65 Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas for Families

When life gets busy, these quick and easy dinner ideas made with chicken are the perfect go-to meals to have in your back pocket. They’re high in protein, easy to prepare, and best of all… kid-approved!

Watch this video to get you started with some of the best dinner recipes with chicken!

Best Chicken Recipes

If there’s one ingredient I’m confident in, it’s chicken! You can’t go wrong, it’s versatile to cook with, packed with protein, and kids love it; so today I want to share with you some of the most popular quick and easy chicken recipes of all time.

You’ll find recipes like Pizza Chicken and Chicken Quesadillas, as well as the more sophisticated Honey, roasted drumsticks and whole roasted chicken, each of them fuss-free and kid favorites. And yes, these are so easy you can make one of these dinner ideas tonight!

Need a shortcut? I wrote an entire cookbook of chicken recipes and you can snag a copy here for all your dinner needs.

HEALTHY WAYS TO COOK CHICKEN

Thankfully, there’s no fancy bells or whistles required to make delicious chicken dishes. The most simple and healthy methods of cooking, such as grilling, baking, and slow cooking result in tender, juicy chicken. In case you aren’t 100% positive on the correct way to cook chicken, I’ve included directions for the grill, oven, and slow cooker below.

HOW TO THAW CHICKEN

Before we jump into the recipes, it’s important to quickly go over how to thaw chicken safely. The safest way to thaw meat is in the refrigerator. This takes some extra planning time though, so you can see your other safe options in the link above. To thaw chicken in the fridge allow up to 24 hours per 1-5 pounds of frozen meat. Make sure to keep the chicken in the warmest part of your fridge (don’t shove it in the back) and wait until it’s all thawed to start cooking the chicken.

Baked Chicken Dinner Ideas

If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to get an entire meal from one pan with minimal cleanup, baked chicken dinners are the way to go! Whether it’s Dijon Sheet Pan Chicken, Chicken Nuggets, or roasting an entire bird, baked chicken is #winning at kitchen duty.

However, as popular as it is, baked chicken can sometimes yield less than desirable results which means dry, rubbery chicken, that tastes like edible saw-dust. Avoid all the common pitfalls by following these baked chicken tips.

Now, onto the baked chicken recipes!

Sheet Pan Dinner Dijon Chicken & Potatoes
This is one of those rare beasts of a meal that can be prepped ENTIRELY ahead of time, assembled on the sheet pan, wrapped with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight.

Chicken with Prunes and Sage
In less than 30 minutes you can pull off this elegant dinner and whoo the crowd or whoever the lucky diners are.

Classic Roasted Chicken
Don’t be fooled! This impressive roasted chicken recipe is a lot easier to pull off than it looks! Enjoy it for dinner one night and use leftovers to build wraps, burrito bowls, or tacos for lunch later in the week.

Melt in Your Mouth Chicken
This recipe yields the juiciest baked chicken imaginable and it’s a one-pan-wonder. The perfect combination.

Honey Chicken Drumsticks
Tender, moist baked drumsticks with a crispy, sweet coating, this one will be a keeper with the whole family.

Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
I know you have #healthgoals and this chicken recipe has your back. Load it up like your favorite pizza and enjoy.

Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
A healthier version of cheesy, prosciutto wrapped chicken, baked not fried for a delicious grain-free dinner.

Sriracha Chicken with Honey and Garlic
Just the right amount of sweet with that tasty sriracha kick! You can adjust the heat on this recipe from mild to fire – however your family likes it.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Chicken
Hummus is great as a dip and spread, but it also creates an incredible sauce for this baked chicken.

Grilled Chicken Dinner Ideas

Come warm weather; it’s time to pull out the charcoals and fire up the grill. Much like baking chicken, grilling also requires a few steps before the chicken is ready to be placed on the grill. But follow these steps, and you’re sure to have amazing, flavorful chicken every time you use your grill.

1. Tenderize – This works primarily for boneless, skinless chicken breast, and if the chicken breasts are thick in some areas and thin in others you can fix it by pounding the chicken with a tenderizer, this will ensure even cooking and tender chicken.
2. Marinate – Same as the baking method, choose a marinade, combine with the chicken in a zip bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.
3. Grill – Allow the grill to reach medium heat before putting any meat on it. You can gauge the temperature by holding your hand 5 inches above the cooking grate. If you can hold it there comfortably for 6 seconds, it’s medium heat and you’re ready to start grilling.

When it comes to cooking chicken on the grill, my favorite place to start is with grilled skewers. So easy to do, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser.

Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners

We’ve pulled off some pretty epic chicken dinners around here with the use of a slow cooker. Chicken holds up great when slow cooked, and you can use any cut such as boneless, skinless chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on thighs, or even a whole chicken.

My favorite part is when I get to make buffalo chicken or salsa chicken which require two ingredients and stretch throughout the week for tacos, quesadillas, on top of salads or drool-worthy power bowls.

Here’s How the Magic Happens for Easy Slow Cooker Chicken

Combine 1 lb chicken breasts or boneless, skinless thighs with 1 cup of your choice of sauce; buffalo, salsa, BBQ, Teriyaki and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and shreds apart easily with a fork.

