Food and Recipes Meat Chicken 26 Healthy Chicken Recipes That'll Have You Saying "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!" By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South.She earned a B.A. in Journalism at the University of Georgia. She hopes to inspire your travel bucket list with her features on road trips through Texas Hill Country, bourbon tours in Kentucky, and the best beach getaways on the Gulf Coast. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 16, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos As far as weeknight dinner goes, it doesn't get much easier than the ever-classic chicken dinner. Whether you're making it in the slow cooker, on a sheet pan, or atop your cast-iron skillet, chicken is a familiar friend on the supper table—and we're serving up 26 healthy chicken recipes that'll make this staple even more crowd-pleasing. These chicken dinners are quick, easy, and delicious, making them perfect to add to your weeknight menu, especially if you've been feeling bored in the kitchen. Try one of our one-dish skillets, anything-but-boring salads, or classic crockpot recipes; and you won't be going back. (Many even make use of shredded rotisserie chicken, which you can snag on your weekly grocery trip. Double bingo.) These easy and healthy dinner recipes will have you ready to declare "Winner, winner, chicken dinner!" 01 of 26 Sheet Pan Chicken with Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Dressing Juicy chicken thighs paired with crusty, toasty chunks of cornbread? Well, we don't mind if we do. 02 of 26 Southwest Chicken Tortillas Greg DuPree Recipe: Southwest Chicken Tortillas These easy, flavorful chicken tacos are begging to make a Taco Tuesday appearance. If trying to cut down carbs, swap out the rice for riced cauliflower. 03 of 26 Sheet Pan Greek Chicken with Roasted Potatoes Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Sheet Pan Greek Chicken with Roasted Potatoes You really won't beat this spiced, crispy sheet pan chicken. The Greek-style garnishes are the best part. 04 of 26 Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe: Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup This smoky soup is all about the spices and savory smoked chicken, making it a wintertime staple. 05 of 26 Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken Roasted sweet potatoes and chicken give this salad enough hearty substance to be considered a dinner salad. (That's a title we do not bestow lightly.) 06 of 26 Quick Chicken and Barley Stew Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Quick Chicken and Barley Stew Packed with good-for-you vegetables and whole grains, this chicken stew will keep you feeling satisfied. 07 of 26 BBQ Rub Roasted Chickens with Potatoes and Carrots Greg DuPree Recipe: BBQ Rub Roasted Chickens with Potatoes and Carrots This recipe serves a two-fold purpose. It's an easy sheet pan supper, and it makes great leftovers for throw-together lunches and dinners for the rest of the week. 08 of 26 Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice Take your dinner prep out to the grill for this chicken meal packed with flavor. 09 of 26 Creamy Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Collard Greens Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Creamy Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Collard Greens This soup is absolutely packed with healthy fresh vegetables. (As in, that pinch of heavy cream is totally offset.) 10 of 26 Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots Sweet and spicy makes a powerhouse duo at dinnertime. And, really, is there anything easier than a 30-minute sheet pan supper? 11 of 26 Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables A cross between a sauté and a stew, this recipe hits all of the fresh, savory notes you could want. 12 of 26 Garlicky Roasted Spatchcock Chicken Alison Miksch Recipe: Garlicky Roasted Spatchock Chicken Avoid the dry meat dilemma with our roasted spatchcock chicken. It pairs well with Brussels sprouts and carrots. 13 of 26 Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes Because sometimes a Southerner just needs some fried chicken. But here's the secret: This crispy, golden fried chicken is done with a quick pan-fry rather than a deep fry. You'll pop it in the oven to finish cooking and enhance the crispiness. 14 of 26 Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps Wrapped in tender butter lettuce and garnished with cashews for crunch, these lettuce wraps pack more flavor and texture than your average mayo-heavy chicken salad wrap. 15 of 26 Honey-Apricot Glazed Chicken Iain Bagwell Recipe: Honey-Apricot Glazed Chicken Right at the flavorful intersection where sweet and savory meet, you'll find these slow-cooker chicken thighs. 16 of 26 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes This chicken dinner is the perfect example of why we don't mess with a good thing. It's simple, straightforward, and oh-so tasty. 17 of 26 Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce Make this at-home version of Thai peanut sauce, and drizzle it over colorful veggies and shredded rotisserie chicken. Done and done. 18 of 26 Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Grilled Creole Chicken & Okra Get the Creole flavor you're craving, but keep things a tad healthier. This blend of charred chicken, smoked Andouille sausage (which you can switch for turkey or chicken sausage), tomatoes, okra, onion, and bell pepper is a weeknight winner. 19 of 26 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Recipe: Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken This sheet-pan supper couldn't be simpler to pull together on a weeknight. Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes is perfect for easy entertaining with friends; simply combine all ingredients on a roasting pan and pop in the oven. This juicy, tangy chicken is pretty enough to serve to company, and hearty enough to fill hungry bellies. Serve this warm, one-dish chicken dinner with a crusty loaf of French bread. 20 of 26 One-Pan Chicken with Lemon, Olives, and Artichokes Greg DuPree Recipe: One-Pan Chicken with Lemon, Olives, and Artichokes This Mediterranean-inspired dish will make you forget that you were getting bored of chicken. Lemony chicken and artichokes are topped with a tangy relish of green olives, parsley, and thyme. 21 of 26 Braised Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Lemons Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Braised Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Lemons Sweet carrots and tangy lemons really make this simple braised chicken dish sing—all in less than an hour. 22 of 26 Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss Greg DuPree Recipe: Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss This fresh summer salad adds a pop of color to any spread. Put those heirloom tomatoes to good use! 23 of 26 Chicken Chili Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chicken Chili Consider this recipe your fresher alternative to a traditional beef chili. You won't be disappointed. 24 of 26 Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks A crispy skin makes these drumsticks a family favorite. 25 of 26 Chicken Stir-Fry Greg Dupree Recipe: Chicken Stir-Fry A stir-fry takes, oh, maybe ten minutes? And it's healthy? We're sold. 26 of 26 Country Captain Chicken Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Country Captain Chicken This Lowcountry classic is packed with flavor from various spices like curry powder, paprika, and nutmeg. Lighten up this recipe by serving over brown rice or riced cauliflower. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit