MyPlate-Inspired Chicken

Photo: John Autry

Nutritious Chicken Recipes

Cooking Light is working with the Partnership for a Healthier America and USDA’s MyPlate to give anyone looking for healthier options access to thousands of recipes that will help them create healthy, tasty plates. For more information about creating a healthy plate, visit www.choosemyplate.gov. Find recipes at http://pinterest.com/MyPlateRecipes/.

Our chicken dinner recipes are protein-filled meal options for families and individuals. MyPlate recommends buying skinless chicken parts, or taking off the skin before cooking, to ensure that you are using the leanest poultry option possible in these dishes.

First up is our Walnut and Rosemary Oven-Fried Chicken. Get the crispy taste of fried chicken for less than 300 calories. Add kid appeal to this dish with a honey-mustard dipping sauce.

View Recipe: Walnut and Rosemary Oven-Fried Chicken

Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Cobb Salad Tacos

Adding a tortilla transforms this American salad into a fun, portable meal. Choose a pungent blue cheese, like Roquefort, for a strong hit of flavor, or go with milder Gorgonzola for just a touch.

View Recipe: Cobb Salad Tacos

Photo: Randy Mayor

Oven-Fried Coconut Chicken

The marinade infuses dark-meat chicken with a light coconut flavor; flaked coconut in the breading heightens the nutty taste. Find panko in your supermarket's ethnic food aisle.

View Recipe: Oven-Fried Coconut Chicken

Photo: John Autry

Chicken Noodle Bowl

This Asian-inspired chicken noodle bowl is full of flavor from a combination of soy sauce and sesame oil mixed with fresh snap peas.

View Recipe: Chicken Noodle Bowl

Photo: Oxmoor House

Raspberry-Balsamic Glazed Chicken

Other fruit preserves, such as apricot, blackberry, or peach, will also work in this rich, easy-to-make, chicken recipe.

View Recipe: Raspberry-Balsamic Glazed Chicken

Photo: Randy Mayor

Porcini-Dusted Chicken Scaloppine

This dish puts dried porcini mushroom powder to use as a flavorful coating for chicken cutlets. If fresh porcini or chanterelle mushrooms are available, use them for the sauce. Serve with steamed haricots verts and garlic mashed potatoes.

View Recipe: Porcini-Dusted Chicken Scaloppine

Photo: Randy Mayor

Grilled Cumin Chicken with Fresh Tomatillo Sauce

Bring the heat of the southwest to the dinner table with a delicious take on the weeknight meal of grilled chicken. Serve with chipotle rice.

View Recipe: Grilled Cumin Chicken with Fresh Tomatillo Sauce

Photo: John Autry

Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry

Chile paste and fresh ginger add just the right amount of heat to Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry. Add a little zip to your weeknight dinners with this flavorful stir-fry.

View Recipe: Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry

Photo: John Autry

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Quesadillas

A rich mixture of Monterey Jack cheese, grilled chicken, and fresh veggies will make these quesadillas a hit with everyone in the family.

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Quesadillas

Photo: John Autry

Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken

The tangy-sweet flavor combination of this sauce 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: John Autry

Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup

In this chicken and butternut squash soup, sugary butternut squash and meaty chicken thighs remind us how well sweet and savory flavors play together in Moroccan cuisine.

View Recipe: Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Raspberry-Chipotle Chicken Breasts with Cucumber Salad

Sweet and savory, this chicken and fresh cucumber salad combo is under 250 calories and will leave you full and satisfied.

View Recipe: Raspberry-Chipotle Chicken Breasts with Cucumber Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Grilled Chicken with Mint and Pine Nut Gremolata

Cover your basic grilled chicken with a zesty herb topping for an anything-but-average meal. It also works well over steak or fish.

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Mint and Pine Nut Gremolata

Photo: John Autry

Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sliders

Make these easy barbecue pulled chicken sliders by pairing shredded rotisserie chicken with homemade barbecue sauce for an easy weeknight meal.

View Recipe: Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sliders

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Apricot-Glazed Grilled Chicken

Grilling chicken is an easy way to transform this humble food. You'll get the best results if you let the chicken stand out at room temperature before grilling.

View Recipe: Apricot-Glazed Grilled Chicken

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Chicken with Quick Chile Verde

If you can’t find fresh tomatillos, substitute canned whole tomatillos and use less salt. Grilled lime wedges are a zesty garnish.

View Recipe: Chicken with Quick Chile Verde

Photo: Randy Mayor

Grilled Chicken Tostadas

This dish gives a Southwestern accent to the American summertime classic, grilled chicken. For more intensity, pickle the onions overnight.

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tostadas

Photo: Randy Mayor

Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Play up the buffalo chicken theme with a side of celery sticks and light ranch dressing.

View Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Photo: Con Poulos

Chicken-Matzo Ball Soup

For a shortcut version of this recipe, use store-bought, unsalted chicken stock instead of making your own.

View Recipe: Chicken-Matzo Ball Soup

Photo: John 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

Photo: John Autry

Honey-Lime Chicken Kebabs with Mango Slices

For a colorful accompaniment to this hearty chicken dish, add mini bell peppers to the broiler pan with the skewers.

View Recipe: Honey-Lime Chicken Kebabs with Mango Slices

Photo: Squire Fox

Grilled Chicken with Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce

You can also use 8 thighs or 8 drumsticks or 4 pieces of each; cook about 10 minutes per side.

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Mango-Serrano Drumettes

This variation of Garlic-Buffalo Drumettes uses spicy serranos. The recipe calls for two, but you can take it down to one if you can't handle the heat!

View Recipe: Mango-Serrano Drumettes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Sticky Chile Drumettes

This recipe is similar to our Garlic-Buffalo Drumettes, but has a sweet-tangy flavor and a little more spice.

View Recipe: Sticky Chile Drumettes

MyPlate-Inspired Chicken Recipes

Nutritious Chicken Recipes

Cobb Salad Tacos

Oven-Fried Coconut Chicken

Chicken Noodle Bowl

Raspberry-Balsamic Glazed Chicken

Porcini-Dusted Chicken Scaloppine

Grilled Cumin Chicken with Fresh Tomatillo Sauce

Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Quesadillas

Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken

Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup

Raspberry-Chipotle Chicken Breasts with Cucumber Salad

Grilled Chicken with Mint and Pine Nut Gremolata

Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sliders

Apricot-Glazed Grilled Chicken

Chicken with Quick Chile Verde

Grilled Chicken Tostadas

Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Chicken-Matzo Ball Soup

Chicken with Olives and Lemons

Honey-Lime Chicken Kebabs with Mango Slices

Grilled Chicken with Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Mango-Serrano Drumettes

Sticky Chile Drumettes