79 Creative Chicken Recipes For Weeknights When You Don't Want To Think About Dinner (2024)

Aside from a name that's a hoot to utter, Chicken Riggies (aka Utica, New York’s pasta pride and joy) has a lot more going for it, namely that it's a slightly creamy, spicy, and a bit-sweet pleasure to eat. It’s so good, it might just become a new go-to weeknight dinner for you and your family.

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Tomato butter works wonders on roast chicken—not only does it keep the bird moist, but the healthy dose of tomato paste brings a slightly sweet, umami acidity to the whole dish. Plus, there are no better veggies than ones that have been roasted underneath a chicken, collecting all of that flavor-packed schmaltz.

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Say goodbye to boring chicken dinners—this Cajun-stuffed chicken is here to shake up your weeknight rotation. Spiced with peppers and cheese, this stuffed chicken is packed with flavor, but ready to be served in under an hour.

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This simple method works so well because the creamy layer (garlicky sour cream and mayonnaise) locks moisture into the chicken for a truly melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s also so easy to make six chicken breasts all at once, which either means you can feed a hungry family for weeknight dinner, or you’ve got leftovers for another meal.

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With a creamy, cheesy sauce and tender chicken breasts, this is the pasta dish we turn to time and time again when we're craving the ultimate comfort meal. If you've never made pasta sauce from scratch before—this is where you should start. Fair warning: No jarred pasta sauce may compare after you've made this homemade recipe.

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What isn’t pesto good in? It’s a sauce that turns any dish into kitchen gold, especially this totally comforting and delicious gnocchi and chicken bake. For the perfect pesto touch, stir a dollop into the tomato mixture to coat everything, then dollop the top with more right out of the oven for a fresh finish.

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This chicken dinner uses deeply flavored chicken thighs, simmered in an ultra-silky and aromatic sauce of tomatoes, cream, and cashews. The cashews lend a buttery nuttiness and great texture to the sauce in this recipe, but blanched almonds would also work well. For the ultimate weeknight dinner, spoon this dish over steamed rice or serve with warm naan.

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All it takes is a few basic ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand) to transform chicken thighs into an herby, garlicky dream. The best part? Your sides and main dish will both be ready in under an hour, making this an ideal last-minute, filling dinner. We paired this one-pan meal with roasted zucchini and asparagus, but you can can switch it up with whatever is in season that you have on hand.

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If our creamy Tuscan chicken is a mainstay at your house, this recipe is going to be just the thing to shake up your weeknight dinner routine. We paired quick-cooking chicken cutlets with a spicy-sweet coconut milk sauce that’s out-of-this-world tasty.

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If you can't get enough of the flavor combo of saucy BBQ, tender chicken and creamy ranch, then you'll go crazy for this homemade copycat version. Our twist? We bake the pizza in an oven-safe skillet, resulting in an extra-crispy crust. It might seem a bit extra, but trust us—it's worth it.

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Calling all garlic lovers! If you’re the type to use a whole head of garlic when a recipe only calls for one or two cloves, this is the chicken dinner for you. The best part? This whole recipe comes together in just 35 minutes, all in one pot.

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Here, chicken, orzo, spinach, and feta come together into a complete meal that’s quick enough for a weeknight, but beautiful enough to serve to friends at a dinner party. It’s easy and delicious and, best of all, won’t load up your sink with a ton of dishes.

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What happens when you give chicken Parm the Buffalo treatment? You get this: a crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside chicken cutlet smothered in spicy sauce and topped with bubbling cheese. (Plus a drizzle of ranch, if that’s how you like your wings.) 😍

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This one-pot recipe is the perfect way to spruce up healthy chicken breasts with bright Mediterranean flavors without dirtying all the pots and pans in your kitchen. Feel free to add in whatever you've got in your fridge too—olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes—this recipe can take it all.

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Freshen up a classic dish, , by spooning a wildly flavorful olive, almond, and parsley sauce over top. The best part? This entire recipe is made in just one dish (including the sauce!), making dinner (and cleanup) easier than ever.

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If you’re familiar with our chicken piccata, our , or our creamy Tuscan chicken, you know that for some chicken dishes, it’s ALL about the sauce. This one—with balsamic vinegar, heavy cream, and chicken broth—is no different. It's a touch sweet, a little tangy, and super-delicious; we can’t believe we didn’t think of it sooner!

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Craving something a little more creative than your average Buffalo wings? Enter: Buffalo chicken meatballs. Ready in just 30 minutes, these are perfect for tucking into tacos, serving alongside pasta, or pairing with roasted veggies.

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Seasoned chicken breast gets pan-seared until golden brown, smothered in a strawberry chipotle sauce, and topped with fresh strawberry-jalapeño salsa to create this playful, bright dish. Sweet-and-spicy lovers, this is bound to become your go-to warm weather dinner.

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We might seem gnocchi-crazed here at Delish, but can you blame us? In this simple one-pot supper, the gnocchi is cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and paired with chicken thighs. What more could you want?

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Whether you're trying to go low-carb or simply love cooking spaghetti squash, this chicken Alfredo-inspired recipe is a worthwhile weeknight chicken dinner you should add to your rotation.

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