16 Chicken Recipes You Can Make Any Night of the Week

By Victoria Spencer
Updated March 12, 2020
Andrew Purcell
Chicken is the most popular meat in the U.S. It's delicious, versatile, reasonably priced, and relatively easy to prepare. Braise chicken legs, stir-fry boneless breast, or make a curry with a whole chicken—learn how to do all that and much more with these doable weeknight recipes.
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Marcus Nilsson

Everyone loves chicken, and that's in part because this popular protein is endlessly versatile. Even though there are so many different ways to prepare chicken, it's easy to fall into a weeknight dinner rut—if you find yourself habitually making the same chicken dishes week after week, we're here to help. Here, we're sharing some of our favorite weeknight recipes that highlight all the different ways to cook this protein and the best cuts to choose from.

From chicken cutlets—which are pictured here gussied up with artichokes and spinach in a creamy one-skillet dish inspired by your favorite dip—to chicken breasts—which we like steamed in a parchment parcel in the oven, a revelatory technique that maximizes flavor and minimizes the need for added fat—we have a number of inspired ways to make chicken for dinner any night of the week. If you're looking for a low-maintenance oven method, a sheet pan dinner, where all the ingredients cook together on one sheet pan, can't be beat. Try our Pan-Roasted Chicken with Za'atar, Potatoes, and Greens for a one and done, prep-it-and-pop-it-in-the-oven meal.

And don't underestimate the power of preparing a whole chicken—we promise, it's possible to do so on a busy weeknight. A whole chicken is not just for roasting; master the art of cutting up a whole chicken and you'll quickly realize that it's more economical than buying chicken parts. Then use those chicken pieces for a one-pot dish like a braise or a curry. The possibilities are endless.

What about the broiler? It's a a quick way to make delicious dinners, and that's true with chicken or other proteins. We paired chicken breasts with bacon for a recipe we're featuring ahead, but even without pork, chicken cooked under the broiler is a winner. And don't forget salad and soup, as both are stellar weeknight dinner options. While some chicken soups and stews cook long and slow to build deep flavor, we do have recipes that use smart shortcuts to get a comforting bowl of soup on the table in time for a regular weeknight meal. As for salads, we have a number of recipes that are hearty enough for dinner—some are great ways to use leftover roast chicken and others, like our chicken and quinoa salad with asparagus and peas, make one chicken breast stretch into a tasty meal for four.

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Chicken with Mushrooms

Andrew Purcell
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Let's start with a fast recipe—minimal ingredients means minimal prep. This is dinner on the table in 25 minutes or less. Lightly floured chicken cutlets are sautéed in butter, then the mushrooms and fresh thyme are cooked. The pan is deglazed with a touch of white wine before the browned chicken is added and the sauce magically thickens. Also try our make-ahead breaded chicken cutlets.

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Broiled Bacon-Wrapped Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Watercress

Joseph De Leo
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As much as we love chicken, we adore it even more when it's paired with bacon. We also adore using the broiler for dinner recipes because it heats up much quicker than the oven and cooks food twice as fast. Its blast of direct heat seals in juices as it perfectly caramelizes the outside of not only chicken and meats, but also seafood and vegetables for delicious dinners in a flash.

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Thai Coconut Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

RYANE LIEBE
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So much better than takeout, this 35-minute dinner is made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs that are braised in a lively mix of coconut milk and fish sauce, then topped with a spicy pineapple-scallion salsa.

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Chicken Soup with Dill

Sharon Radisch
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Because everyone needs a soothing chicken soup recipe, this one comes with spaetzle, the dumpling's bite-sized cousin. In just 40 minutes you'll be spooning this rich dill-infused broth with parsnips, carrots, and plenty of chicken.

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Warm Quinoa and Chicken Salad

Christina Holmes
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A main-course salad built around quick-cooking quinoa, which is packed with protein, iron, and fiber. With chicken, asparagus, and peas it makes a filling dinner.

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Orange and Balsamic Chicken

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Bold flavors—balsamic vinegar and whole orange wedges—liven up pan-seared chicken thighs in this 20-minute entrée. Squeeze the sautéed oranges over the chicken and serve with plenty of crusty bread for mopping up the sauce.

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Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry with Peanuts

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In just 15 minutes, this one-bowl Asian meal will be on the table. Not only is it super fast to make, but it's also super tasty.

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Chicken and Mushroom Tagliatelle

Romulo Yanes
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Hearty and creamy, this 35-minute pasta is rich but not heavy. It's made with boneless chicken breast and cremini mushrooms, plus celery and parsley for crunch and color. And be sure to try our other chicken pasta recipes.

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Chicken and Vegetables in Parchment

Bryan Gardner
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For something different, go en papillote tonight for dinner. It's a scrumptious, low-fat way of cooking—the chicken breasts gently steam in the parchment packet, along with cherry tomatoes, baby bok choy, shallot, and a touch of wine—in 45 minutes.

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Curried Chicken with Coconut Rice

Johnny Miller
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Here's a one-pot route to a most delicious curry featuring a cut-up chicken with bonus coconut basmati rice cooked in the same Dutch oven.

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Mediterranean Chopped-Chicken Pita

David Malosh
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Grilled chicken isn't just a fast weeknight standby—it's a weekday treat, too. Here, grilled boneless, skinless chicken breast halves are cut into strips and top grilled pitas along with hummus, cherry tomatoes, radicchio, and feta. It's the best open-faced chicken sandwich ever!

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Vinegar-Glazed Chicken with Creamed Corn

Lennart Weibull
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This southern-inspired meal transforms boneless, skinless chicken thighs into a tasty one-skillet dinner (you cook the chicken in the pan, then wipe it out and use it for the creamy corn). It all comes together in less than 30 minutes.

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Chicken and Snap Peas

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It takes just 30 minutes and a single skillet to make this fresh spring entrée that uses a whole chicken cut into pieces—that's always an economical route to dinner.

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Braised Chicken With Artichokes, Olives, and Lemon

GEORGE BARBERIS
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Hearty, homey, and satisfying, this braise is faster than most. It takes one hour to transform chicken pieces into a Mediterranean-inspired main.

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General Tso's Chicken

Martyna Szczesna
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Lightly battered and fried chicken is paired with an addictive chile-laced sweet-and-sour sauce in this takeout classic. It's tastier and faster than waiting for delivery, we promise!

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