50 Everyday Chicken Recipes

Chicken is a naturally healthy choice for family lunches and dinners. Chicken is high in protein, and it is lower in cholesterol and saturated fat than red meat. The fact that chicken cooks quickly makes it an excellent choice for busy families. It's no wonder chicken outranks beef and pork consumption in the U.S.

These recipes run the gamut, from whole roasted chickens and boneless chicken breasts to crunchy fried chicken and slow cooker favorites.

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Chicken With Cranberries and Orange Sauce

The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

Grand Marnier makes this chicken dish next-level. You can also use Cointreau or another type of orange liqueur, for a similarly delicious effect. Dried cranberries and green onions add color to these easy boneless chicken breasts. Or simply serve the chicken with a garnish of cranberry sauce.
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Creamy Chicken Marsala

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Cream adds richness to this quick chicken Marsala recipe. The thickened sauce makes a tasty topping for the chicken and pasta or rice.
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Skillet Lemon Chicken With Mushrooms

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

A light breading of seasoned flour gives the thin chicken breasts a delicious coating in this skillet lemon chicken recipe. A simple lemon and wine sauce mixture adds just the right amount of flavor to the dish.
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Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken Thighs or Legs

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

If you think crispy fried chicken is a messy, labor-intensive task, think again. The skillet crisps the skin and then the chicken goes into the oven for a perfect finish.

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Garlic Chicken and Shrimp

The Spruce

You might not think of making a dish with these two unrelated proteins, but chicken and shrimp go together remarkably well. Serve the delicious combo over hot cooked fettuccine or rice.
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Spicy Fried Chicken Tenders

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Add these family-friendly buttermilk fried chicken tenders to your weekday menu rotation. Serve them with sweet and sour sauce, ranch dressing, or remoulade sauce for dipping. Creole seasoning adds the spicy flavor, but feel free to throw some cayenne in if you love heat.
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Chicken With Cilantro Cream Sauce

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Fresh chopped cilantro, red bell pepper, grape tomatoes, and green onions get together to make up the flavor profile for these fast and easy boneless chicken breasts.
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Pulled Chicken Tacos

The Spruce / Laurel Randolph.

Both boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs work great in this pulled chicken tacos recipe. The beauty of this dish is how fast and easy it is to prepare. The poaching liquid is spiced with Mexican seasonings and cooked down while you are shredding the chicken.

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Basil Chicken With Pesto Cream Sauce

The Spruce Eats/Nita West

Whether homemade or purchased, pesto is a fantastic ingredient for all kinds of dishes. A simple combination of pesto and heavy cream makes up the flavorful sauce for these lean sautéed chicken breasts.
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Roasted Chicken Thighs With Brussels Sprouts and Pears

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

This roasted chicken dish, with its appealing blend of ingredients and flavors, is surprisingly easy to prepare and cook.
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Chicken Thighs With Creamy Mushroom Sauce

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This sauce for these chicken thighs tastes rich, but it's lighter than you might think. To make it even lighter, use boneless chicken breasts in the recipe. Chicken breasts cook quickly, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Chicken chili makes a hearty meal with slices of crusty French bread or hot baked cornbread. This recipe utilizes chicken thighs because they offer more flavor and stay juicy even after long, slow cooking.

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20-Minute Creamed Chicken With Mushrooms

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Whether you choose to serve it over biscuits, toast, or rice, creamed chicken is an excellent choice for a satisfying family dinner. Balance the meal with a tossed green salad or a vibrant green steamed vegetable.
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Chicken Skin Chips

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

When braising chicken or making chicken soup, you'll need to remove the skin. Rather than toss it, transform it into chicken skin chips. It's a versatile ingredient, whether as a salad, soup, or baked potato topping, a snack cracker substitute, or a crispy sandwich filler.
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Creamy Bourbon Chicken With Mushrooms

Fudio/iStock / Getty Images Plus

The sophisticated flavors in this creamy bourbon chicken dish will wow your friends and family. They'll never guess the dish took less than 30 minutes to throw together and cook.
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Paprika Chicken Breasts With Sour Cream Gravy

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Sweet paprika adds color and flavor to these baked chicken breasts. The reduced liquids and some sour cream make a rich, creamy gravy. Prep time is about 10 minutes; just pop the chicken in the oven and bake.

