Get Dinner on the Table in Under 45 Minutes with These Quick Chicken Recipes

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated January 21, 2021
Credit: Chris Simpson
From casual dishes like ground chicken tacos to classic meals chicken cordon bleu, your family will love these flavorful chicken dinner recipes.
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Credit: Chris Simpson

From drumsticks to thighs to breasts, white meat or dark meat, chicken is one of the most beloved and versatile meats. Grill it and serve over a light salad for a quick and healthy dinner, or braise it with a rich stock and vegetables for an impressive meal you can entertain with. On busy weeknights when you want to get dinner on the table in a flash, turn to our quick recipes, just like the Chicken-Teriyaki Noodle Bowls that are pictured here. In less than 45 minutes, you can prepare something spectacular for your family and friends.

One of the best ways to use a whole chicken is in soup. Use it to make homemade chicken broth in advance, then shred it and reserve the pieces for soup, like our recipe for Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup. It's deeply nourishing and the spicy fresh ginger is just the thing to cure a cold. If you're in a pinch, store-bought broth and rotisserie chicken are easy ingredients that will take you to the finish line quickly. Two of our other soup recipes included ahead—Chipotle Chicken and White-Bean Soup and Coconut-Lime Soup with Chicken and Rice Noodles—use pan-seared chicken thighs, which add tons of flavor and richness to the soup.

Of course, we have heartier chicken recipes, too. Instant Pot Chicken Adobo and Rice uses many family's favorite kitchen appliance to tenderize chicken thighs with scallions, garlic, Thai chiles, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar. Plus, it's such a breeze to make. On Taco Tuesday, make Ground Chicken Tacos or Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas. They're also fun for the entire family to put together.

A delicious, chicken dinner is just around the corner.

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Braised Chicken with Potatoes, Olives, and Lemon

Credit: Johnny Miller
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From browning bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs to creating a flavorful, aromatic sauce, this entire meal can be made in a cast-iron skillet in 40 minutes—and it's absolutely delicious.

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Ground Chicken Tacos

Credit: Julia Gartland
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Your family will love these spicy tacos, which feature a filling of ground chicken and warm spices like cumin, coriander, and minced chipotle in adobo sauce. Top the tacos with grated cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, and sour cream.

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Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup

Credit: Pernille Loof
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Whether you're feeling under the weather or just want a warm, nourishing dinner, this restorative soup should do the trick. The one-pot soup makes good use of store-bought ingredients and comes together with just 15 minutes of prep work.

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Instant Pot Chicken Adobo and Rice

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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This sweet, sour, and spicy chicken dish is made from start to finish in your favorite appliance: the Instant Pot. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs add so much flavor and tenderness to our take on this classic Filipino dish.

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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas

Credit: Ren Fuller
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We eat with our eyes first, and the bright colors in these fajitas are so appealing. Soft flour tortillas hold in roasted bell peppers, creamy avocados, diced tomatoes, and boneless, skinless chicken breast—all of which are cooked on one sheet pan.

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Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowl

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Skip the fast-casual restaurant, and make your own burrito bowl at home. This one has all of the essential toppings—corn, cabbage slaw, avocados, a lime-cilantro marinade, and black beans.

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Chicken Saltimbocca with Sage

Credit: Marcus Nilsson
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Saltimbocca is Italian for "jump in the mouth," and we want to dig right in. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are butterflied and thinly pounded, topped with sage leaves, and wrapped in prosciutto, dredged in flour, and pan-fried until crisp.

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Spicy Basil Chicken Stir-Fry

Credit: Justin Walker
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Make a takeout-inspired dinner tonight. Oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sugar are mixed together, then added to cubes of sautéed chicken thighs, basil, shallots, and serrano chile peppers for a fresh take on weeknight stir-fry.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Here's an absolute classic chicken dish that you can prepare in just 40 minutes. In between butterflied chicken breasts are thin slices of Swiss cheese and ham, which is the ultimate combination.

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Creamy Lemon Chicken with Spinach and Artichokes

Credit: Marcus Nilsson
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Here's a one-pan chicken dinner that takes just 35 minutes. With a sauce made from chicken broth, cream cheese, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, it is so comforting and flavorful.

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Grilled Chicken with Mango and Mint-Lime Dressing

Credit: Sidney Bensimon
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So much more exciting that the grilled chicken salad you're used to, this recipe combines charred boneless chicken breast halves with a combination of lime juice, garlic, and mint. They're served with watercress, radishes, and mangos.

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Red-Hot Chicken and Peppers

Credit: Sidney Bensimon
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Utilize chicken legs in this spicy, low-carb meal. They're roasted alongside chickpeas and red bell peppers, plus a sauce made from melted butter, hot sauce, and paprika.

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Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Credit: Armando Rafael
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Save buffalo chicken wings for game day and make this chicken sandwich for dinner—no frying needed! Instead, chicken cutlets are breaded with toasted panko breadcrumbs and then baked.

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Chicken with Herbed Pea Puree and Spinach

Credit: Armando Rafael
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Look no further than this healthy chicken thigh recipe for a spectacular weeknight dinner. The fresh flavors from sautéed baby spinach with lemon zest and pea purée offers a taste of spring even in the dead of winter.

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General Tso's Chicken

Credit: Martyna Szczesna
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Who doesn't love this popular sweet-and-sour takeout dish? Our quick version uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which are juicy and tender. Serve with steamed broccoli and rice.

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Chipotle Chicken and White-Bean Soup

Credit: Alpha Smoot
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Quick, hearty, and easy to boot, you'll have this soup recipe on rotation through the winter. Chicken thighs cook with tomato sauce, white beans, and chipotle in adobo sauce.

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Chicken and Mushroom Tagliatelle

Credit: Romulo Yanes
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In need of some serious comfort food? This creamy pasta dish made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs will hit the mark. White wine, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese create a rich sauce that coats each and every noodle.

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Chicken with Tomatoes and Feta

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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If you love a one-pan dinner, then you'll love this fast, healthy one-skillet recipe. It's made with chicken breasts, which are baked with plum tomatoes and garlic, then topped with feta cheese and broiled.

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Coconut-Lime Soup with Chicken and Rice Noodles

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The combination of unsweetened coconut milk and chicken broth makes the base for this fragrant soup featuring chicken thighs. Fresh ginger, lime juice, fish sauce, sliced Thai chiles, and cilantro add even more flavor.

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Easy Chicken Posole

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Streamline weeknight dinner by using pre-made chicken stock, shredded rotisserie chicken, jarred salsa, and canned hominy. It's so easy and absolutely delicious.

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By Kelly Vaughan