Erik Bernstein
We’re all about chicken for dinner here at Delish. Chicken breasts, thighs (our favorite cut), or even a whole bird all have a spot on our kitchen table. Unfortunately, that can mean falling into a dinner rut much too easily for our liking. If you’re like us, and just can’t bear to make you (or your family’s) old standbys for the umpteenth time, we’ve got you. Get inspired with our list of 65 chicken dinner recipes — you’ll be sure to find a new weeknight favorite.
We bet you’ve got a classic like chicken Parmesan in your rotation already, so let’s switch it up. We’ve included some fun spins on it here, like chicken parm pasta (with everything bagel seasoning) and mozzarella-stuffed chicken parm. We’ve even got chicken parm meatballs stuffed in a sub sandwich — great for eating outdoors or when you’ve got to do dinner on the go. And Parmesan isn’t just for tomato sauce! We love it just as much in a garlicky, lemon cream sauce, like in our lemon asparagus chicken pasta or paired with breadcrumbs, like in our Parmesan chicken cutlets. And don’t even get us started on alfredo sauce. We’ve included our favorite recipe for chicken alfredo, and a few new ones too. Our fave? Chicken tikka alfredo. Somehow the parmesan + curry works!
While pork and beef sometimes get all the love when it comes to south-of-the-border food, we love using leaner white meat for healthy Mexican-inspired weeknight meals. Chicken pairs SO well with cheese, avocado, and spices, in everything from flautas (pretty much taquitos + chimichangas, if you’re unfamiliar) to quesadillas. Grab a pack of tortillas (or make your own!), and you’ll have myriad different options for how to serve your chicken.
Want even more chicken inspiration? Try our stuffed or baked chicken recipes too.
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One-Pan Creamy Chicken & Gnocchi
Made with shredded chicken wrapped in flour tortillas and then pan-fried, flautas are somewhere between taquitos and chimichangas. They’re also super versatile — you can use rotisserie chicken, cheddar, and queso blanco like we have here, or change it up with what you prefer or have at home.
Get the Chicken Flautas recipe.
The salty goodness of crisped pork belly transfers over to the leaner white meat. Toasting our panko in that same pan leads to an even more flavorful bread-crumb topping, complete with a slightly spicy, Italian-seasoned everything bagel spice addition.
Get the Chicken Parmesan Pasta recipe.
You don’t really need a recipe to make this insanely popular Mexican dish. Top a tortilla with cheese (and whatever else you’ve got), then fold it in half and cook until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is melty. But if you’re looking for some guidance, especially in cooking up some quick and easy chicken to stuff inside, this recipe won’t let you down.
Get the Chicken Quesadilla recipe.
One Pot Chicken Alfredo
The Parmesan sauce on this pasta makes us come back to this dish again and again. We love using asparagus in spring, then changing it up to zucchini, Brussels, or broccoli in other seasons.
Get the Lemon Asparagus Chicken Pasta recipe.
Chicken Primavera Spaghetti Squash Boats
We can thank the cuisine of Tex-Mex for the classic fajita. Minimal prep and minimal cook time means these can be on your dining room table FAST. Fiesta time!
Get the Chicken Fajitas recipe.
Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken
Spicy Chicken Taquitos
You don’t need an excuse to have a party to make taquitos. They make a great anytime meal and bring the party themselves. The avocado cream sauce, though, is a non-negotiable.
Get the Spicy Chicken Taquitos recipe.
When we’re craving something hearty and healthy, this chicken chili immediately jumps to mind. The white beans make it heartier than your average chicken noodle soup, the green chilis and jalapeño add just the right amount of spice, and a dollop of sour cream adds a tangy creaminess that keeps you coming back for more.
Get the White Chicken Chili recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
This dish started as way to use leftover fried rice that has dried out some and may not be great on its own, but is still perfectly edible. The addition of oil and soy sauce and veggies and meat spruce up the rice for a delicious meal.
