of flavor, and fresh tomatoes, lemons, and herbs add zest. Buy bone-in chicken breasts that are about the same size so that they cook evenly.

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Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich

Time Inc. Video Studio
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich Recipe

Your favorite fast food sandwich just got a little bit better. Soaked in a tangy, pickle juice solution, the chicken is then dredged in flour and tossed in an egg mixture. After a hot pan sear, the chicken breasts acquire a crispy, crunchy outside, while maintaining a succulent, flavorful interior. Served with toasted buns and adorned with pickle chips, this sandwich will make you seriously wonder why you'd ever go back to the drive-thru.

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Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Adam Hickman and Briana Riddock
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce Recipe

Are you ready for the best chicken enchiladas of your life? While you could use a rotisserie chicken for this cheesy enchilada recipe, poaching chicken breasts in a delicately flavored liquid both creates succulently tender meat (that won’t dry out as the casserole bakes) and adds another layer of flavor to the dish. The key to successful poaching is temperature control; you want to keep your poaching liquid from ever reaching a boil. In fact, you should aim to keep the water at a state of releasing wispy spouts of steam from the surface, but never bubbling, throughout the entirety of the cooking process. (It’s not nearly as intense/difficult as it seems.) You should also try to purchase chicken breasts that are roughly the same size so that they cook at the same rate. While the total prep time on this recipe isn’t exactly what you might consider “speedy,” it’s a fun dish to prepare and assemble with another helper in the kitchen. Prep a pan (or two, so you have one for the freezer!) on Sunday to enjoy heading into a new week. Featuring smoky ancho chili powder and some of the poaching liquid, the homemade enchilada sauce is another distinguishing delight of this dish; however, if you’re looking to shave time off of the recipe, you can substitute store-bought sauce. And if you opt to use rotisserie or leftover chicken as a shortcut, but still want to make your sauce from scratch, simply substitute water and/or chicken stock for the liquid called for. 

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Copycat Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Time Inc. Video Studios 
Copycat Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe

Sure, they may be known for steak (being a steakhouse and all), but everyone knows that Longhorn’s Parmesan Crusted Chicken is the real MVP on their menu. Enjoy this cheesy chicken dinner any night you please with our easy copycat recipe. 

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Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe

This is, quite honestly, the only recipe for grilled chicken breasts you’ll ever need. The simple combination of olive oil, lemon, and fresh herbs creates a clean, summery flavor profile that brings out the best of lean, white meat. Fresh garlic and red pepper elevate the marinade, as well as the inherent flavor of the bird. Relative to the amount of oil and liquid going in, the amount of each aromatic called for in the marinade may seem like a lot—however, this marinade is intentionally intense by design. Using a marinade this flavor-forward allows for overall less marination, which is what you want when it comes to chicken breasts.

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One-Pan Chicken with Lemon, Olives, and Artichokes

Greg DuPree
One-Pan Chicken with Lemon, Olives, and Artichokes Recipe

You’ll love the bold flavors of this Mediterranean-inspired dish. Lemony chicken and artichokes are topped with a bright and tangy relish of green olives, parsley, and thyme. We love serving this dish over pearl couscous to soak up the delicious pan sauce, but you can swap it out for rice or even pasta.

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Five-Spice Chicken Breasts with Sesame-Orange Beans

Photography: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower
Five-Spice Chicken Breasts with Sesame-Orange Beans Recipe

Five-spice powder packs some serious aromatic punch; it's all you need to season the chicken breasts here. You can sub broccoli florets or chopped kale for the green beans.

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Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots Recipe

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a sheet pan supper that’s high on flavor and low on cleanup. This tangy sheet pan chicken supper gets a little kick from cayenne pepper that’s balanced in the sauce with caramelized grapes. Roasted cauliflower and carrots offer a savory touch to the dinner, while couscous makes it hearty and healthy. Since the chicken is bone-in, it takes a little longer to roast than thin filets; but the amount of flavor in the end is more than worth it! The seedless grapes are definitely the secret ingredient in this dish. They melt and caramelize while roasting, adding a subtle hint of sweetness to the sauce.

