30 Easy Chicken Dishes from Real Simple

November 19, 2009
Photo: Antonis Achilleos
These top-rated chicken recipes are guaranteed to take the stress out of preparing weeknight meals.
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Chicken Souvlaki

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: Dana Gallagher
Roast Chicken with Olives 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: Ditte Isager
Mustard-Tarragon Roast Chicken 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 Sweet Potato Salad

Photo: Kan Kanbayashi
Chicken with 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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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Chicken and Peppers with Coconut Rice

Photo: Kana Okada
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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: Petrina Tinslay
Satay Chicken Stir-Fry with Snow Peas 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

Photo: 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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