10+ Chicken Recipes You’ll Love to Try Tonight

Chicken’s one of those ingredients that just fits into almost any meal. You can roast it, fry it, bake it, or toss it in a slow cooker—so many ways to play with flavors and textures.

Whether you’re after something super simple or you’re itching to try a dish that feels a bit more “special occasion,” chicken recipes give you plenty of room to experiment in your kitchen.

You’ll find tons of easy, tasty chicken recipes that work for weeknight dinners or those times you want to impress your family. Most of these use ingredients you probably already have, and the steps aren’t complicated.

Cooking chicken doesn’t need to be a hassle—sometimes it’s just about letting good flavors shine.

1) Creamy Garlic Chicken with Luscious Sauce

This creamy garlic chicken is a weeknight lifesaver. You get a rich, garlicky sauce that’s smooth and comforting.

It cooks up fast, so you’re not stuck in the kitchen all night. The chicken stays juicy, and that sauce? It clings to every bite.

Everything happens in one skillet, so cleanup’s a breeze. Serve it over rice, pasta, or next to roasted veggies—whatever’s hanging out in your fridge.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
3. Cook chicken until golden and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, add butter and garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.
5. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir and bring to a simmer.
6. Cook sauce until it thickens, about 5 minutes.
7. Return chicken to skillet and coat with sauce. Heat for 2 minutes before serving.

For a similar creamy garlic chicken recipe, check out Budget Bytes.

2) 30-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken

Looking for something quick and sticky-sweet? Try honey garlic chicken.

The chicken gets a crispy crust, then soaks up a sauce that’s both sweet and garlicky. I like it with broccoli or asparagus, but you do you.

Start by searing the chicken for a golden crust. Then pour in a simple sauce—honey, garlic, soy sauce, and a splash of vinegar.

Let it simmer until the sauce thickens and really sticks to the chicken. Fast, easy, and tastes like you spent way more time on it.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts or thighs
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (apple cider or white)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sear until golden, about 5 minutes per side.
3. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and vinegar.
5. Simmer chicken and sauce for 5-7 minutes, turning chicken to coat.
6. Cook until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through (165°F / 74°C).
7. Serve hot with veggies.

For more details, check this 30 Minute Honey Garlic Chicken recipe.

3) Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

Slow cooker chicken and gravy is as low-effort as it gets. Toss boneless chicken breasts in your slow cooker.

Mix up some cream of chicken soup and a chicken gravy packet, then pour it over the chicken. Add your favorite seasonings.

Let it cook on low for about 4 to 6 hours. The chicken turns out super tender.

You can shred it or just leave it in big pieces—totally up to you. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice if you want something extra cozy.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 1 packet (about 0.87 oz) chicken gravy mix
• Pepper, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme (to taste)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Mix cream of chicken soup and gravy mix in a bowl.
3. Pour over chicken.
4. Sprinkle seasonings on top.
5. Cook on low for 4-6 hours (225-275°F / 107-135°C).
6. Shred chicken if you want, then stir to coat with gravy.

4) Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Thighs

Air fryer chicken thighs are ridiculously easy and come out crispy every time. Pat the skin dry—don’t skip this step if you want that crunch.

Season with salt, pepper, or whatever spices you’re feeling. Pop them in the air fryer basket, skin side down.

Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes. Flip and give them another 12 minutes skin side up.

If you’ve got a lot of thighs, cook in batches so they actually crisp up. Always check for 165°F (74°C) inside—no one wants undercooked chicken.

Ingredients

• 4-6 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: garlic powder, paprika, or your favorite seasoning

Cooking Instructions

1. Pat chicken dry.
2. Season all over.
3. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
4. Place skin side down, cook 12 minutes.
5. Flip skin side up, cook another 12 minutes.
6. Check for 165°F (74°C) inside.
7. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

5) Baked Balsamic Chicken

Balsamic chicken is one of those dishes that feels fancy but is actually super easy. Just marinate chicken breasts in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and herbs.

The marinade gives the chicken a tangy, slightly sweet kick. Bake until juicy and done.

Pair it with veggies or rice. You can get this on the table in about 30-40 minutes, depending on how thick your chicken is.

It’s simple, quick, and definitely not boring. Want step-by-step photos? Check out this baked balsamic chicken recipe page.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Mix vinegar, oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Coat chicken with marinade.
4. Place in a baking dish.
5. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until chicken hits 165°F (74°C).
6. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

6) Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas are pure comfort and honestly not hard to make. Grab some tortillas—corn or flour, your call.

Fill them with shredded chicken, cheese, maybe some green chiles or beans if you’re feeling it. Roll them up, tuck them in a baking dish.

Pour enchilada sauce over the top, then pile on more cheese. Bake about 20 minutes until everything’s hot and melty.

Ingredients

• 8 corn or flour tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
• 1 cup enchilada sauce
• ½ cup chopped green chiles (optional)
• ½ cup cooked beans (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix chicken, cheese, chiles, and beans in a bowl.
3. Spoon into tortillas, roll up.
4. Place in baking dish.
5. Pour sauce over top.
6. Sprinkle extra cheese on.
7. Bake 20 minutes until bubbly.

7) Pesto Pasta with Chicken

Pesto pasta with chicken is a go-to when you want something fast but still crave real flavor. The basil pesto brings a punch, and the chicken adds protein.

You can use breast or thigh meat, just cook it until it’s nice and juicy. Toss the cooked chicken with pasta and pesto.

Add cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes for a bit of color. Finish with Parmesan—don’t skip it, it really ties things together.

This one’s great because it cooks fast and you don’t need a ton of ingredients. One pot works if you want minimal cleanup.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 8 oz farfalle or bow tie pasta
• 1 cup basil pesto
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook pasta as the package says.
2. Season chicken, then cook in a pan over medium heat until done (165°F/74°C).
3. Slice chicken and set aside.
4. Toss pasta with pesto, chicken, and cherry tomatoes.
5. Top with Parmesan before serving.

8) Healthy Lemon Garlic Chicken

Lemon garlic chicken is light, zippy, and doesn’t need a ton of fuss. Fresh lemon juice and garlic make the chicken juicy and bright.

The chicken cooks up quickly, perfect for a busy night. You can do this in a skillet or bake it—whatever’s easier.

A sprinkle of Italian seasoning or some fresh parsley adds more flavor without extra calories. Pair it with steamed veggies or a salad for a meal that feels balanced and fresh.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) if baking.
2. Mix olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Coat chicken with marinade.
4. Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side or bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
5. Let it rest a couple minutes before serving.

9) Honey Glazed Chicken

Honey glazed chicken is one of those dishes that’s both quick and genuinely satisfying. You just cook the chicken until it’s tender, then coat it with a sticky, sweet honey sauce.

This recipe calls for honey, soy sauce, and a bit of garlic—nothing complicated. Use chicken breasts or thighs, whatever you have on hand.

The glaze gives the chicken a shiny finish and just enough sweetness to keep things interesting. I love it with rice or some roasted veggies on the side.

Start by pan-frying the chicken. Once it’s browned, let it simmer in the honey sauce so it soaks up all that flavor and the sauce gets nice and thick.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts or thighs
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Cook chicken until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side.
3. Mix honey, soy sauce, and garlic in a bowl.
4. Pour sauce over chicken and simmer for 3-5 minutes until sauce thickens.
5. Serve warm with your favorite sides.

Want more details? Here’s the honey glazed chicken recipe.

10) Simple Chicken and Rice Dinner

This chicken and rice dinner is one of those easy, one-pot meals you’ll want to make again. You cook the chicken right on top of the rice, so everything soaks up the flavor.

It keeps cleanup simple—just one pot to wash. Use chicken tenders, onion, and celery as your base.

If you toss in some garlic or thyme, you’ll get a little extra flavor without any fuss. The whole meal cooks in about 30 minutes, which is a lifesaver on busy nights.

The chicken comes out juicy and the rice stays fluffy. It’s a cozy, home-cooked dinner that doesn’t ask much of you.

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken tenders
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 to 3 cups water or chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a large pot over medium heat.

2. Toss in the chicken tenders and cook them until they’re nicely browned. This usually takes about 5 minutes, give or take.

3. Take the chicken out.

4. Now, toss in the onion, celery, and garlic. Sauté everything until it gets soft and smells amazing.

5. Stir in the rice, sprinkle in the thyme, and season with salt and pepper.

6. Put the chicken back on top. Pour in your water or broth—whichever you prefer.

7. Crank up the heat to bring it all to a boil. Then, drop the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it all simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken’s cooked through.

8. Take it off the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes before you serve.