60 Best Chicken Breast Recipes | The Modern Proper (2024)

We’ve rounded up our 60 best chicken breast recipes, all of which are pretty easy, and super delicious. Let’s dive in!

60 Best Chicken Breast Recipes

Consider for a moment if the dreaded dinnertime conversation went like this: “what’s for dinner?” “Chicken breast.” “Chicken breasts for dinner? YAY!!!”. Well, we’ve rounded up our 60 best chicken breast recipes, all of which are pretty easy, and super delicious. Let’s dive in! Here are 60—yeah, that’s 6-0 easy chicken recipes—ideas for how to cook chicken breast that are anything but boring! After you work your way through this list check out our Best Quick Dinner Ideas.

Chicken Breast Basics: How To Cook Chicken Breast Simply and Perfectly

• Marry Me Chicken (cover photo). Creamy, tomato and herbed chicken with a sprinkle of fiery heat. Serve with Broccolini and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
  
• Perfectly Poached Chicken. Just what it sounds like—a simple, perfect way to poach plain, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. This go-to recipe is ideal for weekend meal prepping! Use in our Chicken Salad Recipe or Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup.
• Chicken Piccata. The one and only, classic Italian chicken piccata. Lemony, caper-y, buttery goodness. Serve with Simple Butter Lettuce Salad and Green Bean Almondine.
• Creamy Tomato Chicken Skillet Dinner. An easy, cheesy chicken breast supper that’s as basic as they come. Delicious paired with a Simple Italian Salad and Crispy Smashed Potatoes.
• One-Pan Honey Mustard Chicken.Familiar flavors and a single skillet yield easy chicken dinner perfection. Serve with Sourdough Bread or Spoon Bread.
• Indian Butter Chicken. Hailing from Delhi, butter chicken is an absolute classic—succulent chicken pieces are simmered in a creamy tomato sauce to make for a cozy meal that everyone will love. Serve with naan and Easy Raita and Roasted Cauliflower.

Our Favorite Baked Chicken Breast Recipes

• Lemon Chicken. Garlic, herbs and lemon—plus a glug of white wine—mean that these juicy, tender chicken breasts are as delicious as they are healthy. So versatile you can really pair this with anything but we love a Roasted Beet Salad or Brussels Sprouts Gratin.
• Pesto Chicken Bruschetta. Chicken breasts are simply baked to perfection, topped with fresh mozzarella and juicy, garlicky fresh chopped tomatoes that’s basically everything you love about bruschetta, minus the bread. If you're missing the bread try Garlic Bread or Pull Apart Cheese Bread alongside.
• Chicken Empanadas. Tender, juicy shredded chicken, onions, peppers and garlic make a hearty, savory filling for this easy empanada recipe. Pro tip: make a bunch and freeze some for later. Delicious served with our Perfect Guacamole for dipping and a Tex Mex Salad on the side.
• Buffalo Chicken Bites. All of the spicy, vinegary, zingy flavor of Buffalo wings with none of the mess, OR the deep-frying—healthier, easier, and just as delicious, these chicken bites are a win-win-win. Serve with a Classic Wedge Salad to call dinner done or whip up some Stuffed Mini Peppers and Sweet and Smoky Bean and Corn Salsa if you're making an appetizer platter.

• Greek Chicken Freezer Meal. A super lemony, herbal marinade is the key to making this simple chicken-and-potatoes freezer meal radiate bright, summery, sun-soaked flavors—even after months in the freezer. Serve with Jeweled Rice and Classic Creamy Hummus.
• Chicken Shawarma Sheet Pan Dinner. Sheet pan dinners, to the rescue again! This time, we’ve tossed chicken breasts with classic shawarma spices to make a simple, healthy, flavorful chicken dinner. A Mediterranean Pasta Salad or a Mediterranean Wedge Salad would be the perfect sidekick for this already perfect dinner!
• Roasted Salsa Verde Chicken Nachos. Nachos are a totally valid dinner option. FYI. And a Margarita or Agua Fresca on the side wouldn't hurt.
• Chicken Shawarma Nachos. See above. Nachos for dinner FTW. Serve with Za’atar Roasted Carrots with Feta and Pumpkin Seeds or Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Herb Whipped Feta if you're wanting to add some veg to dinner.

