7 Easy Chicken Dinners You’ll Want To Make Again
When dinner needs to be easy, chicken is one of the best ingredients to keep on hand.
It cooks quickly and works with many flavors. It also fits simple recipes that use one pan, one skillet, or a single baking dish.
That is why easy chicken dinners remain a popular choice for busy weeknights. Recent recipe roundups continue to focus on quick chicken meals, simple ingredients, and easy cleanup.
Here are seven easy chicken dinners that are simple enough for a weeknight and tasty enough to make again.
1. Garlic Butter Chicken
Garlic butter chicken is simple, but it has plenty of flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
Season the chicken with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the chicken and cook until golden on both sides.
Add the butter and garlic. Cook for another minute.
Add the lemon juice and parsley.
Continue cooking until the chicken reaches 165°F in the thickest part. The USDA recommends 165°F as the safe minimum internal temperature for poultry.
Serve with rice, potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
2. One-Pan Chicken And Potatoes
This dinner keeps things simple because the chicken and potatoes cook together.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 pound baby potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper
- 1 lemon
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
Heat the oven to 425°F.
Cut the potatoes in half and place them on a baking sheet.
Add the chicken thighs.
Drizzle everything with olive oil.
Season with paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Roast until the potatoes are tender and the chicken reaches 165°F.
Finish with fresh lemon juice and parsley.
One-pan chicken dinners are popular because they reduce both cooking time and cleanup.
3. Creamy Chicken And Spinach
This creamy skillet dinner is comforting without being complicated.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Heat olive oil in a skillet.
Cook the chicken until golden and fully cooked.
Remove the chicken from the skillet.
Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
Pour in the cream.
Stir in the Parmesan and spinach.
Return the chicken to the skillet.
Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
Serve with pasta, rice, or crusty bread.
4. Honey Garlic Chicken
Sweet and savory flavors make this chicken dinner a family-friendly option.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Green onions
- Black pepper
Instructions
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet.
Add the chicken and cook until golden.
Mix the honey, soy sauce, and garlic in a small bowl.
Pour the sauce over the chicken.
Cook for several minutes while stirring.
Let the sauce become slightly thick and glossy.
Top with sesame seeds and green onions.
Serve over steamed rice.
5. Lemon Chicken With Vegetables
This recipe is a good choice when you want something lighter.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 zucchini
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 cup broccoli
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Heat the oven to 425°F.
Place the chicken and vegetables on a baking sheet.
Add olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over everything.
Toss the vegetables to coat them.
Bake until the vegetables are tender and the chicken reaches 165°F.
Serve immediately.
6. Easy Chicken Fajitas
Chicken fajitas are a simple way to turn dinner into something everyone can customize.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 onion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper
- Flour tortillas
Instructions
Slice the chicken, peppers, and onion into thin strips.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
Add the chicken and season with chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
Cook until the chicken is nearly done.
Add the peppers and onion.
Cook until the vegetables are tender.
Serve in warm tortillas.
Add your favorite toppings, such as avocado, salsa, cheese, or sour cream.
7. Crispy Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan can feel like a special dinner, but it is easy enough for a weeknight.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
Instructions
Heat the oven to 400°F.
Flatten the chicken breasts slightly.
Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Dip each piece into beaten egg.
Coat with breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan.
Place the chicken on a baking sheet.
Bake until golden and cooked through.
Add marinara sauce and mozzarella.
Return to the oven until the cheese melts.
Serve with pasta or a simple green salad.
Easy Chicken Dinners Make Weeknights Simpler
You do not need complicated ingredients to make a good chicken dinner.
A few basic ingredients can create very different meals.
One-pan recipes can also make cleanup easier. That is one reason they continue to be popular with home cooks looking for simple weeknight meals.
Try these recipes with your favorite vegetables, herbs, and sauces.
You can also prepare extra chicken and use the leftovers for salads, wraps, sandwiches, or rice bowls.
A Quick Food Safety Reminder
Always use a food thermometer when cooking chicken. The USDA recommends cooking all poultry to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (73.9°C).
Keep raw chicken separate from ready-to-eat foods. Also, do not rely only on the color of the meat to decide if it is safe. A thermometer is the best way to check.