If this is new to you, your world is about to change.

Just a tip, you can also double and triple the recipe and freeze leftovers for future meals. Be sure to adjust cooking time, by an hour for each additional pound of chicken and cup of sauce.

Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Thai chicken brought to you with the convenience of a slow cooker and a highly-addictive Peanut Thai sauce.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
For kids, everything tastes better on a skewer or toothpick. Try making these buffalo chicken meatballs and serving a few on the dinner plate with toothpicks. So fun!

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Who doesn’t love Chicken Parmesan? This American-Italian classic is made super easy thanks to the slow cooker, serve over pasta or zucchini noodles for a low carb version.

CHICKEN BREAST DINNER IDEAS

If your family is particular about white meat, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in nearly every recipe listed below, except for the ones that call for ground chicken.

A lot of people are finicky about which cut of meat to use in their recipes due to health concerns or preferred taste. I get it, and thankfully, like me, my family prefers dark meat for its flavor while others swear by white meat.

Rest assured, there is no wrong choice when it comes to chicken; both are a healthy choice and offer ample nutrients and protein our bodies need.

Skillet Chicken Recipes

Grab your best skillet, because I’m about to show you how chicken + skillets are a match made in deliciousness heaven.

Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts
While this method of skillet cooking chicken is simple the flavor is anything but! In this recipe I’ll show you all my secrets to perfectly juicy chicken on the stove.

Healthy Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
A classic New Orleans recipe gets a low carb makeover with cauliflower rice. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching carbs or not, you will want this keto jambalaya at least once a week!

Chicken Teriyaki
I’ve never seen anyone turn away a dish of this crispy, tender chicken with a savory sweet sauce.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
One skillet, fresh ingredients and you’ve got yourself one fantastic meal in less than 20 minutes. Tip: use a bag of frozen stir-fry veggies, cuts the cooking time in half.

HEALTHY CHICKEN DINNER IDEAS

So you’re here for healthy chicken dinner ideas, and you’re in the right place because we’ve got options. Whether you stir it into a soup for a bowl of #soulfood, make a mean grilled cheese, stuff it into a tortilla, or bake it on a sheet pan with veggies, it’s delicious, and best of all, kids love it!

Are you ready to see all the stress-free weeknight meals you can make with chicken? Here we go:

PALEO AND WHOLE30 CHICKEN DINNER IDEAS

So you’re here for healthy chicken dinner ideas, and you’re in the right place because we’ve got options. 

You can thank Family Kickstart and my Grain-Free Family Meals cookbook for these ideas. After creating a successful clean eating program for families and writing an entire cookbook of grain free meals, I’ve got chicken dinner ideas that will blow your mind on the level of taste and easy to prepare.

Recipe: Dutch Oven Paleo Chicken Chili
Bean-free and veggie loaded chili that’s surprisingly hearty and of course, comforting.

Honey Chicken Lettuce Cups
Kind of like those lettuce wraps at that famous Chinese restaurant but healthier. And you don’t have to leave your house.

Garlic Butter Chicken and Spaghetti Squash
This chicken dish is a few steps above the kid favorite, chicken and buttered noodles.

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
When you’re doing low carb and need a buffalo chicken fix, this is the one! Bonus points if you make the Homemade Ranch.

Epic Chicken Taco Recipes

Tacos are the one food group I can’t live without, so there’s no way I could create a list of meals using chicken and NOT mention a few of my chicken taco faves.

Homemade Chicken Fajitas
That one dish you order every time you go to the local Tex Mex joint makes an easy weeknight dinner! Set out the ingredients in a self-serve style so everyone can build their fajitas.

Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Chicken Tacos
These cook up super fast in the skillet, and the Sweet & Spicy sriracha sauce is everything!

Chicken Enchilada Tacos
These are mega delicious and use a rotisserie chicken, so you get that enchilada chicken fix in a pinch!

KID-APPROVED CHICKEN DINNER RECIPES

When you need a healthy, go-to dinner that kids won’t turn down, these recipes are your best friend. These recreated takeout meals offer a well-balanced and quick fix dinner for busy weeknights.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza
All the buffalo goodness on top of pizza! This will kick your family pizza night up a notch.

Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Imagine a cheesy quesadilla but loaded with buffalo chicken and drizzled with Ranch.

Rosemary, Chicken, Avocado and Hummus Melts
This recipe is perfect when you need a solid ASAP. Use leftover roasted or grilled chicken from a previous dinner or store-bought rotisserie chicken, whichever makes your life easier.

Classic Chicken Nuggets
These chicken nuggets are magic. You make them, and they disappear. This recipe is made with no mystery ingredients, only real, fresh ingredients so you can feel good about serving these for a quick meal.

Copy Cat Chick fil A Nuggets
If your family adores the drive-thru joint as much as mine, this recipe is a dream come true, AND it’s grain-free.

Parmesan Chicken Tenders
If you need a break from the nuggets, try these chicken tenders, made with cheese and panko crumbs, they’re as easy to make as the nuggets but feel a little more sophisticated on the plate.