Get the Chicken Fried Rice recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Turns out the absolute best way to achieve the crispiest skin on chicken thighs is using your air fryer! The quick cook time achieves the crispiest, juiciest chicken that we devoured in mere minutes. The marinade doubles as a sticky glaze that is *just* spicy enough.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe.
Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Parm
Make no mistake: this slow cooker version isn’t authentic, but it is quick, easy, flavorful, and filling. Mix and match your favorite toppings and feel free to sub in your favorite protein — pork, beef, or turkey would all be delicious. Just be sure to adjust your cook time accordingly. If you’re looking for something more classic, check out our Best-Ever Red Pozole.
Get the Posole recipe.
Parmesan Chicken Cutlets
When we want an extra-crispy coating, we almost always go for panko breadcrumbs. Here, we mix them with some Parmesan, lemon zest, and a pinch of cayenne for extra flavor.
Get the Parmesan Chicken Cutlets recipe.
Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This recipe starts on the stovetop for a perfect golden sear then finishes in the oven for the juiciest, most flavorful results. If you don’t want to turn on your oven, you can do everything over the stovetop too!
Get the Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe.
Making Indian at home doesn’t have to be intimidating. This one’s primarily comprised of ingredients you probably already have on hand: chicken, onions, garlic, pantry spices, heavy cream, and canned tomatoes.
Get the Easy Chicken Curry recipe.
Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
There is literally only one dirty dish to clean with this recipe. If you’d rather sub in chicken breasts, you totally can — we just love thighs for their flavor and crispy skin.
Get the Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole recipe.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Imagine the best fried chicken you’ve ever had. Now imagine if it wasn’t even fried! The air fryer works some kind of magic on the chicken, and it crisps up into perfectly crunchy chicken as if it had been deep-fried.
Get the Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe.
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bake
French Onion Chicken Meatballs
Balsamic Basil Chicken
Crock-Pot Chicken and Dumplings
First you cook the chicken mixture, and then for the last hour you cook the biscuits. The heat in the slow cooker will help the biscuits rise and “bake”. They’ll need a while in the slow cooker though—about an hour to be fully cooked through.
Get the Crock-Pot Chicken and Dumplings recipe.
Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs
Allow us to make a case for bone-in skin-on chicken thighs. In our humble opinion, they’re all-around better. The reason? More fat equals more flavor. Plus, is there anything more delicious than crispy chicken skin?
Get the Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs recipe.
We took inspiration from some of our favorite Tex Mex dishes and pumped this dish full of those cheesy, zesty flavors. If you’re someone looking for a little more heat besides the chili powder, go ahead and add some fresh or pickled jalapeños to add an extra bit of kick to this cheesy dish.
Get the Mexican Chicken Pasta recipe.
Best Grilled Chicken Breast
Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
This has spice from the chiles, some tang from the lime juice, and just a hint of sweetness from the brown sugar.
Get the Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos recipe.
You can’t go wrong with this combo. Tomatoes cooked in balsamic vinegar are the perfect sweet-tart compliment to this cheesy chicken.
Get the Caprese Chicken recipe.
Thai Peanut Skillet Chicken
The Thai peanut sauce on this chicken is crazy good. It adds the right amount of sweetness and saltiness to the dish. It’s quick to make and you can add any vegetables you have on hand.
Get the Thai Peanut Skillet Chicken recipe.
Harvest Chicken Casserole
This satisfying casserole has ALL of your fall favorites. Make it for a big crowd, or pack it up and eat the leftovers for lunch! It’s a meal prep DREAM.
Get the Harvest Chicken Casserole recipe.
We used a whole bottle of Caesar dressing in this sauce and have no regrets. With bacon, lemon juice, Parmesan, and LOTS of black pepper, it’s ridiculously good.
Get the Caesar Angel Hair recipe.
Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls
The pineapple in this recipe doesn’t just serve as a pretty serving vessel. It adds a fresh and vibrant sweetness to this teriyaki sauce as well. Use the juice that pools at the bottom of your pineapple when scooping out the chunks.
Get the Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls recipe.
