100 Easy Must-Make Chicken Dinners

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.

Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad Recipe

Serve a zesty chicken taco salad drizzled with a chipotle chile, cumin, and cilantro dressing. The smokiness of the chipotle brings out the rich flavors of the roasted chicken breasts.

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.

Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca Recipe

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

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.

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. You could also use Swiss chard, or for a more peppery bite, try substituting mustard greens.

Chicken Scallopini Recipe

Prepare chicken breasts scallopini-style by pounding them into thin, quick-cooking servings, then dredge in lemon juice and breadcrumbs and sauté for about 3 minutes on each side. The white wine sauce with capers complements the flavor of the lemon juice, and makes a great topping for wild rice.

Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe

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

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.

Baked Chicken and Rice With Black Beans Recipe

Online reviewers give this recipe five stars for being an easy weeknight dish. Because it's brimming with veggies in addition to the rice, chicken, beans and cheese, it really is a one-dish meal.

Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Recipe

The rich flavors of chicken and goat cheese recipes join forces in this impressive 5-star main dish. Serve with orzo or rice to soak up the shallot-thyme sauce.

King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe

All the flavors of a favorite casserole come together in the comfort of mac and cheese. Serve King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese to your family, and it will become a quick favorite.

Honey Cashew Chicken with Rice Recipe

Forget takeout and cook in with super-fast Honey Cashew Chicken with Rice. A flavorful and sweet sauce is tossed with the chicken mixture with a splash of Sriracha added for depth.

Grilled Chicken with Rustic Mustard Cream Recipe

The pronounced lemon-pine character of rosemary goes well with olive oil and Dijon mustard, giving this grilled chicken a rustic Mediterranean flair.

Chipotle Chicken and Tomato Soup Recipe

Just one chipotle chile (canned smoked jalapeño pepper) adds smoky heat to this top-rated soup. If you want to tame the spice, substitute 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika for the chile.

Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

Chicken Souvlaki features the fresh-tasting combination of lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil that is so prevalent in Greek cuisine. Serve it alongside a Greek salad of chunked tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta cheese. Tzatziki is a traditional Greek yogurt-based sauce flavored with lemon, garlic, and crisp cucumbers. (Try more Greek Recipes). This meal is easily one of our favorite chicken recipes. 

Jamaican-Spiced Chicken Thighs Recipe

Complete the menu with mashed sweet potatoes and a mixed green salad. For more heat, leave the seeds in the jalapeño.

Chicken Cutlets with Mushrooms and Pearl Onions Recipe

The brandy-spiked sauce adds an elegant touch to this simple supper; you can sub wine.

Chicken and Guacamole Tostadas Recipe

Smoked paprika gives these chicken tostadas rich, grill-like flavor with no cooking. Look for tostada shells (fried, flat corn tortillas) near the flour and corn tortillas or in the Mexican food section of your grocery store. Serve with lime wedges.

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.

Kung Pao Chicken Tacos Recipe

Asian-Glazed Chicken Thighs Recipe

The tasty Asian-inspired glaze gives these chicken thighs a mahogany sheen. Rich thigh meat is higher in fat than lean white meat, so the thighs stay moist even when they're roasted without skin. Garnish with fresh cilantro and sliced green onions, if desired.

Chicken and Couscous Salad Recipe

A great way to use leftover chicken, this 20-minute dinner salad uses quick-to-cook couscous and lots of brightly flavored herbs.

Creamy Chicken Pasta Recipe

This easy chicken recipe tosses together the winning combinations of pasta, creamy mascarpone cheese, and chicken--yum!

Chicken Kebabs and Nectarine Salsa Recipe

This company-worthy meal that doubles as a super-fast weeknight supper blends spice from the chicken with sweet and tangy nectarine salsa.

Chicken BLT Salad Recipe

Crisp chicken in Chicken BLT Salad boosts a favorite side salad to a healthy main-course attraction.

Dak Bokkeum with Spinach (Korean Stewed Chicken with Spinach) Recipe

Gochujang is an indispensable Korean sauce based on fermented soybeans and chiles. You'll find it in Asian markets, or seek out Annie Chun's brand, which is more widely available.

Lemony Orzo-Veggie Salad with Chicken Recipe

This colorful orzo and chicken main dish salad is packed with an assortment of chopped fresh vegetables and tossed with a tangy lemon dressing.  It's a great use for leftover or rotisserie chicken.

Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad Recipe

All the fresh flavors of summer come together in Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad. The homemade buttermilk dressing balances the heat of the chicken and completes the meal.

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins Recipe

Enjoy this fruit-studded chicken salad with whole-grain crackers, or spread it on whole wheat bread for a sandwich.

Skillet Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

No rolling pin is needed for Skillet Chicken Pot Pie. Refrigerated pie crusts give you a leg up in the preparation of this classic comfort dish.

Grilled Cumin Chicken with Fresh Tomatillo Sauce Recipe

Bring the heat of the Southwest to the dinner table with a delicious take on the weeknight meal of grilled chicken. Serve with chipotle rice.

Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs Recipe

Speed up prep on this chicken main dish by marinating only 30 minutes. Serve with cabbage-carrot slaw.

Asian Barbecue Chicken Recipe

Fire up your grill for this quick and healthy Asian barbecue chicken recipe.

Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich Recipe

This mozzarella chicken sandwich provides two grain servings from the ciabatta, a little more than two servings of meat from the chicken, and half a dairy serving from the cheese. Serve with orange wedges and baked chips.

Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken Recipe

Looking for a new dinner idea? Look no further! This chicken recipe is delicious and easy to prepare. Serve with 3 cups cooked egg noodles tossed with 2 tablespoons butter and green onions.

Meyer Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe

Freshen up a classic chicken dish by using Meyer lemons for the sauce.  These lemons have a great tangy aroma and are sweeter and less acidic that regular lemons.  

Mediterranean Chicken with Potatoes Recipe

This tasty Mediterranean chicken dish features small red potatoes and other classic regional ingredients, like red onion, wine, olives, tomatoes, basil, artichokes, and Parmesan cheese. 

Chicken with Dates, Olives, and Cinnamon Recipe

This Moroccan-style chicken dish features chicken thighs simmered in a mixture of onion, olives, dates, cinnamon and ginger.  Serve over couscous for a hearty meal.

Chicken Sate with Peanut Sauce Recipe

Try this flavorful, slightly spicy Asian saté for an easy weeknight chicken dinner.

Chicken, Red Grape, and Pesto Pizza Recipe

Grapes make an ideal salad topping, but what about on pizza...? This surprising addition is a sweet contrast to the tangy Romano cheese, herby pesto, and juicy chicken. Grapes are said to slow the aging process, so here is a case where eating another slice of pizza definitely has its benefits.

Oven Chicken Risotto Recipe

Make this quick and easy risotto dish featuring chicken, cheese, and grape or cherry tomatoes for a simple weeknight meal.

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chicken Recipe

Does it get much easier than this summer crockpot recipe? Slow-cook chicken breasts in a mixture of bottled barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce for a tender, sweet, and tangy barbecue chicken that’s great on a bun or even over a baked potato. This is a stress-free and tasty meal of which the whole family will want seconds. 

Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe

Fresh, tasty, and delicious is how this 5-star, avocado chicken salad recipe is commonly described. Even better than Wendy's Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad (seriously), this particular recipe uses vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise but doesn’t lose its creamy texture, thanks to avocado. Salsa and fresh cilantro give this easy chicken salad its south-of-the-border flavors. So, instead of layering over a bed of greens, serve with tortilla chips for scooping and an added crunch. This recipe works for any week day lunch or even for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. 

Soft Black Bean Tostadas Recipe

Shredded chicken and avocado salsa top this 20-minute Mexican dinner.

Malaysian Chicken Pizza Recipe

Malaysian chicken pizza is a pie with a spicy, sweet, peanut butter and soy sauce-based sauce that seemed ahead of its time in 1991 when it first ran. Twenty years later and it’s still a new adventurous pizza for most people. If you like barbecue chicken pizza, you’ll love this.

Roasted Breast of Chicken with Pinot Noir Sauce Recipe

For this gathering, the chicken is organic, from Sonoma's Petaluma Poultry. Seek out the best organic chicken in your area for this dish. Chef Simile's tips: Resting the chicken after roasting and then slicing against the grain will give you juicy, tender bites. To slice against the grain, position the chicken breast on a cutting board so the part that was attached to the wing is at the top of the board; slice from this point on a diagonal down the length of the breast.

Broccoli-Quinoa Casserole with Chicken and Cheddar Recipe

In our updated riff on chicken-rice casserole, whole-grain quinoa stands in for the typical white rice. It's a modern interpretation that still has loads of old-school comfort-food appeal.