CHICKEN SOUP RECIPES

This post would not be complete without a few chicken soup recipes! Winter, spring, summer, or fall, these are perfect for any time of year.
A tip: use shredded meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken, it saves on time and adds great flavor.

Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Creamy broth, tender chicken, and fresh vegetables- YES PLEASE! Serve it with hot fluffy biscuits, and you’ll be #blessed.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup
What’s more comforting than chicken and rice soup? This recipe can be made in the slow cooker or on the stove for a hearty, dinner the whole family will love.

Chicken Noodle Soup
Don’t get me started on the soul-warming powers of hot chicken noodle soup. Just know that it’s delicious and cures all your winter blues.

Easy Homemade Pho
This homemade take on traditional pho is a delicious swap from the classic chicken soup. Serve it with all the traditional Pho condiments and Sriracha sauce, of course.

Salad Recipes with Chicken

Southern Chicken Salad Recipe
Make this salad ahead and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Use it on salads, in wraps, or sandwiches.

Caprese Salad with Chicken and Avocado
Grilled Chicken, cherry tomatoes, basil, avocado and mozzarella cheese, all drizzled with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Oh yes, this is a salad you’ll want to make on repeat.

Buffalo Chicken Salad
Smoky chicken, crisp lettuce, and homemade Ranch combine in this Buffalo Chicken Salad for an epic dinner salad! 

Chicken Pasta Dinner Ideas

Next, to the previous list of Kid Approved Chicken Dinners, this list is next in line. I still have yet to see anyone turn away a plate of Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta.

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Who doesn’t love Chicken Parmesan? This American-Italian classic is made super easy thanks to the slow cooker, serve over pasta or zucchini noodles for a low carb version.

Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Tender pieces of chicken, and veggies in a creamy white gravy, it’s the best part of chicken pot pie over pasta.

Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
You remember those Salsa Verde Tacos we discussed? Well, we took the leftover salsa verde chicken and turned it into this creamy, cheesy, pasta. You can thank me later.

Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
The ultimate comfort food that also can feed an army. Pasta, alfredo sauce, chicken, ham, bacon, and cheese, the gangs all there!

Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo
This gives you that creamy chicken pasta fix, quick! If your family isn’t a fan of broccoli swap it with sliced mushrooms, peas, carrots… you get the picture.

Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Made in a skillet this creamy pasta is colorful and bursting with flavor. Calling for the simplest of ingredients, this filling chicken pasta dish is sure to become an instant family favoerite.

Chicken Freezer Meals

Another reason to love chicken dinner recipes, they most often freeze super well! Aside from the soup and salad recipes most every one of these recipes are good for freezing, here’s the complete list:

• Salsa Chicken
• Buffalo Chicken
• Sheet Pan Dijon Chicken & Potatoes
• Pizza Chicken
• Garlic Butter Chicken – minus the spaghetti squash
• Honey Chicken Lettuce Cups- The chicken mixture, not the lettuce!
• Chicken Cordon Bleu
• All the tacos- Minus the tortilla and toppings, obviously.
• Honey Chicken Drumsticks
• Chicken Nuggets
• Easy Chicken and Vegetable Teriyaki Bowls
• Chicken Teriyaki
• Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry
• Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
• Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo

Make-Ahead Chicken Dinner Recipes

This is the 21st century, we’re busy moms and making a meal from scratch each night, every night? Wrong! All wrong!

During the early years of motherhood, while my kids and business were both young, make-ahead meals were total life-savers. Who am I kidding, I still use make-ahead meals today! If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life doesn’t slow down just because kids get bigger. Meal planning is a total life saver and it’s how I get these yummy chicken dinners on my family’s table all through the week.

You can start by choosing recipes with ingredients that can be prepped ahead like chopped veggies, or marinated meat, that way you can knock those steps out ahead of time.

Each of the recipes I’ve shared with you has some element that can be prepped ahead of time, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

Sheet Pan Dijon Chicken & Potatoes
Coat the chicken in the dijon sauce, chop the veggies and arrange everything on to the baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Buffalo Chicken
Combine the sauce and chicken in the slow cooker. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Salsa Chicken
Works the same as the Buffalo chicken, combine the sauce and chicken, cook, eat, and repeat.

Chicken and Vegetable Teriyaki Bowls
The longer the meat marinates in Teriyaki sauce, the better it tastes, so prepare it the night before and chop the veggies that go along with it. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow night.

Roasted Chicken Flatbread Bar
Prep the toppings in small airtight containers, shred the rotisserie chicken meat and refrigerate until ready to assemble this self-serve dinner.

What to Cook with Chicken

You’ve got all your delicious chicken recipe inspiration, now what about the rest of the meal? Here are a few of my favorite things to serve with a good chicken dinner.

• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
• Baked Carrot Fries
• Roasted Fall Vegetables
• Easy Homemade Mac & Cheese
• Cauliflower Rice
• Grilled Veggie Kabobs
• Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes

So that’s the ultimate list of healthy, UN-BORING chicken dinner ideas. I don’t know what’s on your menu tonight, but after this, it better be chicken! If you have a favorite dish and didn’t see it on here, let me know, what are some of your top chicken dinner recipes?

Print