35 Chicken Recipes I’d Keep If They Were the Only Ones Left
Published Mar 13, 2026
A collection of 30 chicken recipes including chicken breast, chicken thighs, Middle Eastern, one-pot dinners, stir fries, and chicken pasta for easy weeknight meals.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I have a lot of chicken recipes on the site, well over 140 at this point. Chicken is one of the easiest proteins for me to find halal, so it shows up in my kitchen a lot. But sometimes having that many options can make it harder to decide what to cook. So I pulled together 30 chicken recipes that I make often and that readers tend to come back to.
Jump to Section
35 Chicken Recipes
To keep things easy to browse, I grouped them into a few categories: chicken breast recipes, chicken thigh recipes, Middle Eastern chicken recipes, stir fries, one-pan chicken recipes, and, of course, pasta dishes with chicken. Some are quick weeknight dinners, some are the kind of meals that give you leftovers for the next day, and a few are just the ones I end up making over and over.
Chicken Breast Recipes
Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Mediterranean Chicken Recipe
One-pan Mediterranean chicken with chicken breast, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and a simple pan sauce.
30 minutes
Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Oven Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
My oven baked chicken breast is super simple to make and fast! Sprinkle on some seasoning, and throw in the oven for 20 and it's all set!
20 minutes
Main Course
Pecan Crusted Chicken Recipe
This pecan crusted chicken is marinated in a yogurt, Dijon, and honey sauce that is then coated in pecans and panko and baked in the oven. Serve with homemade honey mustard.
45 minutes
Entree
Creamy Pesto Chicken
This creamy pesto chicken is made with a only few ingredients – an easy and healthy weeknight meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes!
30 minutes
Entree, Main Course, Main Dish
Chicken Piccata Recipe
This chicken piccata recipe is easy to make with chicken cutlets, in a lemon caper sauce that is pan seared and takes under 30 minutes to make.
28 minutes
Dinner, Entree
Creamy Cajun Chicken Recipe
This creamy Cajun chicken is made in one pan with seared chicken breasts that have been tossed in a Cajun seasoning. The pan bits are then turned into a creamy sauce to serve with rice, pasta or mashed potatoes.
45 minutes
Chicken Thigh Recipes
Main Course
Grilled Harissa Chicken Recipe
Grilled Harissa Chicken made with chicken thighs marinated in harissa paste, garlic, lemon, olive oil, and warm spices, then grilled until charred and juicy.
35 minutes
Entree
Pan Seared Chicken Thighs
Pan seared chicken thighs are an excellent method of preparing juicy, tender chicken in a skillet. They can be ready in 15 minutes and are easily adaptable!
20 minutes
Entree, Soup
Chicken Stew Recipe
This chicken stew is made in one pot with chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, onions, and herbs. It only takes 10 minutes to prep!
45 minutes
Dinner, Entree
Skillet Rosemary Chicken
Crispy rosemary chicken thighs roasted with garlic and fresh herbs, all in one skillet for a flavorful and easy weeknight meal.
30 minutes
Dinner, Entree
Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Instant Pot Butter Chicken is a quick, creamy, and flavorful Indian-inspired dish with tender chicken in a tomato-based sauce. Perfect over white rice!
50 minutes
Middle Eastern Chicken Recipes
Main Course
Shish Tawook
Try this Authentic Shish Tawook recipe – a popular Lebanese grilled chicken skewers recipe. It's tender juicy chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon and garlic.
28 minutes
Dinner, Entree
Lebanese Chicken and Rice Recipe
Lebanese Chicken and Rice (Roz a Djej) made with shredded chicken, spiced rice with ground beef, and topped with toasted almonds, pine nuts, and cashews.
1 hour 35 minutes
Main Course
Chicken Kafta
Traditional Lebanese Chicken Kafta is so quick and easy to make with simple ingredients. Serve with rice, salad or in a pita with some garlic sauce!
15 minutes
Entree
Lebanese Chicken Fatteh
This authentic Lebanese Chicken Fatteh is an amazing combo of flavors made with yogurt, spiced shredded chicken, chickpeas, toasted pine nuts & pita bread!
25 minutes
Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Roasted Za’atar Chicken
Za'atar chicken drumsticks and thighs roasted in the oven is your answer for what's for dinner tonight. The za'atar seasoning adds a unique Middle Eastern flavor to the chicken!
50 minutes
Chicken Stir Fry Recipes
Main Course
Thai Peanut Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
Homemade Peanut Chicken Stir Fry with fresh vegetables and a rich peanut sauce made with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger. Quick weeknight dinner.
20 minutes
Main Course
Chicken and Vegetable Lo Mein
This easy Chicken and Vegetable Lo Mein recipe is inspired by the Chinese takeout dish, with a flavorful lo mein sauce, crisp veggies, chicken, and noodles!
30 minutes
Entree
Cashew Chicken
Homemade cashew chicken is a quick, flavorful takeout favorite you can easily make at home. Tender chicken, crunchy cashews, and colorful veggies come together in a savory sauce, perfect over rice.
35 minutes
Entree
Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe
Peanut butter chicken cooked in a skillet with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger for a rich, savory sauce. Ready in about 20 minutes and great over rice.
25 minutes
Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Green Thai Curry
My green Thai curry has chicken, vegetables, herbs, and a creamy, spicy coconut milk sauce. It's perfect for a weeknight meal.
40 minutes
One-Pan Chicken Recipes for Dinner
Entree
Browned Butter Honey Chicken
This sticky sweet, savory Browned Butter Honey Chicken recipe has the best nutty, garlicky flavor, crispy skin, and tender, juicy meat, perfect for a weeknight dinner.