Chicken Verde Enchiladas Recipe

How do you shred chicken superfast? Insert two forks into the meat while it's still warm. Then pull apart to shred.

Spicy Chicken Cakes with Horseradish Aioli Recipe

Dish up this tasty variation on the classic crab cake in less than 40 minutes. The aioli (ay-OH-lee) topping is a garlic mayonnaise from the Provence region in France and a popular condiment there for meat and vegetables. It can be made in advance and refrigerated.

Spicy Soba Noodles with Chicken in Peanut Sauce Recipe

Classic Asian flavors come together to create a quick and easy chicken dish with spicy soba noodles that you can have on the dinner table in no time.

Chicken and Mushrooms with Marsala Wine Sauce Recipe

Try a lighter take on classic chicken marsala with this dish dressed in mushrooms and a marsala wine sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes or egg noodles to soak up the tasty sauce.

Chicken Breast with Pancetta Cream and Peas Recipe

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

Garden Alfredo with Chicken Recipe

Fresh vegetables shine in this super creamy pasta recipe for Garden Alfredo with Chicken.

White Lightning Chicken Chili Recipe

White Lightning Chicken Chili gets its name because it only takes 30 minutes from start to finish to get this one-dish meal to the table. Don't drain the chopped green chiles or navy beans. Serve chili with cornbread.

Grilled Chicken with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce Recipe

A tangy sauce enlivens simple grilled chicken breasts; a hint of sugar balances the flavors.

Cajun Red Beans and Rice Recipe

Prechopped vegetables and canned beans keep this version of red beans and rice simple yet satisfying. Because this recipe begins with oil-sautéed aromatics, it contains more grams of fat per serving than its boxed counterpart—but the calories and sodium are significantly lower, and the taste is terrific.

Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges Recipe

Light, fluffy quinoa cooks in practically no time and is incredibly versatile--you can add it to just about any kind of salad. Millet would also be good.

Chicken Biriyani Recipe

Biriyani is a baked Indian dish of spiced rice combined with chicken, seafood, or other meats. This version omits the baking step while maintaining the authentic flavors. Whole-milk yogurt keeps its creamy texture when cooked; don't substitute low-fat yogurt, which will curdle.

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.

Tortilla Soup Recipe

The charm of this Tortilla Soup lies in the toppings, which guests can customize to their liking. This soup recipe is a simple, yet popular weeknight dinner favorite that will never disappoint on a chilly winter evening. It's the perfect touch of spice to add some excitement to your dinner routine. This soup can be as rich or as simple as you want it to be.  It can be made as a crock pot soup recipe or with a regular large soup pot. 

Grilled Cilantro Chicken with Pickled Tomato and Avocado Salsa Recipe

Look no further for this season's go-to grilled chicken dish featuring a simple marinade and an addictive Indian-style pickled salsa on top.

Honey-Chicken Salad Recipe

The mayonnaise-and-honey mixture is reminiscent of poppy seed dressing. If you prefer a less sweet salad dressing, reduce the amount of honey.

Mama's Fried Chicken Recipe

Skip the bucket of fast-food fried chicken and remember what it's like to eat "real" fried chicken like Mama used to make. Mashed potatoes and biscuits are optional.

Grilled Chicken with Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce Recipe

You can also use 8 thighs or 8 drumsticks or 4 pieces of each; cook about 10 minutes per side.

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Quesadillas Recipe

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Quesadillas are a family favorite and table-ready in only 40 minutes. For spicier quesadillas, add a grilled jalapeno to the veggie mix.

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 portion-perfect Chicken Parmesan with Oven-Roasted Tomato Sauce.

Old-Fashioned Chicken Fricassee Recipe

A classic chicken stew with chicken breasts simmering in white wine and vegetables is sure to bring comfort to your table.  If you don't want ot use the wine, just add an additional 1/4 cup of chicken broth as a substitute.

Rosemary Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe

Online reviewers claim that these honey-and-mustard-marinated thighs are definitely "company-worthy." Serving them over cheese grits and sautéed spinach makes this grilled chicken dish extraordinary. For a tasty alternative, try these with our quick Honey Mustard Sauce.

Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Lose the centerpiece to your table. This Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pie is enough dazzle guests.

Raspberry-Balsamic Glazed Chicken Recipe

Other fruit preserves, such as apricot, blackberry, or peach, will also work in this recipe.