Like A Hug, But Chicken: The Most Comforting Chicken Breast Recipes.

• Creamy Chicken Orzo. Kinda like risotto, but orzo—creamy, carby, chicken-y, this creamy chicken orzo is a cold weather day-saver. Serve with Herby Rhodes Rolls and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Orange Vinaigrette for the ultimate cozy, cold weather dinner.
• Skillet Chicken Pot Pie. When did people stop making chicken pot pie? And, more importantly, WHY? Chicken pot pie is so, so good—particularly this one! Serve with a simple Cucumber or Caesar Salad.
• Low-Carb Chicken Divan. This creamy chicken casserole is a childhood favorite of ours, and we’ve updated it for the new millennium with some low-carb swaps that mean we (and you) can indulge in it a little more often than we used to! Serve over White Rice, Brown Rice or cauliflower rice to keep it low-carb.
• Stuffed Chicken Breast. Stuffed with mozzarella cheese, pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, this straight-out-of-the-80s chicken breast is the melty comfort we crave. Pesto Green Beans or a Pesto Caesar with Castelvetrano Olives would be the perfect pesto-y side kicks.
• Thai Fried Rice with Basil. Fried rice is absolutely a comfort food in our homes. This lovely, simple Thai basil fried rice—loaded with chicken breast and savory rice—is a one-pan dinner that always hits the spot. Serve with an Asian Chopped Salad or Asian Cucumber Salad.

Tex-Mex Chicken Breast Recipes

• Green Chicken Enchiladas. Creamy, cheesy, and so very easy—these chicken enchiladas are slathered in tangy green enchilada sauce and are everything you’re craving today (and, let’s be honest, every day). Top with Guacamole and Fresh Restaurant Style Salsa.
• Baked Chicken Quesadilla. Chicken quesadillas are the easiest and most delicious meal-for-a-crowd! Made with shredded chicken, sour cream and plenty of cheese, they are always a hit. Pico De Gallo with Cabbage or Salsa Verde for dipping are a must!
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. Super-flavorful, these simplified chicken breast fajitas make a simple, trusty weeknight supper. We can't resist adding some Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans or Instant Pot Black Beans to fajita night because they're just so simple and delicious.

• Homemade Chicken Taquitos. Filled with taco-seasoned shredded chicken and melty mozzarella, our crispy, fried, homemade taquito recipe is deliciously party-ready. Guacamole and a Mojito are a must for us on taquito night!
• Simple Mole Chicken Enchiladas. A wildly easy, short-cut mole sauce recipe is the key to these quick chicken enchiladas. Serv with Mexican Brown Rice and Refried Beans.
• Chicken Fajitas.Crazy delicious chicken breast may sound like an oxymoron, but—thanks to a limey, pineapple-and-jalapeño marinade—these chicken fajitas are as delicious as it gets. Mango Salsa and Elote (Mexican Street Corn) will take your fajita night over the top.
• Chicken Fajita Burrito Bowl. This chicken fajita bowl is one of our go-to weeknight meals. It’s healthy, easy, and balanced. Plus, it’s always a hit with the kids. We love to serve burrito bowl Homemade Corn Tortillas or Homemade Corn Tortilla Chips.

Chicken Soup Recipes For Every Soul and Every Mood

• Coconut Chicken Soup. At once simple, pungent, creamy and spicy—this creamy coconut chicken soup is our own riff on classic Thai Tom Kha Gai. Serve with Thai Zoodle Salad or Thai Fried Rice with Basil.
• White Bean Chicken Soup. Brightened with fresh dill, a squeeze of lemon juice and a little jalapeño, this garlicky chicken soup recipe is a fresh, modern take on classic chicken soup. Serve with Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits and Simple Butter Lettuce Salad.
• Tortilla Soup. Warmly spiced and satisfying, chicken tortilla soup comes together fast. Serve alone or pair with Taco Salad or Mexican Street Corn Salad with Chipotle Crema.
• Chicken and Rice Soup. Fresh dill and lots of lemon juice bring brightness and vibrancy to this classic, easy, healthy chicken and rice soup recipe. Serve with a Caprese Salad or Avocado and Melon Salad.

