Chicken breast is a common choice for weeknight dinners. It’s healthy and can be cooked in lots of different ways with a variety of ingredients.
The key is changing up the ingredients and the method of cooking so chicken dinner doesn’t feel too boring. Below are ideas that include skillet dinners, baked casseroles, and fresh herb recipes. Choose a few for this week and save the rest for future dinners when you have chicken in the fridge.
| Group | Dishes |
|---|---|
| Plated with a sauce | Chicken Piccata, Chicken Parmesan, Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Honey Mustard Chicken, Chicken Marsala, Teriyaki Chicken, Pesto Chicken Bake, Salsa Verde Chicken, Coconut Curry Chicken, Balsamic Chicken, Chicken Katsu, Garlic Butter Chicken, Chicken Caprese |
| Rice bowls | Chicken Souvlaki Bowls, Chicken Stir Fry, Chicken Fried Rice, Chicken Satay Bowls |
| Tacos, wraps and handhelds | Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Chicken Shawarma Wraps, Chicken Tinga, BBQ Chicken Flatbreads, Chicken Quesadillas, Chicken Gyro Pitas, Chicken Lettuce Wraps |
| Pasta and casseroles | Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Noodle Casserole, Chicken Enchiladas, Chicken Ranch Pasta, Chicken Pot Pie |
| Soup, salad and stuffed sweet potatoes | Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes, Chicken Caesar Salad, Chicken Vegetable Soup |
Plated with a sauce
Chicken Piccata
When you don’t want to spend a lot of time prepping or cooking, chicken piccata is a good option.
Its flavor comes from a pan sauce with capers, broth, butter, and lemon juice. Pair the dish with something to soak up the sauce like pasta (the real traditional option), mashed potatoes, or sautéed greens. At the end, add some chopped parsley and a sprinkle of black pepper.
Chicken Parmesan
When you bake chicken parmesan, you keep the dish crispy and also avoid the mess that comes with deep frying. Bread the chicken cutlets, bake them until they are golden brown, and then add some marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese to finish it off. It’s usually served with spaghetti, but you can also serve it over sautéed zucchini noodles or in a sandwich. Waiting a few minutes before slicing will give the best texture.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
This is a one-pan dinner. You can saute the chicken breasts and then only take a few extra minutes to cook them in a creamy sauce with garlic, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. The sauce goes well with rice, gnocchi or crusty bread, so use what you prefer. For a lighter version, use half and half in place of the heavy cream.
Honey Mustard Chicken
The sweetness and tang of honey mustard appeal to picky eaters and to more adventurous eaters as well.
To make the glaze, whisk together honey, Dijon mustard, some vinegar, and just a tiny bit of garlic, and let it simmer. It will thicken into a glaze. You can deepen the flavor of the sauce by browning the chicken first. Accompany it with roasted potatoes or a fresh salad.
Chicken Marsala
Chicken Marsala is a restaurant-style meal you can make on a weeknight. The sauce is wine-based, which flavors the mushrooms. The chicken stays tender if you don’t over cook it. Serve it with creamy polenta or egg noodles. To brighten the pan, squeeze some lemon at the end.
Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki chicken is a fast weeknight dinner. You can get teriyaki sauce from the store or you can make your own with soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic. If you want to make this a little healthier and add some broccoli, you can throw some into the pan with a little bit of water and cover it for a few minutes. Optional: you can add sesame seeds at the end.
Pesto Chicken Bake
Pesto is a sauce you can use straight from the jar. Spread a layer of pesto on top of your chicken breasts, add some mozzarella and bake them until the chicken is fully cooked. Serve with fresh or roasted tomatoes. For added crunch you can use the broil option for a few minutes to give the cheese a nice golden color.
Salsa Verde Chicken
With a small amount of chopping, you can cook chicken breasts in salsa verde. Cook the chicken, then add salsa verde and simmer until cooked and saucy. It can be served with whatever is available from rice, tortillas, or black beans. Finish with a squeeze of lime and some diced onion on top.
