Chicken Dinner Recipes - Cooking Light

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Healthy Chicken Dinners

50 big-flavor recipes add up to a chick-tacular flock of fresh ideas for simple and healthful dinners.

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken Piccata

Sautéeing is a high-heat, quick-cooking method that puts a chicken dinner on the table in a flash. Dust bird with a supersheer layer of flour for a crisp, golden exterior, or simply season with salt and pepper.

First up, briny capers and bright lemon really make this bird sing. Serve tangy Chicken Piccata with mashed potatoes or roasted seasonal root vegetables.

View Recipe: Chicken Piccata

Photo: Johnny Autry

Open-Faced Chicken Club Sandwiches

This flavorful sandwich will add brightness to even the coldest winter day. Serve it with fresh seasonal citrus or other fruit.

View Recipe: Open-Faced Chicken Club Sandwiches

Photo: Johnny Autry

Sautéed Chicken with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

If you can't find arugula, substitute mixed salad greens or fresh baby spinach for this warm salad.

View Recipe: Sautéed Chicken with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Variations:
If you like Brussels Sprouts try: Maple-Brined Chicken with Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
If you like Olives try: Sautéed Chicken with Olive Tapenade
If you like Onions try: Sautéed Chicken with Onion Jam

Photo: Johnny Autry

Double Plum Baked Chicken

Assemble ingredients in baking dish or oven-safe pan, then bake for a short time. Meanwhile, pull together your side dish hands-free while the entrée cooks.

Dried plums and plum wine come together for Double Plum Baked Chicken. If you can't find plum wine, substitute a sweet white wine, such as riesling, or plum brandy.

View Recipe: Double Plum Baked Chicken

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken with Olives and Lemons

Briny olives and tart lemons combine with fresh herbs for a Mediterranean-influenced chicken dish. Serve with hot cooked orzo.

View Recipe: Chicken with Olives and Lemons

Variations:
If you like Pepper Jack Cheese try: Chicken and Rice
If you like Sweet Potato try: Chicken with Root Vegetables

Photo: Johnny Autry

Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken

Brush chicken with a savory-sweet glaze for gorgeous results. Browning in a skillet first gives it a delicious crust and pretty appearance. Finishing it in liquid ensures it will be moist.

The tangy-sweet flavor combination of this maple syrup and stone-ground mustard glaze will work equally well with chicken thighs or pork. Serve with hot cooked rice and steamed haricots verts or a tossed green salad.

View Recipe: Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken

Photo: Johnny Autry

Miso Chicken

If you can't find miso, substitute 2 teaspoons anchovy paste and 1 teaspoon tahini instead. With miso, the darker the color, the more pronounced the salty flavor.

View Recipe: Miso Chicken

Variations:
If you like Pomegranate try: Pomegranate Chicken
If you like Chipotle try: Chipotle Chicken
If you like Balsamic Vinegar try: Balsamic Chicken

Photo: Johnny Autry

Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry

Chop or slice chicken for fastest possible cooking. Bonus: More exposed surface area allows the chicken to absorb flavor from sauces or other high-flavor ingredients.

All the tasty take-out flavors you crave come together with fresh ingredients for a quick 25-minute meal.

View Recipe: Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken Pizza

Cubed chicken breast halves along with sweet Italian sausage, mushrooms, and plenty of veggies make for a tasty pizza sans red sauce. Ask for fresh pizza dough in the bakery of your supermarket to yield a crust with pizzeria quality.

View Recipe: Chicken Pizza

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken Spaghetti

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti is comfort food at its best. We use frozen English peas so this dish can be made year-round.

View Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti

Variations:
If you like Brie try: Chicken Quesadillas
If you like Butternut Squash try: Moroccan-Style Chicken Tagine
If you like Coconut Milk try: Green Curry Chicken

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken Enchiladas

Poaching is a gentle cooking method, less popular but absolutely worthwhile. Beautiful flavor and moist meat result, and the cooking liquid can double as a tasty element in the recipe.

Use the freshest tortillas you can find for these Chicken Enchiladas since older ones tend to dry out and crack even though they're moistened in the flavorful sauce. We love La Tortilla Factory brand. Look for their low-fat, lower-sodium tortillas.

View Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken and Chorizo Stew

Chorizo comes in two forms: Spanish, which is used in this recipe, is cured and firm.

View Recipe: Chicken and Chorizo Stew

Variations:
If you like Crème Fraîche try: Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms
If you like Brown Rice try: Chicken and Rice Salad

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

Bone-in chicken fortifies commercial stock and adds meaty depth to these soups.

View Recipe: Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

Variations:
If you like Peanut Butter try: Peanut-Chicken Soup
If you like Hot Peppers try: Spicy Chicken Soup
If you like Curry try: Curried Chicken Soup

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches

Lean chicken stands in for pork, yielding a light twist on traditional 'wiches.

View Recipe: Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches

Variations:
If you like Fresh Basil try: Tuscan Pesto Chicken Panini
If you like Pickles try: Pressed Cuban-Style Sandwiches
If you like Avocado try: Chicken-Avocado Club Sandwiches

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Tortilla Chip Casserole

Less-heavy but full-flavor versions of popular chicken comfort dishes.

View Recipe: Tortilla Chip Casserole

Variations:
If you like Wild Rice try: Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
If you like Poppy Seeds try: Poppy Seed Chicken

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Chicken in Wine Sauce

French, Greek, Moroccan: International takes on classic American fare.

View Recipe: Chicken in Wine Sauce

Variations:
If you like Kalamata Olives try: Greek-Style Stewed Chicken
If you like saffron try: Moroccan Stewed Chicken

Photo: Brian Woodcock

BBQ Chicken Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella and Pickled Jalapeños

Chicken shows its versatility with tangy BBQ flavors, peppery arugula, or 3 cheeses.

View Recipe: BBQ Chicken Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella and Pickled Jalapeños

Variations:
If you like Arugula try: Chicken, Arugula, and Prosciutto Pizza
If you like Parmesan try: Three-Cheese Chicken Pizza

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Creamy Chicken Pasta

Pasta, creamy mascarpone, and chicken—a winning combo any way you toss it.

View Recipe: Creamy Chicken Pasta

Variations:
If you like Butternut Squash try: Butternut Squash and Chicken Pasta
If you like Mascarpone try: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Meyer Lemon Chicken

A piping-hot pan browns chicken, veggies, and fruit for stunningly delicious results.

View Recipe: Meyer Lemon Chicken

Variations:
If you like Red Potatoes try: Skillet Chicken and Vegetables

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Chicken BLT Salad

Crisp chicken boosts a favorite side salad to a healthy main-course attraction.

View Recipe: Chicken BLT Salad

Variations:
If you like Pita Bread try: Middle Eastern Bread Salad with Chicken
If you like Escarole try: Escarole, White Bean, and Chicken Salad