Got Chicken? These Simples Recipes Will Get Dinner on the Table (2024)

If chicken is starting to sound boring, you just need a recipe refresh.

By Christopher Michel

Got Chicken? These Simples Recipes Will Get Dinner on the Table (1)

Buy a couple packs of chicken to throw in the fridge for a weeknight dinner, and it's a double-edged sword. On the one hand, chicken is easy to cook. On other, you may worry your family will roll their eyes with boredom.

Not anymore. We've been working overtime to fill out this list with the easiest, simplest, most delicious-est (that's not a word but who cares) chicken dinner ideas, so that you can whip up a weeknight meal after work, often in mere minutes, and hear nothing but "Wow! This is good!" and "Can we have that again?"

Whether you've got ground chicken, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even a whole bird in the fridge, there's an idea—or ten—on this list. So start scrolling and rest easy. No one's going hungry tonight.

1

Crispy, Delicious Chicken Parmesan

Got Chicken? These Simples Recipes Will Get Dinner on the Table (2)

Is there a more comforting chicken recipe for dinner? It's like having a plate of warm hugs.

Get the recipe for Chicken Parmesan.

2

Fast Easy Chicken Marsala

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This elegant chicken breast recipe is good enough to impress on date night, easy enough to make on a weeknight, and tasty enough the family might lick their plates.

Get the recipe for Chicken Marsala.

3

Easiest-Ever Chicken Alfredo

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Switch up pasta night with this super-easy homemade sauce.

Get the recipe for Chicken Alfredo.

RELATED: 60 Easy Pasta Recipes for Quick, Comforting Weeknight Meals

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4

Best Chicken Quesadillas

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Looking for an easy chicken recipe that only uses a few ingredients? We took this weeknight classic and found a few ways to make it even smarter.

Get the recipe for Chicken Quesadillas.

5

Classic Chicken Pot Pie

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It doesn't get much more classic than pot pie. It doesn't get much more delicious, either.

Get the recipe for Classic Chicken Pot Pie.

6

Best Classic White Chicken Chili

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This lighter take on standard chili is full of flavor—and a great way to use ground chicken!

Get the recipe for White Chicken Chili.

RELATED: 20 Inspiring Chili Recipes to Feed a Hungry Crowd

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7

Easy Weeknight Chicken and Dumplings

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This upgrade to your standard chicken soup is a country classic— and for good reason.

Get the recipe for Chicken and Dumplings.

8

Homemade Chinese-Style Orange Chicken

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Get delivery-style chicken without the delivery fees—or wondering what's in it. (And still in 30 minutes!)

Get the recipe for Homemade Chinese-Style Orange Chicken.

9

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Rosemary

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Thighs are not only healthy, but they're delicious and a lot easier to make than breasts! Give this a try and the family will be asking you to make it again and again.

Get the recipe for Crispy Chicken Thighs.

RELATED: 70+ Super Delicious Dinner Recipes You Can Make In a Cast Iron Skillet

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10

Weeknight Tex-Mex Chicken Enchiladas

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Break out this casserole bake the next time you want to give your leftover rotisserie chicken a cheesy, spicy upgrade.

Get the recipe for Weeknight Tex-Mex Chicken Enchiladas.

11

Roast Chicken with Tarragon-Braised Fennel

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You'll want at least a day to let this Sunday dinner chicken marinate, but the planning pays off with a meal that can't be beat.

Get the recipe for Roast Chicken with Tarragon-Braised Fennel.

12

Swedish Meatballs with Chicken

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We've remade this classic crowd-pleaser into a healthy dinner that gets to the table in less than half an hour!

Get the recipe for Swedish Meatballs with Chicken.

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13

Strawberry-Cabernet Barbecue Sauce

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Okay, so technically this is just a recipe for the sauce. But any sauce that makes chicken taste this good deserves to be on the list.

Get the recipe for Strawberry-Cabernet Barbecue Sauce.

14

Chicken and Black Bean Nachos

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Fire up the grill to make this foil pack recipe. Not only can you eat it just about anywhere, but there's also no dish-washing needed for this dinner. Now that's a winner!

Get the recipe for Chicken and Black Bean Nachos.

15

Rotisserie Chicken and Potato Chowder

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This hearty soup will keep you full long after you've savored the final spoonful. The addition of crisp bacon is a delicious addition to the classic meat and potatoes combo.

Get the recipe for Rotisserie Chicken and Potato Chowder.

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16

Classic Buffalo Chicken Dip

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This ridiculously tasty dip takes is also simple and takes just 20 minutes to make. Bonus: you can build a whole snack dinner around it!

Get the recipe for Buffalo Chicken Dip.

17

Tex-Mex Chicken Meatballs

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Keep a pack of ground chicken handy and whip up these easy, flavorful meatballs!

Get the recipe for Tex-Mex Chicken Meatballs.