Coconut Curry Chicken
A coconut milk curry is fast to make. Cook curry paste or powder with some garlic, add coconut milk, and then simmer chicken (cut into pieces). You can add bell peppers, spinach, or green beans. Serve with rice and keep the hot sauce on the table for anyone who wants more heat.
Balsamic Chicken
Balsamic glaze adds a nice sweet, tangy touch to chicken breast. To make it, sear the chicken and then make a quick sauce by simmering balsamic vinegar and a little honey until it thickens. Roasted tomatoes add a juicy, jammy contrast to chicken and sauce. Serve it with pasta, farro, or bread.
Chicken Katsu
Chicken katsu has a crisp breadcrumb coating. Pound a chicken breast till it’s thin, coat it with breadcrumbs (use panko for best texture), and fry it until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Serve with thinly shredded cabbage, a dip for the katsu, and some rice for a more heavy meal. Cut the chicken katsu into strips before you serve it so everyone can get a little bit of that crispy coating with every piece.
Garlic Butter Chicken
Garlic butter doesn’t require a long ingredient list to make chicken breast feel rich. Sear the chicken then make a quick pan sauce by adding butter, garlic, and a splash of broth or lemon. Toss in some green beans to warm through and soak up some of the flavor. This dish is good with rice, mashed potatoes, or even just a crusty roll.
Chicken Caprese
This recipe turns the traditional caprese combination into a warm dinner. You will sear the chicken breast on the stove and then add mozzarella cheese and let it melt while the tomatoes soften in the same pan. Add your basil at the last moment to keep it fragrant. The balsamic glaze drizzle is optional.
Rice bowls
Chicken Souvlaki Bowls
These bowls turn a basic chicken breast into a Greek-style meal. Marinate the chicken in olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano, and then cook it until it is browned. Then layer in some rice and chopped salad veggies, and add a scoop of tzatziki. If you have pita, warm it up and serve it alongside.
Chicken Stir Fry
Stir-fries use up whatever is in the crisper drawer. Cut the chicken into strips so they cook fast and stay tender. A quick ginger-soy sauce coats everything, and you can use any veggies you have on hand. Serve over rice or noodles, or add shredded cabbage for a lighter option.
Chicken Fried Rice
Fried rice is best made with leftover rice, so this recipe uses up leftovers. Make sure to cube the chicken breast small so it cooks quickly and combines nicely. Throw in some more veggies, an egg, and soy sauce to taste. Finish with a little toasted sesame oil.
Chicken Satay Bowls
Peanut sauce makes a simple chicken dinner taste bold. Grill or bake the chicken. Then, mix the remaining ingredients to make a sauce. The sauce is combination of peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, and sugar. Add sliced cucumbers or a slaw to the dish for crunch. For more heat, add some chili flakes or sriracha to the sauce.
Tacos, wraps and handhelds
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Roasting fajitas on one pan keeps things low effort and gets you lightly charred edges without standing at the stove. To begin, slice the chicken breast, and the peppers, and toss them both together with oil and spices, specifically the fajita style spices.
Next, roast the mixture until the chicken is fully cooked. Serve the chicken and pepper mixture with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings. Warm tortillas and toppings can include salsa, cilantro, as well as sour cream. If you happen to have any of this dish leftover, it can be repurposed as a lunch bowl with rice and beans.
The CDC advises refrigerating cooked leftovers such as these fajitas within 2 hours, or within 1 hour when it is above 90°F.
Chicken Shawarma Wraps
With the right spice combination, you can make shawarma-style chicken at home. To prepare the chicken, add spices that include: cumin, paprika, garlic, and some cinnamon.
Cook until evenly browned and then slice thin. To serve, wrap the chicken in flatbread along with cucumbers, and tomatoes. Add a garlic yogurt sauce. You can also turn the wrap into a bowl over rice, with some pickles on the side.
Chicken Tinga
Chicken Tinga is saucy and smoky, so it holds up in tacos. The meat is made by shredding chicken after it simmers in a sauce made of tomatoes, chipotle peppers, and onions. Put some of the chicken in a tortilla with some avocado, onion, or crema. You can also eat it over rice bowls or with tostadas.