Skillet Chicken Piccata
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Using a slow-cooker is one of our favorite, easy ways to prepare chicken thighs. The gentle heat helps ensure that the thighs will be tender and juicy. AND the sauce, you’ll be happy to know, doesn’t need any precooking. It just gets poured right in and forgotten about until dinner time.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe.
Creamed Spinach Chicken
We love this salad served on top of greens as much as we love it between two slices of sourdough bread. If you can’t find a good ripe mango, pineapple would be delicious as well!
Get the Avocado Chicken Salad recipe.
This has a tangy bite from pineapple, a solid crunch from cashews and a little kick of heat from jalapeño. Serve it over perfectly cooked rice alongside a tender green like bok choy and you’ll have a totally delicious and easy meal on the table in under 30 minutes.
Get the Pineapple Chicken recipe.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of chicken parm recipes in the world, but this one is our favorite. Crispy, well-seasoned chicken, a flavorful tomato sauce with a kiss of sweetness, and, of course, tons of melty cheese. It’s easy, simple, and classic.
Get the Easy Chicken Parm recipe.
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Who doesn’t love a good chicken salad sandwich? We love this salad between two slices of toasted sourdough or baguette, but it’s also great straight up.
Get the Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe.
Breaded Chicken Cobb Salad
Up your salad game with this non-traditional Cobb salad. We’ve made it even more fun by using breaded chicken.
Get the recipe from Delish.
General Tso’s Chicken Stir Fry
This dish of crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and savory sauce is a Chinese-American classic. Though the typical preparation calls for deep-frying, we went for the easier stir-fry route for less mess from frying while still retaining all of the crispiness you’re used to.
Get the General Tso’s Chicken Stir Fry recipe.
Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken Thighs
Pro tip! Because of the honey and the sugar content in the balsamic vinegar, the glaze can burn if left to caramelize on the grill for too long. To avoid this, we recommend moving your chicken around occasionally so that different parts of the thighs are hitting the grates.
Get the Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken Thighs recipe.
Italian Chicken Skillet
This American-style chicken teriyaki is a little salty, a little sweet, a little sour, and has just the tiniest hint of spice from minced ginger: exactly what you’d want for dinner after a long day at work. Serve it up with a side of steamed rice and broccoli and you won’t think twice about takeout.
Get the Teriyaki Chicken recipe.
Santa Fe Skillet Chicken
Tex-Mex at its finest: This skillet chicken is topped with melty cheddar and a delicious black bean-red onion mixture.
Get the Santa Fe Skillet Chicken recipe.
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
This is the least basic grilled chicken has ever looked. Make it on repeat during summer — when tomatoes are at their peak.
Get the Grilled Bruschetta Chicken recipe.
Chicken Parm Meatball Subs
Crispy Honey Sesame Chicken
Battered and lightly fried chicken is extra crispy underneath a sticky and sweet honey sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, serve with rice, and you’ll never need takeout again!
Get the Crispy Honey Sesame Chicken recipe.
Move over Hawaiian pizza! This tropical chicken has become our new favorite savory pineapple dish. The acidity from the pineapple marinade will help to tenderize the chicken breast and the sugar works to caramelize the meat while grilling.
Get the Grilled Aloha Chicken recipe.
BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
You’re familiar with pulled pork, now here’s the equally delicious pulled chicken. We’re making this BBQ dish year round.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Cajun seasoning is a top 5 go-to seasoning mix for our Test Kitchen chefs. We love the spicy, zesty flavors it can provide to everything it touches. That zestiness also makes this chicken dish a perfect leftover contender because the flavor last and lasts.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Chicken, Spinach, and Artichoke Rigatoni
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
These enchiladas are definitely Tex-Mex at their core, but we went with non-stand corn tortillas in place of flour. (Go ahead and use flour if that’s your preference though!) They may not be authentic by, well, anyone’s standards, but they are quick, easy, filling, and delicious.
Get the Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas recipe.
Digital Food Producer
Camille Lowder is the Digital Food Producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries.
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