These chicken dinner ideas answer that age old question, what’s for dinner? Try all our best chicken recipes: pan dinners, soups, salads, enchiladas, and more—including delicious ideas for both chicken breast and thighs! There’s something for everyone in this list.
What’s for dinner? Even though we’re two-time cookbook authors and food bloggers, we’re also busy parents who are often stumped by this question. Chicken to the rescue!
There are so many fun, creative chicken dinner ideas that are easy to whip up. As two cookbook authors and recipe developers, we’ve made it our goal to uncover all of them! Here’s a list of our top chicken recipes that our readers and family love, including:
- Skillet dinners, whipped up a skillet with a creamy sauce like Tuscan chicken, lemon garlic chicken, and more
- One pot dinners like our easy chicken and rice
- Grilled chicken like grilled chicken breast or thighs
- Baked chicken like Greek chicken or baked chicken thighs
- Salads like grilled chicken salad or chicken pasta salad
- Enchiladas and tacos
- Soups and sandwiches
And now, our top chicken dinner ideas (breast and thighs)!
If there’s one chicken dinner idea that’s a sure hit in our house, it’s this easy lemon garlic chicken! For this quick skillet meal, you’ll coat the chicken in spices and pan fry it until tender and juicy, then top it with a quick pan sauce made with lemon, garlic and a little cream.
This one pot chicken and rice is the perfect easy dinner that’s bursting with flavor! Tender chicken thighs and fluffy rice simmer in a cozy broth, with a burst of freshness from the zesty parsley and lemon gremolata topping. We’ve made this one pot meal dozens of times for friends and family, and it’s a hit every time.
This pan seared chicken breast comes out irresistibly seasoned with a golden brown crust and a juicy, tender interior! Here are all our tips and tricks to this family favorite—serve it with a few sides, or add to salads, tacos rice bowls, and more.
Here’s a chicken recipe that impresses every time: chicken piccata! Tender, golden-brown chicken cutlets are bathed in a vibrant lemon-butter sauce with pops of briny capers. This classic Italian American dish is so irresistible, it might be one of our very favorite chicken dinners—ever.
Here’s a chicken dinner idea that’s a total winner every night of the week: Greek chicken. We’re suckers for colorful one pot recipes, and this Mediterranean-style meal has charisma in spades. Bake the chicken with tomatoes, olives, garlic, lemon, and feta cheese, and it comes out with beautiful bold flavors.
Need an easy flavor-packed chicken dinner idea that’s ready in 30 minutes? We’ve found it’s deceptively tricky to find dinnertime hits, but this one seems to please everyone every time we serve it! The juicy chicken strips are seasoned to perfection, nestled into a tortilla with guacamole, cheese crumbles and topped with a zingy lime crema.
Try this incredible oven baked chicken thighs recipe! This easy method is the secret to perfectly seasoned meat with a crispy skin and juicy, succulent interior. Dunk them in a bit of buffalo ranch and it’s pure heaven.
This creamy Tuscan chicken recipe is the chicken dinner of your dreams! Juicy breasts are bathed in a dreamy sauce of sun dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and Parmesan. We can never tire of this one and it’s always a hit when we serve it. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a chicken dinner that’s easy and impressive!
These nuggets are made with real chicken breast, baked instead of fried, with a perfectly seasoned crunchy exterior. Homemade nuggets are family friendly, great for topping a Caesar salad or power bowls. If you add a homemade dipping sauce like honey mustard or ranch, they are next-level!
Here’s a crowd-pleasing chicken dinner to put in your rotation: chicken enchiladas recipe! It’s hard to find someone who will turn down this Tex Mex favorite. Each enchilada is stuffed with shredded chicken and cheese, then drowned in a zingy red sauce and baked until warm and gooey. It’s also extremely versatile: you can easily make half the pan vegetarian or use corn tortillas for gluten-free.
Master the art of juicy, perfectly seasoned grilled chicken breast! We’ve figured out the trick to an ultra-moist piece of meat that melts in your mouth. Use this method and you’ll never have bland, boring chicken again! It’s perfect in a grilled chicken salad or chicken pesto sandwich.
Experience the bold flavors and juicy perfection of blackened chicken! This culinary magic transforms ordinary chicken breasts into flavor powerhouses with a smoky depth and a hint of heat. This chicken dinner idea is great as is with some sides, or served on sandwiches, salads, or tacos.
This grilled chicken salad recipe combines juicy chicken, crunchy vegetables and a tangy Italian vinaigrette, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal. You can use other chicken cooking methods to top, like seared chicken, blackened chicken, and Parmesan chicken.
This chicken corn chowder recipe is creamy and cozy, punctuated by soft potatoes and bright bursts of sweet corn. Adding chicken gives it a protein boost that makes it a filling meal. It’s one of our top ways to enjoy those sweet seasonal cobs, and it even works with canned corn too!
Combine basil pesto with a bit of cream and it makes a stunning fresh sauce for juicy chicken breasts! It’s a quick trick that makes an everyday dinner into something special, perfect for entertaining or just an easy weeknight meal. This one is very popular in our house: especially when we have guests.
You can tell by the shine on that creamy sauce that this one’s a good one. Welcome to one of our favorite ways to eat chicken: this garlic chicken recipe! The tender, juicy chicken breasts are coated in garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika, then cooked and smothered in a garlic cream sauce.
Need dinner in a hurry? Enter these juicy, delicious pan fried chicken thighs! It’s hard to find meal that comes together quickly with little fuss, but this one is an absolute game changer. All you need is a simple blend of spices and this comes together in just about 20 minutes!
Here’s a chicken dinner idea that’s the equivalent of sunshine in a bowl: lemon chicken orzo soup! Zingy citrus always lifts our spirits, and this one is almost guaranteed to make your day brighter. We’ve packed this new soup recipe with tender shredded chicken and fluffy orzo, all in a zesty lemon broth seasoned with garlic, oregano and dill.
These juicy grilled chicken thighs are perfect for summer cookouts or weeknight dinners! The easy marinade and grilling technique works for bone-in or boneless thighs, making for an unforgettable meal.
This chicken dinner idea has become one of those back-pocket concepts we keep on hand for guests or for an easy dinner on a weeknight. It’s great on its own, or you can slice it to top a Caesar salad or rice bowl. Long live Parmesan crusted chicken!
This tangy chicken pasta salad is packed with Mediterranean flavors and is our family-favorite summer lunch or dinner! It’s a mix of tender chicken, sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and a zesty vinaigrette.
One of our ultimate chicken dinner ideas is this chicken pesto sandwich! It stars grilled chicken breast topped with herby basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and ripe tomatoes, all nestled between two slices of crusty bread.
Sides to serve with chicken dinners
How to make your chicken dinner into a meal? We’ve compiled all our ideas into this list of 50 Side Dishes for Chicken. Here are some highlights:
- Sauteed vegetables like Green Beans Almondine, Sauteed Broccolini, or Sauteed Mushrooms
- Salads like Chopped Salad, Apple Salad, Kale Salad, or Arugula Salad
- Grains and pasta like Couscous, Orzo, Garlic Butter Noodles, Lemon Rice
- Roasted vegetables like Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Parmesan Potato Wedges or Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Mashed potatoes like our best Mashed Potatoes Recipe or Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Breads like Skillet Cornbread, No Knead Bread, or Focaccia Bread
More chicken techniques
Learn more about these essential chicken techniques!
Frequently asked questions
For busy weeknights, opt for quick and simple recipes like Lemon Garlic Chicken or Pan Seared Chicken, stir-fries, or pasta dishes with chicken. You can also try using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to save even more time in dishes like enchiladas and soups.
There are plenty of healthy chicken dinner options! Grilled chicken or Greek chicken with vegetables, chicken salads with light dressings like grilled chicken salad, and chicken soups are all great choices. Focus on lean protein, whole grains, and plenty of vegetable recipes for a balanced meal.
Leftover cooked chicken is a versatile ingredient that can be used in numerous dishes. Add it to salads, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, pasta dishes, or stir-fries. You can also shred it and use it in casseroles, chicken enchiladas, or quesadillas.
Description
This one-pot chicken and rice is the perfect easy dinner idea that’s bursting with flavor! Tender chicken thighs and fluffy rice simmer in a cozy broth, with a burst of freshness from the zesty parsley and lemon gremolata topping.
For the chicken
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
- 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the rice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small white or yellow onion, minced
- 1 ½ cups white rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
For the gremolata
- ⅓ cup finely chopped Italian parsley, (about 1/2 bunch)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (1 large lemon)
- 1/2 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 grind black pepper
- Dry the chicken thighs and season with the kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder and lots of fresh ground pepper. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove the chicken to a plate, leaving the juices in the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and add the garlic and onion. Cook for 5 minutes, until the onions are very tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the broth, rice, dill and kosher salt, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up all of the seasoning from the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and top with the browned chicken thighs. Cover with a lid and cook at a low simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until rice is tender and all of the liquid is absorbed.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl mix together the ingredients for the gremolata.
- Remove the heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork, then top with the gremolata and serve warm.
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Chicken
- Cuisine: Chicken Dinner
- Diet: Gluten Free