BBQ Chicken Flatbreads
Flatbread BBQ chicken pizzas make a quick pizza night. There is no need to make pizza dough, since the barbecue chicken goes on a flatbread.
Layer the chicken and sauce on the flatbread and throw some cheese and onions on top before baking. Once they are cheesy and bubbly, you can take it out and cut it into snackable slices. Add a handful of arugula on top after it finishes baking.
Chicken Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a reliable “use what you have” dinner, and chicken breast fits right in. Combine cooked chicken, cheese, and spinach, then pan-fry the mixture in a skillet until the tortilla turns golden brown. Accompany the dish with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole. They can be reheated in a dry pan, which maintains their crispiness.
Chicken Gyro Pitas
Pita gyros make a weeknight dinner. Season chicken with some oregano, garlic, lemon, and a dash of paprika. Then cook and slice the chicken thin. Put your chicken in the pitas with some chopped vegetables and tzatziki. If you want to serve more, have roasted potatoes or a Greek salad.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are a light, quick dinner. The chicken breast should be most quickly cooked by being minced and/or chopped, and then should be seasoned using a soy-garlic sauce and a small amount of ginger. Then, place the chicken in crisp lettuce cups and finish with scallions and/or crushed peanuts. Offer extra sauce to allow for customization of wraps.
Pasta and casseroles
Chicken Alfredo
Alfredo can be made better with a few ingredients swaps. Replace cream with milk + a bit of parmesan + a bit of butter, or if you want a thick cream in it, add a spoon of Greek yogurt. For more flavor, cook the chicken first and then make the sauce in the same pan. For added nutrition, you can add in peas or spinach.
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Make this casserole on cold nights or to feed a group. Blend cooked noodles and chicken with a creamy sauce and vegetables such as peas or broccoli. Top with breadcrumbs and bake until browned and bubbly. You can also prepare it ahead of time for a busy week.
Chicken Enchiladas
Enchiladas are another use for plain chicken breast. Shred some chicken and mix it with black beans, cheese, and your favorite spices. Then, roll the mixture in some tortillas and cover them with enchilada sauce. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and melted. Top with shredded lettuce and a squeeze of lime.
Chicken Ranch Pasta
Once the chicken is cooked, this bowl can be assembled quickly. Ranch-style seasoning or ranch-style dressing can be incorporated into a creamy sauce, and mixed with chicken and pasta. For some added salt and crunch, use crispy bacon, and if you want to incorporate a vegetable, add peas or broccoli. To keep the sauce thin and add some creaminess, use a splash of pasta water.
Chicken Pot Pie
This chicken pot pie uses one baking dish. Start by mixing chicken and vegetables with gravy into a baking dish. Top it with puff pastry (or biscuits) and bake it in the oven until golden brown. Once it is done baking, let it cool a few minutes so the filling thickens. It’s a great way to use leftover chicken breast, too.
Soup, salad and stuffed sweet potatoes
Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes
This dish is warm and spicy. First, bake the sweet potatoes until soft, then top them with shredded chicken and buffalo style hot sauce mixed with a little bit of butter. For a cooling drizzle, you can add either ranch dressing or a yogurt based dressing.
If you want to add some crunch to the dish, feel free to throw in some chopped celery. It’s a great way to stretch a couple chicken breasts into multiple dinners.
Chicken Caesar Salad
A big Caesar salad can count as dinner with warm chicken on top. You can season the chicken with just salt, pepper, and garlic before slicing. Then grill or pan-sear and slice the chicken. Toss the romaine with Caesar dressing, Parmesan, and croutons, and finish it off with the chicken. If you want to make it extra filling, add a soft-boiled egg.
Roasted chicken breast has about 31 g of protein per 100 g, per USDA FoodData Central.
Chicken Vegetable Soup
Chicken breast keeps this soup light. Poach it (or simmer it) first so it stays tender.
After that, shred it or cut it into pieces and drop it into the pot. Then, toss in some carrots, celery, and onions, as well as noodles or rice, depending on your preferences. This is one of those dinners that tastes even better the next day.
Ingredient protein figures are based on USDA FoodData Central. How we calculate nutrition.
