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  5. 20 Chicken Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes or Less

20 Chicken Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes or Less

Jenna Sims, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Jenna Sims
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Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken
Credit: Greg Dupree
Even if you only have 20 minutes, that's still plenty of time to pull together a homemade weeknight dinner for your family. Yes, really! These speedy chicken dinners are quick and easy, but still full of flavor. Recipes like Chicken Stir-Fry, Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken, and Chicken Caprese Pasta may sound like they require an all day cooking affair, but they're actually ready in just 20 minutes or less! Add one of these 3-Ingredient Side Dish Recipes to complete your easy weeknight dinner. We think these chicken recipes will become your new favorites, not only for their delicious flavor, but also because you'll spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your family's company around the dinner table.
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Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken

Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken
Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Kickin’ Orange-Glazed Chicken

If you prefer your orange-glazed chicken without the heat, leave out the red pepper flakes for a sweeter glaze.

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Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas
Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

Recipe: Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Making this quick pizza at home is easier than ordering delivery.

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Chicken Caprese Pasta

Chicken Caprese Pasta
Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Caprese Pasta

This light pasta dish is great for a quick weeknight dinner, but also impressive enough to serve when entertaining on the weekend.

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Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad

Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad

Deli-fried chicken tenders will help you create a restaurant quality salad at home in just 15 minutes.

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Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Serve the healthy chicken mixture in lettuce wraps, wheat wraps, or over a bed of mixed greens.

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Sesame Chicken Garden Salad

Sesame Chicken Garden Salad
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Sesame Chicken Garden Salad

The flavors of this salad get even better overnight, so make extra if you want leftovers for lunch the next day.

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Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Homemade dressing elevates this vibrant salad that is an easy and filling dinner.

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Balsamic-Garlic Chicken Breasts

Quick and Easy Chicken Recipes: Balsamic-Garlic Chicken Breasts
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Balsamic-Garlic Chicken Breasts

If you need more than 4 servings or want to have leftovers for the rest of the week, you can easily double the recipe.

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Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli

Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli

Make the dressing and toss together the salad ingredients while the chicken is cooking; dinner will be on the table in 20 minutes.

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Herb-Grilled Chicken

Herb-Grilled Chicken
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Herb-Grilled Chicken

Choose your favorite fresh herbs to add flavor to grilled chicken.

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Chicken Cutlets with Pecan Sauce

Chicken Cutlets with Pecan Sauce
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Chicken Cutlets with Pecan Sauce

Toasted pecans add a nutty flavor to chicken cutlets.

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Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken

Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken

While Mama's Fried Chicken may be reserved for Sunday supper, this pan-fried chicken is easy and quick enough to serve any night of the week.

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Grilled Chicken 'N' Cheese Sandwiches

Kid-Friendly Chicken: Grilled Chicken 'N' Cheese Sandwiches
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Grilled Chicken 'N' Cheese Sandwiches

Upgrade an ordinary grilled cheese by adding homemade chicken salad.

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Fried Chicken Tacos with Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce

Fried Chicken Tacos with Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce
Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Fried Chicken Tacos with Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce

Make taco night easy with fried chicken tenders.

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Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce

Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce

Prep the veggies the night before to get dinner on the table faster.

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Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss

Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss

Serve with warm bread to soak up the flavorful tomato juices.

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Chicken-and-Prosciutto Tortelloni Soup

Chicken-and-Prosciutto Tortelloni Soup
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Chicken-and-Prosciutto Tortelloni Soup

Comforting soup that’s ready in just 20 minutes? Yes, please.

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Chicken Stir-Fry

Chicken Stir-Fry
Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Chicken Stir-Fry

This 10-minute stir-fry is even faster than takeout.

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Chicken and Fontina Panini

Chicken and Fontina Panini
Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Chicken and Fontina Panini

Perfect for lunch or dinner, this panini uses rotisserie chicken to come together in just 15 minutes.

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Peanut Chicken Scaloppine

Squash Ribbon Salad
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Peanut Chicken Scaloppine

Make sure to use a rolling pin or meat mallet to flatten chicken to speed up the cooking time.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 20 Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken
    2 of 20 Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas
    3 of 20 Chicken Caprese Pasta
    4 of 20 Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad
    5 of 20 Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    6 of 20 Sesame Chicken Garden Salad
    7 of 20 Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
    8 of 20 Balsamic-Garlic Chicken Breasts
    9 of 20 Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli
    10 of 20 Herb-Grilled Chicken
    11 of 20 Chicken Cutlets with Pecan Sauce
    12 of 20 Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken
    13 of 20 Grilled Chicken 'N' Cheese Sandwiches
    14 of 20 Fried Chicken Tacos with Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce
    15 of 20 Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce
    16 of 20 Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss
    17 of 20 Chicken-and-Prosciutto Tortelloni Soup
    18 of 20 Chicken Stir-Fry
    19 of 20 Chicken and Fontina Panini
    20 of 20 Peanut Chicken Scaloppine

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