30 Easy Chicken Dishes from Real Simple

Updated November 19, 2009
Antonis Achilleos

These top-rated chicken recipes are guaranteed to take the stress out of preparing weeknight meals.

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Chicken Souvlaki

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

Here's the chicken version of a classic Greek lamb dish. Chunks of chicken are tossed in a mixture of lemon juice and herbs before cooking, served over pita rounds, and topped with yogurt and cucumber.

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Mediterranean Chicken

Credit: Andrew McCaul

Mediterranean Chicken Recipe

Add Mediterranean flavor to chicken breast halves by stuffing them with a mixture of feta cheese and olive tapenade and cooking them in olive oil.

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Simple Roast Chicken

Credit: Jim Franco

Simple Roast Chicken Recipe

A basic roasted chicken recipe is a must in your weeknight dinner rotation, and you can add variety by using a number of different sauces and rubs.

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Maple-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Credit: Sang An

Maple-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Savor the flavors of autumn by cooking the chicken with sweet potatoes and maple syrup. You can vary the recipe by using butternut squash in place of the potatoes.

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Roast Chicken with Olives, Garlic, and Thyme

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Roast Chicken with Olives, Garlic, and Thyme Recipe

Make a basic vinaigrette (that can be used in other recipes), add lemon zest, olives, garlic and thyme, and use it as a marinade for this tender, juicy chicken. With a pronounced lemon flavor, it's reminiscent of chicken dishes you might enjoy in Greece.

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Lemon-Honey Chicken With Olives

Credit: Miki Duisterhof

Lemon-Honey Chicken With Olives Recipe

Achieve the perfect salty-sweet combination in this chicken dish featuring olives, kosher salt, lemon juice, and honey. And a bonus for this recipe is that you can make it a day ahead and reheat before serving.

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Chicken with Tomatoes and Thyme

Credit: Kana Okada

Chicken with Tomatoes and Thyme Recipe

Season the chicken with lemon, tomatoes, thyme and capers, then freeze up to 3 months until you're ready to cook. How great to have a meal this good waiting for you in the freezer!

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Roasted Chicken, Apples, and Leeks

Credit: Miha Matei

Roasted Chicken, Apples, and Leeks Recipe

Roast chicken thighs and drumsticks along with apples and leeks for a rich and savory one-dish meal.

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Mustard-Tarragon Roast Chicken with Egg Noodles

Credit: Ditte Isager

Mustard-Tarragon Roast Chicken with Egg Noodles Recipe

Make a tangy mustard sauce by deglazing the pan with white wine, then spoon the sauce over the chicken and parslied egg noodles.

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Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Credit: Kan Kanbayashi

Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Recipe

Add roasted sweet potatoes and fresh spinach to skillet-browned chicken for a colorful, nutrient-packed meal.

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Chicken Curry

Credit: Sang An

Chicken Curry Recipe

Whip up this 30-minute chicken curry recipe and enjoy Indian cuisine in the comfort of your own home.

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Rosemary-Garlic Chicken

Credit: Maura McEvoy

Rosemary-Garlic Chicken Recipe

Online reviewers love this recipe for weeknight dinner and for entertaining, claiming that "it looks and tastes like it took a lot more prep time than it actually does."

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Fiery "Fried" Chicken

Credit: John Kernick

Fiery "Fried" Chicken Recipe

Chili-garlic sauce provides the fire, but it gets tamed a bit with the addition of pineapple juice. After you toss the chicken in this sauce mixture, you dredge it in breadcrumbs and oven-fry to get the crispy coating.

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Honey Chicken Skewers with Grilled-Corn Salad

Credit: Anna Williams; Styling: Anna Last

Honey Chicken Skewers with Grilled-Corn Salad Recipe

This 10-minute recipe couldn't be easier to make (or eat!). Chicken breasts are skewered and doused in a salty-sweet glaze, then grilled to perfection and served with a simple corn salad.

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Chicken Thighs Braised in Garlic and White Wine

Credit: Ditte Isager

Chicken Thighs Braised in Garlic and White Wine Recipe

This simple dish can be made using ingredients you should have in your pantry. Serve with long-grain white rice to soak up the flavorful juices.

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Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie

Credit: Maria Robledo; Styling: Anna Last

Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie Recipe

Who needs butter? This pie gets its velvety richness from olive oil, wine, low-fat milk, and a double dose of vegetables.

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Chicken with Pesto Potatoes

Credit: Kana Okada

Chicken with Pesto Potatoes Recipe

Herby pesto potatoes are perfect nestled up next to baked chicken in this simple entree.

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Southwestern Chicken Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Southwestern Chicken Soup Recipe

Use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken in this easy Southwestern-flavored chicken soup.

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Chicken Cacciatore

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

This one-pot chicken cacciatore dinner is the perfect choice for Italian night.

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Ginger-Stuffed Chicken with Sesame Spinach

Credit: Kana Okada

Ginger-Stuffed Chicken with Sesame Spinach Recipe

This easy chicken dinner gets its sublte Asian flavor from ingredients like ginger and sesame seeds.

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Chicken Stroganoff

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Chicken Stroganoff Recipe

Swap chicken for beef in your stroganoff for a fresh twist on a classic comfort food meal. Serve over rice, pasta, or toast alongside a mixed green salad.

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Sautéed Chicken and Peppers with Coconut Rice

Credit: Kana Okada

Sautéed Chicken and Peppers with Coconut Rice Recipe

Coconut rice is just rice cooked with coconut milk. This island-flavored meal is simple, yet extremely satisfying.

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Golden Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives

Credit: Kana Okada

Golden Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives Recipe

Humble chicken breasts become luxurious when bathed in a savory sauce consisting of tomatoes, garlic, white white, and pimiento-stuffed olives.

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Chicken Posole

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Chicken Posole Recipe

Posole is a hearty Mexican soup made with hominy and a variety of fresh vegetables. This version has shredded chicken and gets its distinct flavor from jalapeno peppers, chili powder, cumin, cilantro, and lime juice.

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Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs with Edamame and Snow Peas

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs with Edamame and Snow Peas Recipe

These Asian-inspired meatballs are a new way to bring chicken to your dinner table. Green veggies provide a crunchy contrast to the chicken and rice.

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Rosemary Chicken with Zucchini

Credit: Anna Williams

Rosemary Chicken with Zucchini Recipe

This freezable one-dish meal roasts up nicely in any season. Flavors like mustard and rosemary complement both the chicken and vegetables.

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Spanish Chicken and Rice

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Spanish Chicken and Rice Recipe

Simmer seasoned chicken breast pieces, veggies, and rice together in a tomato and wine-based sauce for a flavorful and low-fat one-dish meal. Top the finished dish with chopped olives for a Spanish flair.

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Chicken Kebabs with Chickpea Salad

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Chicken Kebabs with Chickpea Salad Recipe

Chicken kebabs are marinated in a mixture of yogurt, garlic and spices before they are grilled to perfection. Roast potatoes would make a great side dish alongside the chickpea salad.

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Satay Chicken Stir-Fry with Snow Peas and Cilantro

Credit: Petrina Tinslay

Satay Chicken Stir-Fry with Snow Peas and Cilantro Recipe

Stir-fry is one of the simplest ways to cook fresh vegetables and protein. This recipe calls for snow peas and broccoli, but feel free to subtistute any fresh veggies you have on hand.

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Chicken Potpie Empanadas

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Chicken Potpie Empanadas Recipe

This recipe only looks complicated, but in fact, it comes together in a flash! Store-bought ingredients like rotisserie chicken, refrigerated piecrusts, and frozen peas and carrots are the secret to this dish's simplicity.

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