Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights (2024)

Recipes

Photo Courtesy of McCormick

Weeknights can be a stressful and busy time. Between working, keeping your children busy with fun activities and learning new skills of your own, it can be hard to figure out what to cook. While there are plenty of quick dishes you can whip up, here are easy options that incorporate a crowd-pleasing protein: chicken.

Courtesy of the National Chicken Council

Peaches are a great fruit for grilling. For a sweet spin on kabobs, skewer chunks of peaches that will hold up well and taste delicious once off the grill with some marinated chicken.

For the Grilled Chicken and Peach Kabobs recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

This skillet recipe is inspired by flavors from the Mediterranean. It is filled with oregano, sun-dried tomato, lemon and earthy seasonings. The best part is it only takes about 20 minutes to throw together.

For the Tuscan Chicken and Vegetables recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

Recreate dishes from around the world in your kitchen with this recipe for peri-peri chicken wings. This traditional South African sauce is made from bird's eye chili peppers and creates a delicious and spicy sauce that coats your wings in flavor. Store-bought peri-peri mix will do the job to add heat to your wings.

For the Per-Peri Chicken Wings with Dipping Sauce recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Corrie Cooks

This recipe is inspired by flavors from the Philippines and combines apple cider vinegar, garlic, bay leaves and soy sauce for an easy Instant Pot meal.

For the Instant Pot Chicken Adobo recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

Want to cut down on dishes? This recipe uses just one pan and is a flavorful dish that will take you less than half an hour to whip up.

For the Grilled Moroccan Spice Chicken recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

Not only does this dish take less than half an hour to make, but it features a versatile Asian marinade of orange and soy sauce that tastes great on chicken.

For the Grilled Orange-Ginger Chicken recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Corrie Cooks

On a new trendy diet? This keto-friendly chicken recipe is super easy and quick to make.

For the Instant Pot Super Simple Chicken Wings recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Perdue

The marinade for this chicken recipe only takes two simple ingredients: lemon and thyme. This marinade will elevate your chicken to the star of the dish as well as prove you can make way more than lemonade with some extra lemons.

For the Lemon Thyme Chicken recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Emily Paster, West of the Loop

A twist on a popular pizza recipe, this chicken flatbread recipe is made by tossing chicken in your favorite barbecue sauce and sautéing onion and peppers.

For the BBQ Chicken Flatbread recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Bits and Bites

This is not your normal chicken parmesan. Your air-fryer can make flawless crispy breaded chicken without the oil.

For the Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Emily Paster, West of the Loop

So nice it's on here twice. If you don't have an air fryer, this is the chicken parm for you. It is still a lighter take on the quintessential Italian dish. The homemade marinara sauce, pan-fried breaded chicken cutlets and thick slices of mozzarella cheese make it a cheesy and delicious chicken recipe.

For the Chicken Parmesan recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Corrie Cooks

If you are looking for a chicken recipe that isn't boring, these wings are perfect for you to make after a long day of work. Bonus points: They are super crispy.

For the Instant Pot Schezwan Chicken Wings recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Perdue

Craving some of America's best wings? Kick it up a notch right in your own kitchen. Instead of just regular buffalo wings, turn your buffalo chicken into skewers.

For the Buffalo Chicken Skewer recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Corrie Cooks

This chicken recipe uses fish sauce, sugar and garlic to infuse flavor into the wings. These wings are sticky, delectable and hit the spot after a busy day of working.

For the Instant Pot Glazed Chicken Wings recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Perdue

Could it be a brunch food? Sure. But who says a frittata has to be reserved for brunch. This recipe combines chicken with vegetables, herbs, cheese and eggs, one of the foods you should eat every day.

For the Chicken Frittata With Kalamata Olives recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Blue Apron

These chicken wings have a Vietnamese twist. They feature tartar sauce and are roasted instead of fried for a lighter touch.

For the Vietnamese Chicken Wings recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

This chicken burger is wood-smoked instead of grilled. The finishing touch of orange peel compliments the smoky flavor of the burger. If you're in the mood for a burger, here are more of the best burger recipes to choose from.

For the Wood-Smoked Chicken Burgers with Orange Peel Aioli recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Blue Apron

Looking for some heat, but want to be more creative than just dousing your chicken in your favorite hot sauce? Look to the Korean flavors that are celebrated all throughout this dish. It has a sweet-savory taste and gochujang, a kind of Korean chile paste, adds some spice to your wings.

For the Spicy Korean Chicken Wings recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Perdue

It will take less than a half an hour to make this retro recipe that deserves a comeback, which features chicken, cheese and ham.

For the Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Happy Money Saver

This recipe is a great quick and easy meal that comes from the freezer. You can make it up ahead so these will be weeknight-ready.

For the Freezer Friendly Chicken Wings recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Perdue

Fresh basil, ripe tomatoes and creamy mozzarella make this chicken burger perfect for the summer.

For the Caprese-Stuffed Chicken Burgers recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

This chicken burger takes inspiration from Greek ingredients with lemon pepper yogurt that adds a fresh flavor to a classic summertime dish.

For the Greek Chicken Burgers with Lemon Pepper Yogurt Sauce recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Happy Money Saver

Soup is warm, hearty, comforting and delicious. It won't take hours to make and is even easier because it is made with rotisserie chicken.

For the Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Bits and Bites blog

This Tex-Mex dish that you can find at the best Mexican restaurants in America is filled with classic Mexican ingredients such as cheese, chicken and tortillas that everyone in the family will be able to enjoy during the week.

For the Easy Chicken Enchiladas recipe, click here.

Jacqui Wedewer/The Daily Meal

Want to eat your chicken parm out of a bowl? With a little bit of everything in each bite? Then here's a weeknight dish for you.

For the Chicken Parm Chili recipe, click here.

David Kaplan, The Daily Meal

Tacos are a Mexican food that everyone is familiar with. This dish uses chicken thighs and is topped with homemade salsa verde. It's not only a quick meal but also an inexpensive one.

For the Roast Chicken Tacos with Salsa Verde and Crema recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Karrie Truman, Happy Money Saver

A commonly made and classic dish, this is great if you want to throw together a childhood favorite.

For the Chicken Noodle Soup recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Betty Crocker

This is another nostalgic dish that is a great comfort food no matter how hot or cold it is outside. This pie is filled with chicken, potatoes, peas, carrots and onions. If you want to save time beforehand, you can use rotisserie chicken.

For the Impossibly Easy Chicken Pot Pie recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Nestlé

If you are craving Mexican flavors, but do not have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, this quick recipe is one the whole family will enjoy.

For the Chicken Salad Tostadas recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

Is chicken chili a regional chili style? No. However, this recipe only takes a little over a half an hour to make and is great if you have a big family to feed.

For the Chicken Chili with Black Beans and Corn recipe, click here.

Courtesy of McCormick

Every one of the ingredients for this chicken recipe you can get from the farmer's market. You just have to know what's in season.

For the Farmer's Market Chicken and Vegetables recipe, click here.

Courtesy of The Cheesecake Factory

If this chain restaurant is beloved by you and your family, then this dish should be a weeknight go-to. This salad is super quick to make and is packed with flavor.

For The Cheesecake's Factory Chinese Chicken Salad recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Blue Apron

Hearty rice recipes are perfect for a weeknight. This delicious chicken casserole is loaded with rice, beans and broccoli. To finish it off, top it with cheese before it is thrown in the oven and served for everyone to enjoy.

For the Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole recipe, click here.

© Bhofack2 - Dreamstime.com

Turning a classic dip recipe into a whole meal? Sign us up. This casserole is a comforting dish after a long day of work and is something that the whole family can enjoy together.

For the Buffalo Chicken Casserole recipe, click here.

AlexPro9500/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

This recipe is a way to jazz up packaged noodles, a pantry staple. This ramen has chicken, broth and noodles topped with a boiled egg. Ramen is just one of the 101 creative ways to cookeggs.

For the Lemon Chicken Ramen Soup recipe, click here.

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