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87 Chicken Dinner Recipes Perfect For Weeknights, Special Occasions, & More

Winner, winner, best-ever chicken dinners.

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chicken breasts in a casserole dish baked over peppers and topped with cheesepinterest
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

"Chicken: it's what's for dinner:" we've all heard it, and it’s true—chicken breasts, thighs (our favorite cut), or even a whole bird all have a spot on our kitchen table. Unfortunately, that can mean falling into a dinner rut much too easily for our liking. If you’re like us and just can’t bear to make your (or your family’s) old standbys for the umpteenth time, we’ve got you. Get inspired with our list of our 85 best chicken dinner recipes—you’ll be sure to find a new weeknight favorite.

We’ve got something here for everyone, whether you’re looking for tried-and-true classics or creative recipes the whole family will love. If you’re only ordering dishes like chicken Parmesan, chicken tikka masala, or cashew chicken when you’re out at a restaurant, consider this your kick in the pants to try your hand at making them at home. We’ve tested our recipes over and over to make sure they’re easy to follow, and will result in chef-worthy dinners (even if you’re only a novice in the kitchen).

Looking for something more outside the box? Take flavor combinations you love, then turn ‘em into a chicken dinner. We’ve included our jalapeño popper chicken skillet, our enchilada casserole, our chicken shawarma bowls, our tequila lime chicken thighs, and more here to get your creative juices flowing. Got an idea, but not sure how to execute it? Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll see what we can do to help get you there.

And don’t forget about your grill! Now that the weather’s warming up, it’s time to dust yours (or just your indoor grill pan) off, and start enjoying your chicken dinners al fresco. Our spicy coconut grilled chicken, our paella-inspired party packs, and our bruschetta chicken are great places to start, then check out our best grilled chicken recipes for even more ideas. Don’t worry, we’ve got tons of sides for grilled chicken too, and all the potato salads, pasta salads, and summery salads you’ll need to serve alongside them all summer long.

1

Chicken & Broccoli

stir fried pieces of chicken and broccoli
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This fast and easy one-pot chicken and broccoli recipe is coated in a sweet and savory sauce with plenty of ginger and garlic for a weeknight dinner that beats take-out. This dish comes together in 20 minutes with minimal prep work too. Win win!

Get the Chicken & Broccoli recipe.

2

Grilled Chicken Salad

salad topped with sliced grilled chicken, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

We stuffed this salad to the gills with some of our go-to toppings. Cucumbers, tomato, feta, olives, and avocado combine to create a Mediterranean-inspired salad that may just be your go-to light dinner from here on out.

Get the Grilled Chicken Salad recipe.

3

Cheesy Chicken & Pepper Bake

chicken breasts in a casserole dish baked over peppers and topped with cheese
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

In a rut with your weeknight chicken dinners? Spice things up but keep prep easy with this chicken recipe. You get the convenience of cooking the chicken and peppers in one dish, with the added flavor and fancy-ish feel from a thyme-cream cheese stuffing and colorful sweet peppers beneath.

Get the Cheesy Chicken & Pepper Bake recipe.

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4

Creamy Cajun Stuffed Shells

creamy cajun stuffed shells in a white baking dish
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Cajun chicken Alfredo is one of our top pasta dishes in the Delish Test Kitchen, but we might have to make space on our favorites list for these creamy Cajun stuffed shells, that feature a savory Cajun cream sauce and shells filled with andouille sausage and Cajun-seasoned chicken.

Get the Creamy Cajun Stuffed Shells recipe.

5

Cacio E Pepe Chicken

cacio e pepe chicken thighs with lemon wedges
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLIST: BROOKE CAISON

This recipe starts like just like its inspiration—cacio e pepe—with pecorino Romano and black pepper, but here’s where it deviates: we wanted to create a saucy moment, so we chose to sear and braise succulent bone-in chicken thighs in an aromatic white wine broth until tender.

Get the Cacio E Pepe Chicken recipe.

6

Summer Bowtie Pasta & Chicken Sausage Skillet Bake

summer bowtie pasta and chicken sausage skillet bake
Andrew bui

We believe that summer dinners should be both quick and easy, so this skillet pasta dinner requires just a handful of ingredients—bowtie pasta, marinara sauce, chicken sausage, zucchini, bell pepper, spinach—and is SO EASY to make.

Get the Summer Bowtie Pasta & Chicken Sausage Skillet Bake recipe.

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7

Chicken Tacos

flour tortillas on a plate filled with chicken, tomatoes, avocado and red onion
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

We say the more toppings the merrier. We like our chicken tacos topped with red onion (pickled onions would be great too), avocado, cilantro, and cheese. Pico de gallo, salsa, sour cream, or some crushed corn chips would also be delicious, so have fun with it!

Get the Chicken Tacos recipe.

8

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pizza

chicken broccoli alfredo pizza cut into slices on a black baking sheet
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STLYING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Chicken Alfredo and pizza are two kings of the comfort food realm, so when they join forces, you get something truly magical. Creamy Alfredo sauce is topped with sliced chicken, broccoli, and oodles of gooey mozz for a rich, saucy pizza that will revolutionize your weeknight dinner routine.

Get the Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pizza recipe.

9

Chicken Florentine Pasta

pasta in a pot topped with chicken slices and herbs
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you're obsessed with chicken Florentine, then let us introduce you to your new favorite pasta dinner. Ready in under an hour, this is the weeknight dinner to make when you're craving something a bit special.

Get the Chicken Florentine Pasta recipe.

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10

Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles

chicken with noodles and carrots in a creamy peanut lime sauce topped with peanuts
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Who can resist rice noodles bathed in an abundance of sweet and creamy peanut sauce? Not us! In this recipe, the prep actually takes longer than the cooking, so feel free to make some elements ahead. With all them behind you, the dish comes together in a snap.

Get the Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles recipe.

11

Chicken, Spinach, & Artichoke Lasagna

chicken spinach artichoke lasagna vertical
Ethan Calabrese

We love spinach–artichoke anything—the cheesy and veggie-packed combo is always a hit. While we’ve already paired these flavors with gnocchi, tortellini, pasta shells, and more, making a super-cheesy chicken, spinach, and artichoke lasagna just had to happen.

Get the Chicken, Spinach, & Artichoke Lasagna recipe.

12

Peanut Chicken Protein Bowls

sliced chicken in a grain bowl with sweet potatoes, avocados, spinach and a peanut dressing
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

The beauty about these grain bowls is that it's infinitely adaptable. You can roast just about any veggie, use any number of toppings, and it'll taste amazing in this recipe. The only thing we might insist you must keep on the bowl is the incredible peanut butter dressing.

Get the Peanut Chicken Protein Bowls recipe.

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13

Marry Me Chicken

marry me chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

If you're looking for a chicken dinner so good jaws will drop, this is the recipe for you. Chicken breasts are seared until golden, before being baked with a simple (but extremely satisfying) cream sauce. The result is a chicken dinner so good, you just might get a proposal by the last bite.

Get the Marry Me Chicken recipe.

14

Orange Chicken

orange chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

If you just can't get enough of the classic Panda Express dish, this copycat recipe will be a game-changer. Ready in under an hour with all of the same sweet and savory flavors you love, staying in for weeknight dinner has never been easier.

Get the Orange Chicken recipe.

15

Tequila-Lime Chicken Thighs

baked chicken thighs with lime wedges and jalapeno slices
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We can’t think of a better reason to enjoy a margarita than with these tequila chicken thighs. With a sauce inspired by the classic cocktail (seriously), you’ll also have the ingredients on hand to mix one up while you cook and dine on this easy-to-make weeknight dinner.

Get the Tequila-Lime Chicken Thighs recipe.

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16

Peruvian-Style Chicken With Green Sauce

peruvian style chicken drizzled with green sauce and served with lime
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Our ever-popular Peruvian roast chicken will forever be one of our favorites…unless we need to get dinner on the table ASAP. If that's you too, lean on chicken thighs instead for that smoky, garlicky chicken with its crispy skin, in less than half the time.

Get the Peruvian-Style Chicken With Green Sauce recipe.

17

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

creamy tuscan chicken delishcom
Emily Hlavac Green

When it comes to chicken breast recipes, it's hard to beat this one. The sauce is simple but so flavorful thanks to garlic, tomatoes, and most importantly, cream. It's bright and easy and just as good in the summer as it is in the winter, whether you're craving comfort food or a dinner fancy enough for guests.

Get the Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe.

18

Butter Chicken

butter chicken in a bowl with rice topped with cilantro
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: LAURA REGE

This chicken dinner uses deeply flavored chicken thighs, simmered in an ultra-silky and aromatic sauce of tomatoes, cream, and cashews. The cashews lend a buttery nuttiness and great texture to the sauce in this recipe, but blanched almonds would also work well. For the ultimate weeknight dinner, spoon this dish over steamed rice or serve with warm naan.

Get the Butter Chicken recipe.

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19

Enchilada Casserole

enchilada fillings in a casserole topped with avocado cubes
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This casserole has all of the flavors of chicken enchiladas (with a few worthwhile additions), but eliminates the most tedious part of making them: all that rolling! In this recipe, you just layer all your components in a casserole dish, bake until melty and saucy, add your desired toppings, and serve.

Get the Enchilada Casserole recipe.

20

Cajun-Stuffed Chicken

cajun stuffed chicken filled with peppers and onions
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Say goodbye to boring chicken dinners—this Cajun-stuffed chicken is here to shake up your weeknight rotation. Spiced with peppers and cheese, this stuffed chicken is packed with flavor, but ready to be served in under an hour.

Get the Cajun-Stuffed Chicken recipe.

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