40 Easy Healthy Chicken Recipes

This list of 40 easy chicken recipes makes cooking good healthy meals at home just as easy as picking up or ordering in.

When it comes to deciding what’s for dinner tonight, it’s not always easy to come up with new ideas, especially when it comes to everyone’s favorite: Chicken.

It’s a fact that chicken has become the most popular meat in the whole world, growing 70% in popularity since 1990. It’s no wonder then, that there are so many chicken recipes to choose from.

That’s why I’m making it easier for you, and narrowing the field by sharing my all-time favorite dinner recipes made with chicken

From whole roasted chickens better than any you’ll find at the grocery store, to the easiest ways to cook chicken breasts, this list of super easy and healthy chicken dinner ideas will satisfy every member of your family no matter how picky they may seem to be.

Easy Skillet Chicken Recipes

Pan-frying and stir-frying lends amazing flavor to chicken. Bonus: Some of these recipes are made entirely in one skillet and it doesn’t get much easier than that.

30 Minute Chicken Caprese

This bright and flavorful dish features my favorite caprese salad ingredients ingredients and store-bought pesto with boneless chicken breasts for a quick-to-make dinner that’s perfect for weeknights.

Thai Chicken and Cucumber Salad

This simple, refreshing salad is a favorite all year long with tender chicken cooked in a lighter Thai flavored sauce to make a crunchy salad that makes a meal.

Chicken Fajitas

These easy, one-skillet, restaurant-level fajitas only take 30 minutes to make, and are so legit. The key to their awesome flavor is the simple homemade fajita seasoning mix and the almighty cast iron skillet.

Cashew Chicken

Skip the deep fried takeout tonight and make a batch of skillet cashew chicken at home. The sweet and savory sauce, crisp-tender veggies, and juicy pieces of chicken will have you coming back for seconds.

Vietnamese Curry Chicken and Rice Noodle Salad Bowl

This clean and fresh noodle salad gets its savory flavor from curried chicken dressed with the most addicting lime and rice vinegar dressing and fresh herbs. Tons of fresh veggies and peanuts give it an irresistible crunch.

Easy Chicken Breasts with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

This isn’t your same-old, same-old chicken dinner recipe. Pan fry chicken breasts in a creamy mushroom sauce and serve alongside orzo and asparagus for a go-to dinner idea no matter the time of year.

Dijon Chicken

All that stands between you and a plate of juicy chicken coated in a silky Dijon white wine sauce is a handful of basic ingredients and 30 minutes of your time. Serve with mashed cauliflower or a crisp side salad for a complete meal.

Thai Basil Chicken

You’re just a few easy steps away from a spicy dinner that highlights authentic Thai flavors – think fresh ginger, Thai basil and a coconut sauce – and works perfectly over rice or noodles.

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Broccoli and Tomato

This healthy, Mediterranean-inspired chicken quinoa bowl is perfect for quick and easy meal-prep dinners. Plus, it’s flexible enough to mix and match ingredients for take-to-work lunches that never get boring.

Easy Chicken Piccata

An Italian classic! This easy chicken piccata is topped with a lemon-caper sauce for a light, bright dinner. With just 10 minutes prep time and 10 minutes cooking time, it’ll be on your plate, ready to be devoured, in nearly no time at all.

Thai Coconut Chicken and Rice

How easy is this one-pot recipe? So easy. This chicken and rice recipe puts a load of healthy ingredients into one slurpable bowl. Serve it over rice or noodles for the perfect chopstick practicing exercise. Win/win/win.

Creamy Greek Chicken with Orzo

Juicy chicken breasts are drizzled with lemony avgolemono sauce and served over a bed of creamy orzo studded with asparagus. There’s no cream in this recipe, and it’s ready in just 40 minutes.

Creamy Lemon Chicken

This quick and easy skillet recipe comes together in about 30 minutes. Chicken breasts are butterflied, coated in flour, and cooked until golden. The dish is finished with a rich lemon sauce that’s made with minimal butter and a splash of cream.

Skillet Pesto Chicken

Juicy chicken breasts are coated in basil pesto and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese. Add your favorite summer vegetables to the skillet for a one-pot meal the whole family will love.

Easy Baked and Roasted Chicken Recipes

Whether it’s a sheet pan chicken dinners or a classic roast chicken, you can’t go wrong with these crazy easy, healthy chicken dishes.

Super Simple Roast Chicken

This is a foolproof recipe that every home cook will be able to master. Enjoy the chicken as is for dinner tonight, then repurpose the leftovers to make chicken salad, chicken soup, and more.

The Best Baked Chicken Breast

Whether you’re working on making your weekly meal prep easier, or need a quick and simple recipe for weeknight dinners, this recipe has all my secrets for the best baked chicken breast guaranteed to come out perfectly juicy every single time.

Baked Teriyaki Chicken

Pop the chicken breasts in the homemade teriyaki marinade the night before for a quick dinner later on. Steam some veggies or toss together a side salad while the chicken bakes for a complete meal that’s ready in about 30 minutes.

Roasted Chicken, Butternut Squash and Guacamole Rice Bowls

Sheet pan roasted chicken breasts, butternut squash, and red onion served with black beans, brown rice and guacamole make this a healthy, hearty meal in a bowl that is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.

Cast-Iron Skillet Whole Roasted Chicken with Potatoes 

Place a whole chicken in an already-hot cast iron skillet with sliced potatoes and onions for an ultra-easy meal that’s ready in just one hour. Best yet, you’ll have plenty of leftovers to repurpose for lunches throughout the week.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

This easy, super delicious chicken Parmesan is baked instead of fried, but is just as crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. If you’re trying to cut down on carbs, serve it over a bed of zucchini noodles or roasted spaghetti squash.

Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing

This Chinese Chicken Salad takes the lighter road than the heavier versions I always see at those popular food chains that everyone loves. It’s made with crunchy romaine, wontons, and an almond crunch, and is topped with protein-packed chicken breast, pasta noodles, and a killer sesame dressing you’ll want to drizzle over everything.

40 Cloves of Garlic Roast Chicken Recipes

Garlic lovers, rejoice! Even if you don’t love garlic, you will after making this chicken dinner. The garlic mellows when roasted alongside a whole chicken, becoming soft, buttery and surprisingly sweet. 

Potato Chip Crusted Chicken Breast

The best things about this recipe is how easily you can customize it to your family’s tastes. Love barbecue? Craving tangy salt and vinegar? Keeping it real with ranch? Add some creamy mac and cheese and steamed broccoli for a delightfully kid-friendly dinner.

Easy Tandoori Chicken with Vegetables

This version of the classic Indian tandoori chicken dinner is baked on a sheet pan with Indian spiced vegetables for a simple and complete meal any night of the week. Don’t forget the naan!

Easy Chicken Fajita Foil Packets

Quick and easy to prep, these chicken fajita foil packet dinners with a simple homemade fajita seasoning mix are cooked on the grill or in the oven and ready to eat in just about 30 minutes.

Whole Oven Roasted Chicken With Lemon Rosemary Garlic Butter

Tender and juicy, this whole roasted chicken is brushed with lemon rosemary garlic butter and stuffed with fresh aromatics, all using ingredients you likely already have at home. Bonus: as the bird cooks, your house will smell amazing. 

Beyond Easy Chicken Mole Enchiladas

This super easy, no-cook, homemade mole sauce is made from scratch, and gives regular chicken enchiladas a delicious twist for a super fast Mexican dinner to meal prep or even throw together for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

Juicy chicken thighs are coated in a dreamy honey mustard sauce made with two kinds of mustard, honey, and fresh tarragon for an elevated take on the family favorite recipe. Chicken dinner recipes don’t get much easier than this.

Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes

No matter what time of year it is, chicken is always worth firing up the grill for. Here are some of my all-time favorite healthy chicken dinner ideas that are infused with smoky flavor from the grill.

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

This grilled cilantro lime chicken recipe delivers lots of flavor thanks to a quick marinade, and with just 7 ingredients and 3 steps, it’s easy enough to cook any night of the week. I love serving it with quinoa or rice and a yummy salad.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken and Avocado

A simple balsamic dressing does double duty as a marinade for the chicken in this light and healthy, fresh avocado and strawberry spinach salad that I love for lunch or dinner, all year-round!

The Best BBQ Chicken

The best BBQ chicken breast recipe doesn’t call for complicated marinades or rubs, it’s all about this easy on-the-grill or in-the-oven cooking method sweetened with BBQ sauce for moist and juicy chicken breasts every time. It’s perfect with your favorite sides, or in this BBQ chicken salad.

Grilled Greek Chicken Kebabs

Boneless, skinless chicken breast marinated in the traditional Greek flavors of lemon, garlic and oregano then threaded on skewers with a few veggies makes these grilled chicken kebabs an easy and healthy weeknight dinner winner.

Greek Chicken

This zingy garlic, lemon, and oregano Greek marinade is one of my favorites. It packs some serious flavor! Whether you use it for chicken that’s grilled, baked, or pan-fried, you really can’t go wrong. Serve it over a hearty Greek salad or try it alongside some grilled veggies and orzo with fresh dill, mint, and feta.

Greek Salad with Chicken

This delicious Greek salad topped with Greek marinaded chicken is the best for meal prepped lunches or light dinners. Top it with kalamata olives, feta cheese, crunchy cucumbers and my Mediterranean tomato salad with an easy Greek vinaigrette dressing.

Orange Chicken and Broccoli Rice Bowls

Healthy and satisfying, this super bowl hits the spot. Using gluten-free tamari will make this orange marinade gluten-free and paleo friendly. But, you can always use regular soy sauce or Braggs liquid aminos for the same salty flavor if gluten isn’t a concern.

Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad

There are so many flavors and textures in this loaded chicken chicken salad made with crispy romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, canned black beans, and more.

Easy Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

If you plan ahead, cooking things lower and slower (or crazy fast in the Instant Pot) can be a great way to save time.

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

Set it and forget it with this easy whole chicken recipe made in a slow cooker. Add carrots to the slow cooker insert for a meal-in-one, and feel free to use any seasoning blend you like to flavor the chicken.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Slow-cooked bone-in, skinless chicken thighs create the luxe flavor in this savory Italian chicken dinner that pairs perfectly with pasta for an incredibly easy weeknight or weekend meal. I love serving it over pasta, gnocchi, or roasted spaghetti squash.

Instant Pot Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This better-than-P.F. Chang’s orange chicken lettuce wraps recipe is incredibly easy to make thanks to the Instant Pot pressure cooker that does double duty as a self-serve, low-carb appetizer or as a healthy main meal that’s quick to make and even more fun to eat.

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

Avocado and Greek yogurt combine to make the creamiest chicken salad ever. This is such an easy, healthy chicken recipe for those nights when you want to get something wholesome on the table fast but don’t really feel like cooking. Shred some Instant Pot chicken breasts to use in this recipe, or use leftover roast, baked, or grilled chicken.

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