30 minutes
Main Course
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas Recipe
These chicken fajitas are baked in the oven on a sheet pan with all the veggies and chicken at once. Only 10 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook!
25 minutes
Dinner, Entree
Oven Baked Chicken and Rice Recipe
This baked chicken and rice recipe is super easy. Just grab a baking dish, chicken thighs, rice, and a few seasonings, and bake in the oven until the rice is cooked and the thighs are juicy.
1 hour 15 minutes
Entree
Creamy Pesto Chicken
This creamy pesto chicken is made with a only few ingredients – an easy and healthy weeknight meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes!
30 minutes
Main Course
One Pan Chicken and Potatoes Recipe
This baked chicken and potatoes recipe is made in one pan and is easy to throw together with thighs or drumsticks, potatoes, and a simple sauce.
1 hour 5 minutes
Entree
Chicken Couscous Recipe
This chicken couscous recipe is made with chicken thighs and pearled couscous simmered together in one skillet and is ready in 30 minutes!
40 minutes
Main Course
Mexican Chicken and Rice Recipe
This one pan Mexican Chicken and Rice recipe is easy to prepare and make! I use tomato paste, canned green chiles and warm seasonings.
45 minutes
Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Marry Me Chicken Recipe
This marry me chicken is a one pot recipe made with pan seared chicken breast in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce and finished with fresh basil.
35 minutes
Chicken and Pasta Recipes
Entree, Main Dish, Pastas
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
This creamy Cajun chicken pasta is a lightened up version made with milk and chicken broth instead of heavy cream. It's lightly spicy and loaded with juicy blackened chicken oven penne pasta!
45 minutes
Main Course
Pesto Pasta with Chicken Recipe
This pesto pasta with chicken is made with spaghetti noodles and seared chicken breasts tossed in a pesto sauce and is ready in 20 minutes.
20 minutes
Dinner, Entree, Pastas
Chicken Alfredo Recipe
This chicken alfredo recipe is made with seared, seasoned chicken breasts with a homemade alfredo sauce, with al dente fettuccine all mixed in.
40 minutes
Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Chicken Stroganoff Recipe
Easy chicken stroganoff recipe made with chicken breast, in a creamy mushroom sauce with baby bella mushrooms and fresh onions and garlic, simmered on the stovetop.
1 hour
Dinner, Entree
Chicken Lasagna Recipe
This chicken lasagna recipe is made with a homemade béchamel sauce with Greek yogurt, shredded chicken, spinach, and ricotta for a creamy, hearty baked pasta that slices beautifully.
1 hour 30 minutes
Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Lemon Chicken Orzo Recipe
One-skillet lemon chicken orzo with chicken breast, orzo cooked in broth, spinach, milk, Parmesan, and lemon make a creamy sauce, and it's ready in 30 minutes.
45 minutes
Tips for Making Chicken Recipes
- Buy in bulk when chicken goes on sale. Different cuts of chicken go on sale routinely stock up when they do. Take it one step further and marinade the chicken, and divide them into meal-sized portions to freeze.
- Meal prep strategically. Chicken is one of the easiest meats to meal prep, and cold chicken recipes are just as delicious! It’s versatile, easy to prepare, and freezes beautifully. Learn how to meal prep efficiently to get the most of your day.
- Use a meat thermometer to test if your chicken is truly done. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken, if it reads 165F then it’s done. Keep in mind that chicken breasts and chicken thighs have different cook times. Don’t skip this step so that you make sure the chicken is moist and tender.
- Cut chicken across the grain. This creates slices with shorter fibers, resulting in more tender pieces of chicken, great for stir fry!
- Use parchment. Chicken breast is a lean cut and can be tricky to cook without it drying out and losing all that juicy flavor. A piece of parchment paper over the chicken before it goes into the oven prevents it from drying out.
- Pound your chicken for an even cook. Chicken breasts are often thicker at one end, this unevenness means that the thicker end will take longer to cook. By pounding out the chicken or butterflying it, you’ll have a piece of meat that cooks quicker and more evenly.
- Don’t use a fork to turn chicken. When pan searing chicken, use tongs or a spatula instead of a fork to turn the pieces. Piercing the chicken with a fork or knife allows the juices to escape.
- Leave the skin on the chicken. This helps to hold in juices, increasing tenderness. You can always remove the skin after cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd chicken pieces when cooking. Leaving space between chicken pieces allows them to brown and cook more evenly.
FAQs
Can I use chicken breasts and chicken thighs interchangeably in recipes?
In many cases, yes, you can swap those two chicken cuts as you see fit, however, cooking times may vary. Chicken thigh recipes will generally have a longer cooking time, so it’s best to check the internal temperature of your meat with an instant read thermometer to ensure food safety.
What’s the secret to getting a perfectly browned skin on seared chicken?
This will vary depending on the specific recipe, but what may help get a perfect sear is to start with a hot oiled pan and a very dry chicken. It also helps to brown it undisturbed until it easily releases from the pan.
What are some good side dishes for chicken recipes for dinner?
Because of its versatility, chicken goes well with pretty much anything. Pair it with healthy mashed potatoes or lemon rice for a comforting combination. Roasted veggies like oven roasted carrots or cauliflower steaks are always a welcome addition. And don’t forget to serve it with salads like Lebanese fattoush salad, kale Caesar salad, or southwest quinoa salad for a lighter flare.
