10+ Easy Chicken Breast Recipes for Quick and Delicious Meals

Chicken breast is a go-to for quick meals. It cooks fast and you can do a lot with it.

These recipes help you make simple, delicious meals that fit into your busy schedule. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or your family, these ideas are practical and quick to prep.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil or butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
3. Heat olive oil or butter in a pan over medium heat.
4. Sear chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden.
5. Transfer to oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.

1) Honey Garlic Chicken Breast with 5-ingredient sauce

This honey garlic chicken breast recipe is quick and simple. You only need five ingredients for a sauce that sticks to the chicken.

You can cook it on the stove or bake it. Either way, you get juicy chicken with a sweet and savory glaze.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts
• Honey
• Garlic
• Soy sauce
• Vinegar or water

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix honey, garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar or water in a bowl.
2. Heat a pan over medium heat, then add the chicken breasts.
3. Cook chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
4. Pour the sauce over the chicken and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
5. Serve warm.

2) Three-Ingredient Baked Chicken Breasts

This recipe is as easy as it gets. Three ingredients and you’re set for juicy, tender chicken.

Butter or oil adds flavor, and you can always toss in extra herbs if you’re feeling it. Baking keeps things simple and cleanup is a breeze.

The chicken cooks at 375°F (190°C) for about 25-30 minutes. Make sure it hits 165°F (74°C) inside before you dig in.

Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Butter or oil
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish.
3. Spread butter or oil over each breast.
4. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Three-Ingredient Baked Chicken Breasts Recipe – Allrecipes

3) Oven-Baked Chicken Breast with Butter and Seasonings

Baking chicken breast with butter and simple seasonings is a classic move. Just season your chicken, top with butter, and bake.

Set your oven to 400°F (200°C). The butter melts and mixes with the herbs, making the chicken rich and juicy.

This takes about 18-20 minutes. Use it in salads, sandwiches, or just eat it straight with veggies.

Ingredients

• 2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• 2-4 tablespoons butter (1 tablespoon per breast)
• Optional: garlic powder, paprika, or herbs like rosemary

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and any herbs you like.
3. Place the chicken in a baking dish and top each piece with a slice of butter.
4. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
5. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Find more like this oven baked chicken breast recipe.

4) Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts

This recipe brings garlic knot vibes to chicken. It’s quick, buttery, and garlicky—what’s not to love?

You only need a few ingredients. The chicken cooks fast in a skillet, then gets coated in garlic butter, herbs, and Parmesan.

You can have this ready in about 15 to 20 minutes. It’s a fun twist on a classic garlic knot, just with chicken instead of bread.

Find the full recipe here.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.
2. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
4. Cook the chicken in the skillet for 5-7 minutes per side until fully cooked (165°F / 74°C).
5. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over chicken and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
6. Serve hot with the garlic butter sauce spooned on top.

5) Crockpot Chicken and Rice

This one’s a real lifesaver. You toss chicken, rice, and broth in the crockpot and let it do its thing.

Add veggies if you want—broccoli or carrots work well. The chicken gets tender and the rice soaks up all the good stuff.

Top it off with cheese or a hit of lemon if you like. Super easy and cozy.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup chopped broccoli (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup shredded cheese (optional)
• Juice of half a lemon (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Add rice and broccoli around the chicken.
3. Pour chicken broth over everything.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
6. Add cheese and lemon juice before serving, if you like.

Check out this Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe.

6) Grilled Chicken Breasts with simple seasoning

Grilling chicken breasts is fast and healthy. You really don’t need much—just olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Brush the chicken with oil, season both sides, and toss it on a hot grill. You’ll get a nice crust and juicy meat.

Each side needs about 6-7 minutes. Let it rest before you slice so you don’t lose those juices.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
2. Brush chicken with olive oil on both sides.
3. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
4. Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side.
5. Check the internal temperature; it should reach 165°F (74°C).
6. Remove chicken from grill and rest for 5 minutes before serving.

More tips in this grilled chicken recipe.

7) Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata is bright, buttery, and a little tangy. You cook chicken breasts in a lemony caper sauce that feels way fancier than the effort required.

Pan-sear the chicken until golden, then simmer it in the sauce. Capers give it a salty pop.

Serve it with mashed potatoes, pasta, or whatever you’ve got on hand.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup capers

Cooking Instructions

1. Flatten chicken breasts to even thickness.
2. Season with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
4. Cook chicken until golden, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from pan.
5. Add lemon juice, broth, and capers to the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Stir in remaining butter until sauce thickens.
7. Return chicken to pan and cook 2 more minutes. Serve warm.

8) Classic Chicken Salad with shredded chicken

This chicken salad is as classic as it gets. Shredded chicken makes it super easy to throw together, and it’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Crunchy celery and a bit of onion add flavor. Mayonnaise brings everything together without making it too heavy.

Use rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken breast—whatever you have. You’ll have a fresh, homemade salad in minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 rib celery, diced
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix shredded chicken with mayonnaise.

2. Add diced celery and sliced green onion.

3. Stir everything together.

4. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.

5. Chill for 30 minutes. Let the flavors hang out before serving.

This recipe riffs off a classic chicken salad recipe.

9) Chicken Fajitas

Chicken fajitas just make chicken breasts way more exciting. I like to season the chicken, then cook it up with a pile of colorful bell peppers and onions.

Fresh lime juice and a few simple spices really wake up the flavors. You can use a skillet or toss everything on a sheet pan and bake it. Both methods give you a nice smoky, sweet vibe.

Wrap the filling in warm tortillas. Go wild with toppings—think salsa or avocado, maybe a squeeze more lime.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• Tortillas for serving

Cooking Instructions

1. Slice chicken breasts into thin strips.

2. Mix olive oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and lime juice in a bowl.

3. Toss chicken and all the veggies in the seasoning mix.

4. Heat a pan over medium-high. Cook chicken for about 5-7 minutes, until it’s done.

5. Add peppers and onions. Cook until they’re tender, maybe 5 minutes.

6. Serve everything hot in tortillas.

Want a hands-off method? Check out sheet pan chicken fajitas here.

10) Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is a solid choice when you need dinner fast. You get tender chicken, creamy white beans, sweet corn, and just enough heat.

The Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting. Seriously, you just dump in your ingredients and let it go.

I like that it feels like it simmered forever, even though it’s ready in a snap. Adjust the spice—add more or less jalapeño or green chiles if you want.

Most of these ingredients are pantry staples, so you probably have everything on hand. It’s a weeknight win.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
• 3 chicken breasts
• 2 cans white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn
• 1 can green chiles
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Fire up your Instant Pot and hit sauté. Drizzle in some olive oil, then toss in the garlic.

2. Stir in the bell pepper and jalapeños. Let them cook for about 3 minutes—just enough to soften things up.

3. Drop in the chicken breasts, beans, corn, and green chiles. Pour in the broth, sprinkle in the cumin, and season with salt and pepper.

4. Pop the lid on and set it to pressure cook on high for 15 minutes.

5. When it’s done, release the pressure slowly and carefully. Take out the chicken and shred it up.

6. Put the shredded chicken back in the pot. Give it all a good stir.

7. Serve it hot, and don’t forget your favorite toppings—whatever you’re into.

If you’re curious or want to see the original, here’s the link: Instant Pot White Chicken Chili.