Lunch & Dinner

Jan 17, 2024

43 Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas For Every Night Of The Week

By: Canadian Living

Choose one of these delicious chicken recipes for an easy weeknight meal.

CHICKEN WITH OLIVES & ROASTED PEPPERS

A delicious weekday dinner that come together in a flash.

Get the recipe here.

LIGHTENED-UP CHICKEN PARMIGIANA WITH GARLICKY VEGGIES

Ask your butcher to cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, or simply do it yourself: With the knife blade parallel to the cutting board and your opposite hand on top of chicken, slice horizontally completely through the breast, keeping your knife parallel to the board to ensure an even cut.

Get the recipe here.

KOREAN-STYLE CHICKEN WINGS

Sweet, sticky and a little bit spicy—this sauce is everything you want on a wing.

Get the recipe here.

CHICKEN & CHORIZO MEATBALLS WITH PAPRIKA SAUCE

Highly flavourful chorizo is mixed with chicken to make the juiciest of meatballs.

Get the recipe here.

HOISIN-GLAZED CHICKEN WITH FIVE-SPICE BROTH

Reminiscent of Vietnamese pho, this noodle soup starts with a flavourful broth that takes a fraction of the usual time to prepare. Serve with lime wedges and Asian chili sauce on the side.

Get the recipe here.

BASQUE ROAST CHICKEN

Espelette chili powder is a quintessential spice found in the Basque region of Spain. A good substitute is a combination of sweet and smoked paprika and cayenne pepper, which we've used here.

Get the recipe here.

GRILLED ROSEMARY-MUSTARD CHICKEN

Tender chicken thighs make a juicy canvas for painting on this rosemary and mustard glaze. A combination of Dijon and grainy mustard gives a rich, slightly spicy flavour and pleasant crunchy finish. Serve with a simple salad or steamed rice.

Get the recipe here.

SESAME-CRUSTED CHICKEN

Serve this quick and easy recipe with sauteed greens, such as spinach or kale.

Get the recipe here.

CRISPY CHICKEN WITH HERB AND WHEAT BERRY SALAD

Browning the chicken on the stovetop before finishing it in the oven makes the skin extra crispy. You can substitute the wheat berries with the same amount of barley, spelt berries or brown rice.

Get the recipe here.

CHICKEN CUTLETS WITH CILANTRO PEANUT SAUCE

This green sauce is like an Asian-style pesto. It is equally nice on grilled fish. It's also a timesaver because you can make this sauce up to two days ahead and refrigerate it, then just bring to room temperature to serve.

Get the recipe here.

ROASTED CHICKEN PIECES WITH BALSAMIC FENNEL

Radishes, fennel and balsamic vinegar turn into a delightfully sweet side dish. Make sure to use skin-on bone-in chicken for the ultimate flavour.

Get the recipe here.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND SPINACH PASTA

Reserving some of the pasta cooking liquid to toss with the whole dish helps distribute the ingredients and loosen up the pasta without adding extra oil. Substitute whole wheat spaghettini for regular if desired.

Get the recipe here.

BUTTER CHICKEN BURGERS

Torn between butter chicken and burgers tonight? Why not have both at the same time? Be sure to use thick curry paste (not sauce) to keep the burgers moist but not sloppy. Serve them in kaiser rolls and top with plain Greek yogurt, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, and lettuce leaves.

Get the recipe here.

OVEN-FRIED BUTTERMILK CHICKEN

Marinating chicken in buttermilk tenderizes it and adds a tangy flavour. Buy bone-in skin-on chicken breasts and discard the skin to cut down on the fat. Not only is bone-in chicken more economical, but the bone also helps keep the meat moist. A spray bottle or atomizer evenly distributes a small amount of oil to make the breading crisp. Serve with steamed vegetables.

Get the recipe here.

CREAMY CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM PASTA

A little chicken (less than a pound) goes a long way in this rich, creamy dish. We love whole wheat spaghetti with the rustic mushroom-infused sauce, but any long pasta, such as bucatini, spagettini or linguine, can be a delicious partner. Feel free to improvise with whatever type is waiting in your pantry.

Get the recipe here.

STICKY HONEY SESAME DRUMSTICKS

Five pantry staples plus a family pack of drumsticks equals one saucy, scrumptious supper. This is a weeknight superstar, ready in less than 30 minutes. Serve with rice and steamed green vegetables to fill up growling bellies. Dress up your drums with pretty sliced green onions and lime wedges.

Get the recipe here.

BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN BREASTS

This sheet pan meal makes big flavour easy.

Get the recipe here.

CHICKEN & PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE

We love this easy one-pan meal on busy weeknights.

Get the recipe here.

MAPLE BUTTERMILK GRILLED CHICKEN

Everyone will love this sweet and savoury chicken. Mix it up by using a variety of white and dark meat so that they all get their favourite pieces. Be sure to cut chicken breasts in half crosswise, through the bone, to make them more similar in size to the thighs and drumsticks. For a fun garnish, cut a lime in half to grill alongside the chicken for the last 10 minutes.

Get the recipe here.

ONE-PAN CRISPY CHICKEN WITH ROASTED VEGGIES

Fresh herbs, lemon and a hint of cayenne transform simple cauliflower and inexpensive drumsticks into an elegant meal. Keep a close eye on the chicken once you set the broiler; it can quickly go from perfectly golden to burned if you aren't careful.

Get the recipe here.

SPEEDY ASPARAGUS AND CHICKEN PICCATA WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Because chicken cutlets are much thinner than whole chicken breasts, they cook much more quickly and save time. You can buy chicken breasts already sliced into cutlets, or simply cut whole boneless breasts in half horizontally. Asparagus works beautifully in this recipe, but snow peas or sweet peppers would be delicious as well, so work with whatever you happen to have on hand.

Get the recipe here.

THAI COCONUT CHICKEN SIMMER

Fragrant with coconut, ginger and shallots, this brightly flavoured curry is best served over jasmine rice or rice noodles. Fresh cilantro or basil leaves make a pretty garnish and add an extra layer of flavour. Serve with braised bok choy for the perfect simple Thai supper.

Get the recipe here.

QUICK CHICKEN KORMA

Pureed onions and toasted cashews give the sauce a creamy texture and rich flavour without adding any cream. If you love spice, don't seed the hot peppers. Serve with steamed basmati rice and a dollop of mango chutney.

Get the recipe here.

OLIVE CHICKEN TAGINE WITH DRIED FRUIT COUSCOUS

The fragrant spices of North African cuisine come to life in this Moroccan-style tagine, which features sweet-tasting cinnamon. You'll find jarred preserved lemons in specialty grocery stores and the international section of many supermarkets.

Get the recipe here.

SLOW COOKER CARIBBEAN CURRIED CHICKEN

Madras curry powder, a mix of spices including fenugreek, coriander, cumin and turmeric, is often hotter than other curry powders. Slow cooking mellows out the heat leaving an intensely flavourful curry. Look for Madras curry powder in the spice or ethnic food aisles. Serve wrapped up in a warm roti or with rice.

Get the recipe here.

GARAM MASALA DRUMSTICKS WITH ALOO GOBI

This Indian-inspired one-pan dinner is an easy weeknight meal. Aloo gobi means potato cauliflower, which is often seasoned with garlic, onion, ginger, curry and turmeric, which gives it its yellow colour.

Get the recipe here.

CHICKEN & MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Try a new take on a classic dinner hit.

Get the recipe here.

AIR FRYER SPICED CHICKEN WITH SUMAC OIL

A roast chicken becomes super simple when cooked in the air fryer.

Get the recipe here.

BARBECUE CHICKEN-STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

Fill to your heart's content!

Get the recipe here.

CHICKEN IN AU GRATIN ONION SAUCE

All you need is 20 minutes to throw this one-dish meal together.

Get the recipe here.

SKILLET TURMERIC CHICKEN & RICE

This one-pan meal uses a fresh and bright yogurt sauce for a hit of freshness.

Get the recipe here.

PIRI-PIRI CHICKEN DUMPLINGS

Matcha dumpling dough is our must-try secret!

Get the recipe here.

PULLED CHICKEN MOLE TACOS

Chocolate is one of the most versatile ingredients in baking—cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream, mousse...you name it! But did you know you can use it in savoury recipes too?

Get the recipe here.

CHICKEN SALAD WITH GRAPES & CASHEWS

Make this salad ahead of time for a healthy, on-the-go lunch.

Get the recipe here.

CHICKEN CUTLETS WITH BRANDY & MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE

When you're craving comfort food, this meal is a go-to.

Get the recipe here.

GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICHES WITH CREAMY HERB & FETA SPREAD

Our Creamy Herb & Feta Spread is inspired by the famous Green Goddess Salad Dressing. Here, we swapped mayonnaise for Greek yogurt and added feta cheese to make it the perfect consistency for spreading on sandwiches.

Get the recipe here.