Healthy chicken recipes

These simple weekday recipes will help you prepare classic, healthy chicken dishes like dumpling soup, chicken pie, and more.

Chicken fingers with spicy sauce

Store-bought chicken nuggets often contain a whole host of unpronounceable ingredients. Make your own homemade version: kids are sure to love them, but don't be surprised if these little fingers become an adult favorite, too.

Recipe: Chicken fingers with spicy sauce

Chicken and Dumpling Stew

A favorite chicken dish gets a healthier makeover with low-fat milk and whole wheat flour in these hearty dumplings.

Recipe: Chicken and Dumpling Stew

Lemon Pasta with Chicken, Peas, and Spinach

Eddie's luxurious lemon chicken pasta brings spring to life with green and sugar snap peas, spinach, fresh parsley, and basil.

Recipe: Lemon Pasta with Chicken, Peas, and Spinach

Buffalo Salad with Chicken and Blue Cheese Dressing

The key to this salad is Ellie's blue cheese dressing. Low-fat buttermilk and yogurt provide bold flavor without the extra calories.

Recipe: Buffalo Salad with Chicken and Blue Cheese Dressing

Pan-fried chicken breast marinated in herbs

Marinate chicken breasts in a homemade herb vinaigrette to keep the meat juicy and flavorful when grilling.

Recipe: Pan-fried chicken breast marinated in herbs

Chicken fingers with steamed broccoli

The chicken pieces are baked instead of deep-fried, but they are coated with panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), so they are just as crispy as fried chicken fingers.

Recipe: Chicken fingers with steamed broccoli

Roman-style chicken

Giada adds fresh herbs, tomatoes, and peppers to this chicken dish, making it light yet filling.

Recipe: Roman-style chicken

Broccoli-stuffed chicken breasts with milk-mustard sauce

Try a modern take on this traditional cheese-filled dish. Crispy broccoli and tender chicken pair beautifully with a low-calorie sherry sauce that's as flavorful as the traditional recipe.

Recipe: Broccoli-stuffed chicken breasts with milk-mustard sauce

Grilled chicken thighs in a garlic-ginger marinade

Save time on picnic day by marinating chicken the night before in a mixture of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and orange juice.

Recipe: Grilled chicken thighs in a garlic-ginger marinade

Chicken curry soup with rice

Dill, lemon, and curry powder add bold flavor to this chicken soup without the added fat.

Recipe: Chicken curry soup with rice

Chicken fingers with snow peas

For a low-calorie version of this traditional dish, coat chicken pieces in crumbled rice cereal. Don't forget the tangy-sweet orange dipping sauce, made with teriyaki sauce and orange marmalade.

Recipe: Chicken fingers with snow peas

Chicken Soup with Spinach and Whole Wheat Noodles

Instead of salty store-bought soup, make homemade soup with chicken, carrots, celery, whole-grain pasta, and spinach.

Recipe: Chicken Soup with Spinach and Whole Wheat Noodles

Chicken drumsticks in honey sauce

Enjoy chicken legs in a sweet sauce—a couple of them contain just over 300 kcal. This cut of chicken is one of the most inexpensive, so this recipe is gentle not only on your figure but also on your wallet.

Recipe: Chicken drumsticks in honey sauce

Chicken and 40 cloves of garlic

Alton roasts chicken with 40 cloves of garlic and fresh thyme. The garlic's pungent flavor mellows as it cooks, creating a rich, flavorful chicken.

Recipe: Chicken and 40 cloves of garlic

Spring salad with chicken and potatoes

Greek yogurt salad dressing is a great alternative to store-bought dressings.

Recipe: Spring salad with chicken and potatoes

Chicken thighs in the oven

For this dish, use apples that are designed for cooking, such as Cortland apples—they won't brown and will impart a bright, tart flavor.

Recipe: Chicken thighs in the oven

Creamy Lemon Pepper Orzo Pasta with Roasted Chicken

If you love risotto but are looking for a quicker dish, try orzo pasta: it takes half the time. Instead of full-fat cheese and cream, tangy Greek yogurt and goat cheese are used, creating a similarly creamy texture. Green peas, aromatic tarragon, and basil are truly springtime ingredients, though this dish can be made year-round.

Recipe: Creamy Lemon Pepper Orzo Pasta with Roasted Chicken

Brown rice with chicken and vegetables

This dish is rich in flavor, yet simple and healthy. Store-bought grilled chicken, brown rice, and trimmed green beans make dinner ready in under 30 minutes. A blend of vibrant spices and toasted nuts adds a warm Moroccan flavor that makes this dish unforgettable.

Recipe: Brown rice with chicken and vegetables

Pan-fried stuffed chicken breast with kale and corn filling

Nutritious kale and sweet corn are rich in vitamin A. Pepper Jack cheese adds a bright tang and also holds the chicken filling together. If you don't like spicy food, try Monterey Jack or Havarti cheese—the filling will be smooth and not too hot.

Recipe: Pan-fried stuffed chicken breast with kale and corn filling

Chicken thighs with sesame and lemon

Chicken thighs rubbed with lemon zest and sesame seeds make the base of a healthy meal, served with a simple lettuce and tomato salad.

Recipe: Chicken thighs with sesame and lemon

Chicken and rice casserole

This classic Hungarian dish is made with skinless chicken breast and brown rice for a healthy dinner. Top with low-fat sour cream.

Recipe: Chicken and rice casserole

Baked potatoes with garlic

This simple dinner pairs juicy bone-in chicken breasts with new potatoes and chopped rosemary.

Recipe: Baked potatoes with garlic

Baked chicken with hot peppers and pumpkin seeds

Combine toasted pumpkin seeds with cilantro and chili peppers for a Mexican-inspired salsa served with baked chicken rubbed with cumin and coriander.

Recipe: Baked chicken with hot peppers and pumpkin seeds

Green Tea Chicken Sandwiches and Avocado Smoothie

The herbal tea flavor of these poached chicken sandwiches pairs perfectly with the creamy avocado smoothie.

Recipe: Green Tea Chicken Sandwiches and Avocado Smoothie

Grilled chicken with wheat groats salad

This simple dish has everything you need. