26 Chicken Dinner Recipes For Busy Weeknights

Chicken is one of the most popular recipes in our home. Everyone loves it. My relatives and friends also love it so I make it at least twice a week. I always look for new chicken dinner recipes. If you are like me, let’s find the

Best Chicken Dinner Recipes

 1. Classic Air Fryer Fried Chicken

It is crispy and tastes awesome. You can even make it ahead of time. It is healthier than fried chicken. I love bone-in chicken for this recipe.

The recipe requires 20 minutes of cooking time and 10 minutes of marinating time. Preheat the oven to 350°F

The ingredients include chicken, flour, cornstarch, pepper, salt, onion powder, and buttermilk.

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for up to 4 days. It freezes well for 6 months.

2. Barbecued Chicken Thighs

It is a hearty dinner recipe and is quite easy to make. For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight. You need a rimmed baking dish.

It requires 20 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 400°F and bake for 30 minutes.

The ingredients include boneless chicken thighs, garlic powder, pepper, BBQ sauce, onion and sea salt.

3. Creamy Ranch Chicken

This is one of the most highly rated dinner recipes online. It is one of the best recipes for busy weeknights.

The tools required are a skillet, a meat tenderizer, ranch seasoning and kitchen tongs. It requires 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include butter, chicken breasts, milk, sour cream and ranch seasoning mix. It is best served with baked potatoes.

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 3 days. You can freeze it for 3 months.

4. Lemon Butter Chicken

It is one of my favorite dinner recipes. You need a Dutch oven. This is comfort food at it’s best.

It requires 10 minutes of prep time and 40 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 400°F and bake for 30 minutes.

The ingredients include chicken broth, heavy cream, chicken thighs, baby spinach, lemon juice, black pepper and smoked paprika.

The recipe is loved by all age groups, and so I have included it in our rotation menu, even my friends and relatives request me to make it again and again and I happily oblige.

5. Bang Bang Chicken

I like to use chicken tenders, but you can use chicken breasts too. You can make it in a skillet, oven or in an air fryer.

The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time and 5 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients include chicken tenderloin, black pepper, cornstarch, all-purpose flour, and sriracha. For doneness, check if the internal temperature has reached 165°F.

To check the temperature, you need a meat thermometer. Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and it will be good for 4-5 days. It freezes well for 5-6 months.

6. Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is a perfect dinner recipe on a chilly night. I made it on a stove top, but you can make it in a slow cooker too.

The tools required are a Dutch oven, pinch bowls, storage containers, a spice rack and soup bowls. It requires 10 minutes of prep time and 35 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include butter, hot sauce, cumin, taco seasoning, chicken breasts and cream cheese. You can replace chicken breast with rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken.

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will be good for 3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.

7. Chicken Teriyaki With Marinade

It is one of the most popular Japanese recipes. The best thing is, it’s versatile; you can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs.

The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 400°F. For doneness check if the internal temperature has reached 165°F.

The ingredients include chicken breasts or thighs, mirin, vegetable oil, low-sodium soy sauce, sesame seeds and sugar.

It is best served over a bed of cooked rice and Asian cucumber salad as a side.

8. Easy Chicken Salad

It works both for lunch and dinner. The best thing is, you can even make it ahead of time. You can make it for picnics and potlucks too.

It requires 15 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients include rotisserie chicken, lemon juice, honey, celery, mayonnaise and sour cream.

Mayonnaise and sour cream are stars of this recipe. Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and it will be good for 5 days.

I won’t recommend freezing. I like to use it as a stuffing for croissants. You can enjoy it with apple slices too.

9. Chicken And Potatoes With Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce

It is one of the most delicious chicken recipes, and the best thing is that it’s budget-friendly. I prefer bone-in chicken thigh over boneless chicken thigh as it will be juicier.

You need a skillet and 9×13 baking dish. The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 40 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

The ingredients include chicken thighs, baby Dutch potatoes, Italian seasoning, spinach, all-purpose flour and Parmesan cheese. For doneness, check if the internal temperature has reached 165°F.

You can replace spinach with kale. It is best served with crusty bread or dinner rolls. Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will be good for 4 days.

10. Black Pepper Chicken

This is a restaurant-quality dish. You can make it with pantry staples. To get the best out of the recipe, ensure to marinate the chicken for a couple of hours before you make it.

This is a one-pan meal. You only need a skillet. It needs 25 minutes of prpe time and 5 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include light soy sauce, chicken breasts, Shaoxing wine, ginger and bell peppers. You can replace chicken breasts with chicken thighs.

Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge, and it will be good for up to 4 days. It freezes well for two months.

11. Chicken And Avocado Ranch Burritos

It is one of the highly rated burritos. I usually make it on game days or movie nights, but it can be a great dinner recipe for busy weeknights.

You need a cast-iron skillet. It needs 20 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include chicken thighs, ranch dressing, cilantro, flour tortillas, mozzarella cheese, avocados and taco seasoning.

12. Chicken Salad

This is a perfect recipe for a quick lunch or light dinner. Mayonnaise is the star of this recipe. I like to serve it chilled, but it tastes great at room temperature too.

The recipe requires 25 minutes of prep time and 50 minutes of cooking time. I prefer chicken thighs but you can use chicken breasts too. Preheat the oven to 350°F. For doneness, chicken if the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F.

The ingredients include almonds, grapes, chicken thighs, lemon and mayonnaise. You can use roasted chicken or even rotisserie chicken will work.

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will be good for a month.

13. Bang Bang Chicken Bowl

Bang bang sauce is the star of this recipe. It is sweet as well as spicy, and you can make it 4-5 days in advance. Keep it in the fridge.

You need an air fryer for this recipe. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. It requires 25 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include mayonnaise, chicken breasts, paprika, sriracha and cabbage. You can replace chicken breasts with chicken thighs.

Keep the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container and it will be good for up to 5 days.

14. Cajun Chicken

It is one of the most loved chicken recipes. You need a skillet, a meat tenderizer, tongs, measuring cup and spoons and a silicone spatula.

It requires 20 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients include chicken broth, Cajun seasoning, chicken breasts, butter, hot sauce, cayenne pepper and flour. Garnish it with fresh cilantro.

I like this recipe to be spicy but if you tone down the heat level, don’t use cayenne pepper.

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.

15. Classic Butter Chicken

Butter chicken is one of the most popular chicken recipes in the world. I make it for parties and for holidays too as everyone loves it.

You need a food processor for this recipe. It requires 12 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include plain yogurt, garlic, turmeric powder, chicken thighs, sugar and butter. It is best served with naan.

Although you don’t require a side dish with this recipe, if you insist, you can go ahead with tomato salad.

16. Chicken Fricassee

It is one of the best chicken recipes and is one of the most popular French dishes. I tried it at a French restaurant couple of years back and I was truly impressed.

The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and an hour of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

The ingredients include dry white wine , chicken thigh, garlic, heavy cream, olive oil and unsalted butter. Heavy cream makes the sauce thicker.

It is best served with dinner rolls and mashed potatoes as a side dish. Whenever I host a party, it’s always on my dinner menu.

17. Baked Honey BBQ Chicken Bites

You can serve it as an easy weeknight dinner option or it can also be served as an appetizer for game days or movie nights.

These are crispy on the edges and tender inside. It is popular across age groups. I liked it even more as it’s baked, so it’s healthier than fried chicken. If you want it even healthier, then air fry it.

It requires 25 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. For doneness, check if the internal temperature has reached 165°F.

The ingredients include chicken breasts, all-purpose flour, smoked paprika, eggs and honey BBQ sauce. You can also serve it as a tortilla wrap.

18. Creamy Lemon Chicken

This is a restaurant-quality dish. For the recipe, the tools required are a skillet, a meat tenderizer, a garlic twister, and kitchen tongs.

It is comfort food at its best. The recipe requires 30 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include all-purpose flour, chicken breasts, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese. It is best served with roasted green beans.

Kee the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and it will be good for 2-3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.

19. Creamy Garlic Chicken

It is one of the quickest dinner recipes. The tools required are a silicone garlic peeler tube roller, meat thermometer and a cast iron skillet.

Since everyone loves it, I have included it in my dinner rotation menu. The recipe needs 15 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include chicken breasts, garlic powder, butter, lemon juice and flour. It is best served with roasted cauliflower or mashed potatoes.

Keep the leftovers in a sealed container and it will be good for up to 4 days. It doesn’t freeze well.

20. Cream Cheese Chicken

You can make this dinner recipe with pantry staples. The tools required are a garlic press, a skillet and a meat thermometer.

Since it’s a budget-friendly meal, I like it even more. It requires 15 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include cream cheese, Italian seasoning, parsley, onion, and chicken breasts. You can replace chicken breast with chicken thighs, but the cooking time will be longer.

It is best served with mashed potatoes or roasted cauliflower. Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge, and it will be good for 4 days. It doesn’t freeze well.

21. Bang Bang Chicken Thighs

This juicy chicken recipe is a winner all the way. Bang Bang sauce is what makes this recipe special. You can make this sauce in advance and keep it in the fridge.

You can serve it within half an hour, so it’s great for busy weeknights. The recipe requires 12 minutes of prep time and 12 minutes of cooking time.

The ingredients include chicken thighs, vegetable oil, kosher salt, green onion, and Bang Bang sauce.

For doneness, check if the internal temperature of cooked chicken has reached 165°F. Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge, and it will be good for 4 days.

22. Baked Chicken Breast

This is a quick and easy dinner recipe. The best thing is that it’s keto-friendly. The tools required are a meat pounder, sheet pan, meat thermometer and measuring cups & spoons.

It requires half an hour to make, including 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

The ingredients include chicken breasts, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, olive oil and onion powder.

You can serve it as a standalone dish. If you were looking for sides to go with this recipe, then go for kale Caesar salad or mashed potatoes.

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will be good for 3-4 days. It freezes well.

23. Chicken Piccata

It is a quick and easy dinner recipe and is at par with the dish you will try at a restaurant. The tools required are silicone spatula, skillet, kitchen tongs and meat tenderizer.

The recipe requires 30 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cooking time.The ingredients include chicken breasts, butter, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and flour.

You can use salted or unsalted butter. I prefer salted butter. It is best served with mashed potatoes or green beans.

Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and it will be good for 3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.

24. One Pan Balsamic Chicken

I am big fan of one pan recipe as cleanup is a breeze. The recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.

It requires 18 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

The ingredients include balsamic vinegar, honey, chicken breasts, Italian seasoning and grape tomatoes. For doneness, check if the internal temperature has reached 165°F.

You can replace chicken breasts with chicken thighs but cooking time will be higher. It is best served over a bed of pasta or rice. If you want to serve the dish with a side dish then go for mashed potatoes.

25. White Chicken Chili

It is one of the highly rated chicken recipes on the internet. You can make it in a slow cooker or in a stove top. The tools required are chef’s knife, measuring spoons and a Dutch oven.

You can serve it as a chili recipe or even as a soup . The best thing is you can make it up to 2 days in advance.

The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time and 55 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients include chicken breasts, green chilies, jalapeno pepper, cream cheese, beans and flour.

You can use rotisserie chicken or even turkey. If you prefer chicken thighs you can replace chicken breasts in this recipe.

Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and it will be good for 3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.

26. Chicken Pot Pie

This is a comfort food at it’s best. You can use homemade or store bought crust but I always prefer the homemade version.

You need a Dutch oven, a meat thermometer and a 9 inch pie dish. It requires 25 minutes of prep time and 50 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

The ingredients include pie crust, all purpose flour, cooked chicken, mushrooms and butter. For doneness check if the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F.

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 3-4 days. It freezes well for 2 months. It is best served with coleslaw or beet salad.