60 Best Chicken Breast Recipes for a Winning Dinner Every Night
Chicken is the champ of mealtime.
Pop quiz: What can you find year-round at grocery stores that cooks quickly, goes well with any flavoring and pleases even the pickiest eaters? You probably guessed it — chicken breast! The lean, mean protein is versatile, easy to cook and packs a nutritious punch. Chicken breast recipes can be as simple as sautéing the bird in a skillet with some sliced veggies or as complex as breading, frying and serving with a fresh healthy salad.
What is the best way to cook chicken breast, you ask? There's not one "right" way — the beauty of this cut is that you can cook it how you want, based on how much time you have and your available ingredients. Roast it low and slow in the oven alongside whole cherry tomatoes or dice and sear it in a pan before tossing with lemony noodles. Take it outside and make smoky grilled chicken or air-fry it for the fastest dinner ever. Whip up a healthy chicken recipe with lots of fresh greens or smother it in cheese for a family-friendly feast.
Be sure to cook extra, because you'll want leftovers all week. Slip last night's slices into tacos, add them to a pesto-smeared sandwich or use them to top off a big salad. Shred leftover chicken and add it to a grain bowl for lunch the next day (make-ahead meal goals!) or stir it into soup for an instant protein boost. No matter how you slice it, chicken breast is always an easy dinner winner.
Balsamic Chicken Caprese
The secret to this five-ingredient feast? Sweet-tangy balsamic vinegar, which seasons the chicken and creates a sauce at the same time.
Get the Balsamic Chicken Caprese recipe.
RELATED: 50 Best Summer Chicken Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Dinner
Air Fryer Chicken Strips
Toast the panko before breading the chicken for maximum crunch — but don't worry about an extra dish, this can be done on foil in your air fryer.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Strips recipe.
RELATED: 72 Easy Air Fryer Recipes for a Quick Weeknight Dinner
Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken
Bone-in chicken breasts take longer to cook, but you'll be rewarded with a rich, satisfying meal that tastes like you just roasted the whole bird.
Get the Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken recipe.
Butter Chicken Meatballs
Think beyond cutlets: Ground chicken breast is a great base for meatballs meant to soak up a rich, aromatic tomato sauce.
Get the Butter Chicken Meatballs recipe.
RELATED: 51 Juicy Meatball Recipes That Are Simple Enough for Any Weeknight Dinner
Creamy Chicken and Zoodle Spaghetti
This weeknight-friendly dish has twice as much zucchini by weight as pasta, but tastes just as satisfying as something much more carb-loaded (thanks to a hefty dollop of sour cream).
Chicken Caesar Baguettes
We used the Caesar as both a dressing for the lettuce and a spread for the baguette so you get a hit of garlicky, lemony flavor in every bite.
Get the Chicken Caesar Baguettes recipe.
Italian-Marinated Chicken
Thanks to sautéed chicken breast, this dinner-worthy salad is loaded with protein and won't leave you with a grumbling stomach before bed.
Get the Italian-Marinated Chicken recipe.
RELATED: 70 Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes That Definitely Don’t Skimp on Flavor
Tandoori-Spiced Cauliflower Chicken Flatbreads
For the freshest flavor, make your own spice mix to coat cubes of chicken breast. In a pinch? Reach for the pre-made stuff.
Get the Tandoori-Spiced Cauliflower Chicken Flatbreads recipe.
Paprika Chicken With Peppers and Tomatoes
Sprucing up a simple, sautéed chicken breast is all about the finishing touches: A sprinkle of sliced almonds and fresh parsley goes a long way.
Chicken Schnitzel, 3 Ways
Extra-crispy chicken schnitzel smothered in your choice of three bright, colorful toppers is an easy weeknight meal that tastes like something from a restaurant.
Get the Chicken Schnitzel, 3 Ways recipe.
Roasted Chicken and Tomatoes
Juicy chicken breast is paired with sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh thyme in this simple, two-step recipe.
Get the Roasted Chicken and Tomatoes recipe.
Lemon-Pepper Linguine With Creamy Chicken and Broccoli
This bowl of creamy goodness has lemon in the pasta dough and in the sauce.
Get the Lemon-Pepper Linguine with Creamy Chicken and Broccoli recipe.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Fajitas have never been easier than in this one-pan recipe, loaded with juicy chicken, peppers and onions with smoky adobo.
Get the Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas recipe.
RELATED: 30 Best Sheet Pan Dinners That Make Cleanup a Breeze
Garam Masala Roasted Chicken and Cauliflower
Ready in around 30 minutes, this one-pan chicken and veggie dish brings the heat!
Get the Garam Masala Roasted Chicken and Cauliflower recipe.
Sautéed Chicken and Tomatoes With Roasted Artichokes
Swap your usual veggie side with roasted artichokes for a tangy contrast to sautéed chicken.
Get the Sautéed Chicken and Tomatoes With Roasted Artichokes recipe.
Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan
With zero deep frying required, this pan of cheesy goodness is perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan recipe.
Grilled Lemony Chicken and Kale
This weeknight meal may look simple, but it’s definitely not basic: Everything from the chicken to the lemons gets cooked on the grill for an exciting and deceptively easy lunch or dinner.
Paprika Chicken With Crispy Chickpeas and Tomatoes
If you’ve never roasted cherry tomatoes whole, you’ll want to start doing that immediately (it makes 'em extra sweet and juicy!) — and this super-simple sheet pan chicken is the perfect excuse.
Get the Paprika Chicken With Crispy Chickpeas and Tomatoes recipe.
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Boring and bland, this caprese-ish chicken sandwich definitely isn’t — thanks to melty fresh mozz and a perky homemade pesto. This recipe calls for chicken cutlets, which are typically made of thin slices of chicken breast.
Get the Grilled Chicken Sandwiches recipe.
Harissa Chicken and Farro Salad
Harissa-marinated chicken joins hearty, filling farro and roasted sweet potatoes in this dinner that makes epic leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
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