• Chicken Meatball and Vegetable Soup. Our Whole30-approved chicken meatball soup recipe is soothing, cozy and easy to make. Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus and Cauliflower Steak with Walnut-Kale Pesto are trusty Whole30-approved sidekicks for this soup!
• Green Chicken Enchilada Soup. Enchilada soup is a budget-and-weeknight friendly marriage of two classic dishes, and we’re betting it’s destined to become a staple on your dinner table. Serve with Cheesy Corn Casserole or Cornbread with Creamed Corn and Jalapeño Infused Honey.
• Chicken Tikka Masala Soup. Yep, we dreamt up a soup recipe built around the iconic flavors of tikka masala. Yummmm. Serve with naan and Easy Raita for dipping. If you're wanting some more green, we love Roasted Broccoli on the side.
• African Peanut Soup. Warming fresh ginger, jalapeño, cumin and plenty of garlic make a spicy base for this creamy, sweet-savory West African peanut soup recipe. Serve with Roasted Brussel Sprouts or Roasted Asparagus.

• Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup. The beloved sick day classic, made from scratch in no time. Serve with Focaccia and Caesar Salad.
• Five-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup. In case our tortilla soup recipe isn’t quite quick enough for you, we’ve simplified it even more for the very busiest evenings. Serve with Texas Nachos or a Tex Mex Salad.
• Green Chicken Chili. Salsa verde, canned white beans, and—one of our favorite flavor-giving ingredients—canned green chilis make this easy chicken soup a total breeze. Serve with Homemade Corn Bread or Sheet Pan Quesadillas.
• Coconut Curry Soup with Chicken, Chickpeas and Hearty Greens. So filling and satisfying, it’s hard to believe that this chicken soup qualifies as health food—but we promise, it really, really does. We love a Cold Ramen Noodle Salad on the side or a simple green salad drizzled with Thai Salad Dressing.

Let’s Get Takeout. Actually, These Chicken Breast Recipes Will Be Even Faster So Let’s Save Money and Be Healthier and Eat Sooner Instead.

• Chicken Chow Mein. Stir-fried noodles, studded with chicken and veggies, our chicken chow mein recipe makes your DIY Chinese takeout dreams come true. For a full takeout experience serve with Hot and Sour Cabbage or Chinese Dry-Fried Green Beans.
• Kung Pow Chicken. Our Kung Pao chicken swaps in cashews for the traditional peanuts, and gets extra balance from some added veggies. Equally delicious served on top of White or Fried Rice.
• Easy Orange Chicken. A healthy spin on the sweet-savory Chinese takeout favorite. Again, equally delicious served on top of White or Fried Rice.
• Crispy Chicken Stir-Fry. A quick chicken stir-fry with blistered green beans and a garlicky sauce is perfect for a better-than-takeout weeknight dinner! Serve with rice or if you're in the mood for noodles our Shrimp Chow Mein, Cold Ramen Noodle Salad or Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles are all crave-able choices.
• No-Noodle Pad Thai. Low-and-no carb people, this one’s for you! Serve with Larb Lettuce Cups or Steak Steak Lettuce Cups for more low-carb deliciousness.

Hearty, Filling Chicken Salad Recipes

• Chicken Waldorf Salad. The retro classic, all gussied up for modern tastes. Great any time of day but we love it for brunch with a savory egg dish like Quiche Lorraine or Caramelized Onion Frittata.
• Curried Chicken Salad Salad. Yes, that’s right. Chicken salad on top of a green salad, therefore this is a salad salad. Serve with Crispy Smashed Potatoes or Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
• Thai Zoodle Salad. Tossed in a creamy, peanut dressing, this crunchy, colorful cold zoodle salad is quick, healthy and satisfying. Serve with Peanut Sauce-Marinated Chicken Skewers or Thai Chicken Pizza.
• Classic Cobb Salad. Just that! A classic Cobb, starring crispy chicken breast, bacon, avocado and all the goodies. Cornbread or Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are excellent on the side.