RELATED: 50 Delicious New Ways to Have Meatballs for Dinner

18

Ground Chicken Pad Thai

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Doesn't Thai food for dinner sound great?

Get the recipe for Ground Chicken Pad Thai.

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19

Cornflake-Crusted Baked Chicken

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This baked version of the fried comfort food classic offers all the crunch you want thanks to flaky cereal. But it's so tasty that it's sure to become a new family favorite!

Get the recipe for Cornflake-Crusted Baked Chicken .

20

Ground Chicken Tacos

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Ground chicken turns taco night into a healthier meal, without losing flavor!

Get the recipe for Ground Chicken Tacos.

Got Chicken? These Simples Recipes Will Get Dinner on the Table (2024)

FAQs

How many meals do you get out of a chicken? ›

Here's how I would typically divide a large chicken for multiple meals: 2 lbs of boneless breast and tenders = 2 MEALS. 2 drumsticks, 2 wing flats, 2 drumettes = 1 MEAL. 2 large thighs = 1 MEAL.

How do you get the most meals out of a whole chicken? ›

Turn the chicken breast-side up, then press down firmly on the breastbone to flatten and open out the chicken.
  1. Meal 1: Spatchco*cked roast chicken with orzo and roast vegetables. ...
  2. Meal 2: Chicken, leek and ham pasties. ...
  3. Meal 3 Freekeh, chicken and pomegranate salad. ...
  4. Meal 4: Chicken and mango coconut curry.

What to cook when you have almost nothing? ›

15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
  1. Buttery, gooey grilled cheese. ...
  2. PB&J because duh. ...
  3. Tuna melt tostadas. ...
  4. Pancakes! ...
  5. Scrambled eggs. ...
  6. Waffles. ...
  7. A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal. ...
  8. Spaghetti carbonara.
Apr 28, 2020

How do you make chicken last a week? ›

Six chicken recipes to make a roast last a week
  1. Meal 1: Roast chicken. Start the week with an indulgent roast, and serve with lots of seasonal veggie sides. ...
  2. Meal 2: Salad. Use the meat from one leg to make a Chicken salad. ...
  3. Meal 3: Chicken soup. ...
  4. Meal 4: Chicken and rice pie. ...
  5. Meal 5: Stock. ...
  6. Meal 6: Pasta.
Aug 11, 2017

How many meals can you get from a rotisserie chicken? ›

I am sharing how I take one Costco Rotisserie Chicken and turn it into 5 meals for my husband and me. That's FIVE MEALS, not five servings! Plus, I use my InstantPot to make a delicious chicken soup from the bones, so technically that's SIX meals! And no, they aren't chintzy, starvation diet-sized meals.

How much chicken is enough for dinner? ›

For each adult, count on having about 4 to 5 ounces of cooked chicken, 10 ounces of uncooked boneless chicken breasts will yield approximately 6 1/2 ounces cooked, while 10 ounces of uncooked boneless chicken thighs will yield about 5 ounces cooked.

What part of a whole chicken takes the longest to cook? ›

Dark meat, such as chicken thighs or legs, will take longer to cook, because they have a higher fat content and density.

Can you eat a whole chicken everyday? ›

While chicken can be a versatile and convenient protein to cook, if your diet doesn't have a diverse protein profile, you lose out on some key nutrients—including essential fats, such as omega-3s. "Eating chicken every day as your sole protein source could result in some nutrient gaps," says Burgess.

How many adults will a whole chicken feed? ›

Herb Fed Free Range Chicken
Size of birdPortions
1.8kg (3.9lb)3-4 people
2kg (4.5lb)4-6 people
2.5kg (5.5lb)6-8 people

What to cook for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

WHAT TO EAT FOR DINNER WHEN YOU LACK INSPIRATION OR DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING
  • Homemade queso + chips.
  • Popcorn. ...
  • Eggs on or with toast.
  • Omelet – very accommodating to whatever you might have in the fridge!
  • Grilled cheese and soup. ...
  • Cereal. ...
  • One skillet meals like rice, chicken and veggies.
  • Pesto pasta.
May 27, 2020

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

So we rounded up our favorite easy weeknight dinner recipes you can make in just 15 minutes — from comforting pastas to hearty rice bowls.
  1. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles. ...
  2. Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad. ...
  3. Cacio e Pepe. ...
  4. 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. ...
  5. Italian Chopped Salad. ...
  6. Easiest Garlic Bread Pizza.
Nov 8, 2023

What do I want for dinner tonight? ›

50 Easy Dinner Ideas
  • Spaghetti alla Carbonara.
  • Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni.
  • Chicken Piccata Pasta.
  • Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Peas.
  • Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo (or Stovetop)
  • Pasta Puttanesca.
  • One-Pot Penne Pasta with Ground Turkey and Spinach.
  • Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli with Whole Wheat Pasta.

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