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Chicken Thighs With Orange Sauce

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Orange juice concentrate and herbs make a delicious sauce for these wonderful glazed chicken thighs. Serve this dish with your favorite rice pilaf or a noodle dish.
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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

Diana Rattray

This comforting and adaptable dish makes the whole family happy. Perfect for Little League nights when you need to get dinner on the table quickly or a curl-up-by-the-fire fall Sunday, Instant Pot chicken and rice can be your go-to all-in-one meal.
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Chicken Under a Brick

The Spruce Eats / Anita Schecter

Chicken under a brick is an interesting roasted chicken recipe. It's spatchcocked, so the backbone of the whole bird is removed. This allows it to be flattened out to ensure even cooking and juicy pieces. The thyme, rosemary, and garlic gives the chicken extra flavor, too.
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One-Dish Roasted Chicken Dinner With Potatoes

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

The addition of chunks of potatoes, carrots, and celery make this roasted chicken a complete meal in one pan. If you're a fan of sheet pan dinners, this recipe is for you.

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Bulgogi Chicken

Pete Scherer

While it's admittedly not quite as easy as ordering takeout barbecue from the Korean restaurant, this backyard replica Bulgogi Chicken makes a convincing stand-in without too much effort. Serve it with rice, kimchi, and your favorite Korean condiments.
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Tandoori Chicken

Elaine Lemm

As long as you plan ahead, this Indian tandoori chicken recipe comes together easily. Cubes of boneless chicken marinate in a mixture of yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and Indian spices for several hours before cooking in the oven. Feel free to sear on the stovetop first to get a bit of char.
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Instant Pot Chicken Breast

Diana Rattray

The Instant Pot produces tender, juicy chicken breasts every time, easily answering the age-old question, "What's for dinner?" Chicken breasts can be shredded for pulled chicken sandwiches and tacos; diced for soups, salads, and casseroles; or sliced and served as an entrée along with side dishes.
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Skillet Chicken With Bacon and Sour Cream

The Spruce

This chicken is a snap to prepare and cook in a skillet. The sour cream makes for a rich finish, balancing the flavors of the diced cooked bacon, green onions, and garlic.

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Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

Diana Rattray

This Instant Pot bbq chicken is ideal when you need a family-friendly dinner fast. Chicken parts are coated with a rub including smoked paprika, chili powder, and brown sugar, and then cooked in a bit of store-bought barbecue sauce. A quick trip under the broiler crisps up the skin.
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Air Fryer Fried Chicken

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Chicken pieces cook up quickly in an air fryer, which creates a crispy crust while keeping the meat juicy on the inside. And air fryer fried chicken leaves little mess to clean up, making it perfect for a busy weeknight or a relaxing Sunday evening, especially when everyone in the family likes a different part. Just add a salad and a favorite side dish.
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Chicken Marbella

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

This storied dish is adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook, first published in 1982. Although that name might not ring a bell for younger generations, it was a standout cookbook in its time, and Chicken Marbella was its standout dish. This one-pan meal features skin-on chicken marinated in a brine of vinegar, olives, capers, and prunes, and then baked in the same dish—it couldn't be easier. This recipe is a little sweet, a little salty, and perfectly balanced with acidic tang. Great with Spanish rice or mashed potatoes.
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Honey Dijon-Baked Chicken

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

It's amazing how a few simple pantry ingredients can turn an everyday piece of chicken into a fabulous entrée. That's the case with this honey dijon-baked chicken.

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Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

Chicken noodle soup is a comforting dish but it can take all day to make. This Instant Pot recipe is just as satisfying and delicious but takes under an hour to cook. Chicken thighs are cooked in the broth and then shredded before reincorporating into the soup.
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Nashville Hot Chicken

Diana Rattray

Nashville hot chicken might be considered a "trend" to some, but for those in the know realize it's been around for nearly a half century now. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, this famous recipe is inspired by Prince's Hot Chicken, a now-legendary institution that first served up the deep-fried, spicy bird in the '70s. Nashville hot chicken is characterized by its spicy, deep-red glaze, traditionally made with cayenne pepper. Although the level of spiciness varies, it's almost always served on top of white bread—plain white bread, the cheaper and sweeter the better—with some pickles on top.
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Easy Italian-Style Baked Chicken

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

These easy baked boneless chicken breasts are incredibly easy, and they come out of the oven moist and crusty. Even your pickiest eaters will ask for more.
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Super Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken

svariophoto / E+ / Getty Images

This four-ingredient chicken recipe takes less than 10 minutes to throw together. Just pop the chicken in the oven and enjoy the free time.