• Pesto Zoodle Salad. Pesto, chicken, zoodles and lots of fresh mozzarella—what’s not to love? Serve with Lemon Chicken or Pork Chop Caprese.

• Tortellini Pasta Salad. Tortellini in a pasta salad?!? Yeah, it felt like kind of a revelation to us, too. Totally satisfying on it's own or served with Stuffed Mushrooms or Sheet Pan Italian Sausage Heros with Honey Mustard.
• Grilled Curry Chicken Salad. A big green salad topped with a curry-spiced grilled chicken, goat cheese and a delicious punchy herb-filled vinaigrette is basically heaven on a platter. We love Grilled Corn or a bowl of Creamy Potato Soup with this salad.
• Southwest Cobb Salad. A smoky, grilled riff on classic Cobb! YUM. Serve with Grilled Sweet Potatoes or Corn Fritters.

Slow-Cooker + Chicken Breast = Easiest Chicken Dinner Ever.

• Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken. Put that slow-cooker to work! Almost any chicken recipe that needs a long simmer is a good fit for your slow-cooker, and butter chicken is no exception. Serve with White or Brown Rice and Roasted Broccoli.
• Slow-Cooker Swimming Rama. A heaping serving of spinach topped with tender chicken and covered in a rich peanut sauce, swimming rama is a dish we return to again and again. Make it a feast and serve with Thai Zoodle Salad Or No Noodle Pad Thai.
• Instant Pot Chicken Marinara with Polenta. (Recipe below) A FIVE INGREDIENT CHICKEN DINNER, including the polenta. What more do you need to know? Serve with Kale Caesar Salad or Grilled Scallops with Lemon Aioli and Arugula.
• Slow-Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry. Rich with coconut milk, chicken breast, crisp veggies, and fresh pumpkin—dinner is ready, set, DONE. Serve with Fresh Spring Rolls or Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Sweet Fish Sauce.
• Instant Pot White Bean Chicken Chili. A colorful mix of garlic, green chilies, and red bell pepper mingles with warming cumin and chili powder for a chicken chili even the pickiest eater will adore. If you're feeling a little more than soup you can't go wrong with Spoon Bread or Homemade Chicken Taquitos.

The Randos: Just Because These Chicken Recipes Don’t Fit Tidily Into A Category Doesn’t Make Them Any Less Delicious.

• Thai Chicken Pizza. We took two of our favorite takeout meals and combined them because, really, who could blame us? Serve with Larb Lettuce Cups or Coconut Shrimp.
• Chicken Teriyaki Bowl. Homemade teriyaki chicken breast sits atop a bed of steamed, seasoned rice, and creamy avocado in this healthy dinner. Serve with Roasted Cauliflower or Stir Fried Baby Bok Choy.
• Quinoa Bowl. Chicken breast, avocado and black beans make a hearty, healthy topping for our super-nutritious quinoa bowl. After all that health, go ahead and reward yourself with some No-Bake Cookies or a buttery Salty Dark and Milk Chocolate Skillet Cookie.
• Loaded Sweet Potato with Chipotle Cashew Cream. Loaded sweet potatoes are stuffed with sliced chicken, kale, avocado and cashew chipotle cream for dinner that answers the question “can healthy food be tasty?” solidly in the affirmative. Serve with a 3 Bean Salad or Grapefruit Anise Salad.
• Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Homemade chili-herb mayo oozing between crisp, warm bread and pepper Jack cheese melting its way into slices of juicy chicken breast—this warm chicken breast sandwich is just the best. A Spicy Margarita or Rhubarb Mint Margarita with Jalapeno Tequila make us all too happy paired with this sandwich.