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Herbed Wheat Berry and Roasted Tomato Salad with Grilled Chipotle Chicken Breasts

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Herbed Wheat Berry and Roasted Tomato Salad with Grilled Chipotle Chicken Breasts Recipe

The fresh flavors of the wheat berry tomato salad pair perfectly with the chipotle chicken in this dish. If preferable, you can substitute cooked farro or barley.

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Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry-Avocado Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry-Avocado Salsa Recipe

This colorful, flavor-forward dish makes the most of peak-season produce with a sweet and tangy fruit salsa that would be equally delicious served over pork chops or with whole-grain tortilla chips. The heat from the seeded jalapeño is mild, but it can be omitted. To round out your plate, try serving the chicken and salsa over a bed of rice or with a simple side salad.

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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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Flattened Chicken with Almond and Paprika Vinaigrette

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Flattened Chicken with Almond and Paprika Vinaigrette Recipe

While pounding the chicken breast thin and searing is a French technique, the flavor profile here is decidedly Spanish.

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Honey and Sesame-Glazed Chicken Breasts with Green Beans

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Styling: Kaitlyn Du Ross Walker
Honey and Sesame-Glazed Chicken Breasts with Green Beans Recipe

Sweet honey and toasty sesame team up for a flavor combo everyone at the table is sure to love. Serve with precooked brown rice for a quick and easy side to soak up sauce from the chicken.

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Grilled Chicken Florentine Pasta

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl
Grilled Chicken Florentine Pasta Recipe

Add grilled chicken, spinach and a light cream sauce to linguine for an easy one-dish meal.

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Bacon-and-Sage-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Lynn Miller
Bacon-and-Sage-Wrapped Chicken Breasts Recipe

These juicy chicken breasts are wrapped with bacon and sage—and make a mouthwatering dinner option. They're even more delicious alongside mashed potatoes and crunchy green beans.

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Italian Roast Chicken

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr
Italian Roast Chicken Recipe

Fresh Italian herbs and seasonings make these roast chicken breasts taste out-of-this-world delicious.  Serve with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes for a hearty meal. 

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Chicken Breasts with Brown Butter-Garlic Tomato Sauce

VIctor Protasio
Chicken Breasts with Brown Butter-Garlic Tomato Sauce Recipe

Browned butter is the quick cook's best-kept secret: It takes less than 2 minutes to caramelize the milk solids in butter for a fragrant, nutty note in any dish.

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Chicken Breast with Pancetta Cream and Peas

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Ginny Branch 
Chicken Breast with Pancetta Cream and Peas Recipe

You can substitute bacon for pancetta, and cream cheese for mascarpone.

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Seared Chicken Breasts with Green Piri Piri Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey
Seared Chicken Breasts with Green Piri Piri Sauce Recipe

Piri piri is a bright herb-and-chile sauce popular in Portugal and parts of Africa. It's traditionally red, but we go green with fresh poblano, jalapeño, and cilantro. Seed or omit the jalapeño for less heat.

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Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Photo: Justin Walker; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart
Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe
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Lemon-Grilled Chicken Breasts

Photo: Greg DuPree Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Prop Styling: Thom Driver
Lemon-Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe

Fresh lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil are all that's needed to deliver big flavor to grilled chicken. Learn how to make this simple, 30-minute marinade for Lemon-Grilled Chicken Breasts--it might just become your go-to marinade and basting sauce.

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Basil, Feta, and Quinoa Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Basil, Feta, and Quinoa Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe

Sweet piquanté peppers, also called sweet cherry or Peppadew peppers, are about the size and shape of a strawberry. Look for them at the olive bar or in the pickle section.

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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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Lemon Chicken with Artichokes and Kale

Greg Dupree
Lemon Chicken with Artichokes and Kale Recipe

This dish gets a generous sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese, which becomes satisfyingly rich when stirred into the kale, artichoke hearts, and baked chicken. We found that smaller chicken breasts (about 5 ounces each) will cook more easily in the time frame. Trim larger breasts and use the remaining chicken for tomorrow’s soup or stir-fry. Avoid thin cutlets here; the thickness of the breasts will keep them juicy as they roast.