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Garlic Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Whole chicken legs are not only budget-friendly; they also offer loads of flavor. A combination of garlic, olive oil, and simple seasonings flavor these chicken legs perfectly.
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Potato Chip Chicken

Leah Maroney

Change up your oven-fried chicken recipe by using crushed potato chips instead of breadcrumbs. Barbecue kettle-cooked chips are best, adding a nice hint of flavor and a great crunch.
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Easy Chicken Parmesan

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

How can something so easy, taste so special? Simply sautéed chicken breasts are finished in the oven with spaghetti sauce and lots of melty mozzarella cheese.
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Boursin Chicken With Parmesan Coating

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

A Boursin cheese filling keeps these baked stuffed chicken breasts moist and tender while a Parmesan cheese and breadcrumb coating provides the crispy coating.

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Crock Pot Italian-Seasoned Chicken With Potatoes

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

All you need is 10 minutes and a slow cooker to make this easy crock pot Italian chicken dish. Just add a salad or steamed veggies for a satisfying everyday dinner.
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Crock Pot Chicken and Corn Chowder

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

You probably have all of the ingredients for this chicken chowder on hand. It's the perfect blending of flavors, and condensed soups make preparation a breeze.
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Halal Cart Chicken

Anita Schecter

Halal carts are a popular fast food on the streets of New York for good reason. This halal cart chicken is a healthier but still tasty version that's ready in just over 30 minutes.
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Creamy Broccoli Chicken

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

The straightforward combination of chicken breasts, condensed soup, and broccoli, makes this chicken recipe perfect for a busy day.

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Slow Cooker Creole Chicken With Sausage

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Spicy andouille sausage pairs nicely with boneless chicken thighs and a Cajun-style tomato sauce mixture. Serve it over rice for a taste of Louisiana.
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Crock Pot Chicken Breasts in Creamy Creole Sauce

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

A creamy Creole-style sauce highlights the chicken in this crockpot dish. The "holy trinity" of Cajun and Creole cooking, onions, bell pepper, and celery, adds flavor and texture to the dish.
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Grilled Chicken With Cajun Cream Sauce

The Spruce

Grilled chicken takes center stage with a delicious Cajun seasoned cream sauce. Serve the chicken and sauce with hot cooked linguine or rice.
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Iron Skillet Roast Chicken

The Spruce

Get your trusty seasoned black iron skillet out for this moist and juicy chicken. This whole roasted chicken is easy enough for an everyday meal and special enough for Sunday dinner.

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Baked Ranch Chicken Thighs

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

You only need four ingredients to make this fabulous chicken dish: chicken thighs, a packet of dry ranch-style dressing, a clove of garlic, and olive oil. The chicken bakes to golden perfection in about 30 minutes.
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Ritzy Chicken Casserole

The Spruce

Just one taste will convince you to add this ritzy casserole to your monthly mealtime rotation. It's an excellent potluck dish as well.
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Classic Southern Fried Chicken

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Fried chicken is probably the first dish one thinks of when asked to name some iconic Southern dishes. Dig out your skillet and fry some chicken.
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Chicken Stew With Vegetables

The Spruce Eats/Julia Hartbeck

Cook this versatile family-pleasing chicken stew in the oven or slow cooker. A cut-up chicken or chicken thighs are the main protein, so not only is the stew delicious; it's easy on the budget.

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Easy Chicken Marengo With Garlic and Tomatoes

The Spruce

Boneless chicken breasts team up with mushrooms and a flavorful tomato dish in this French-inspired dish. The original dish was created in the year 1800 to celebrate Napoleon's Battle of Marengo victory.
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Hunter's Chicken With Tomatoes and Mushrooms

Diana Rattray

This rustic chicken dish is a family-pleasing combination of chicken leg quarters, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Serve the chicken with roasted or mashed potatoes or noodles.

Chicken Recipes

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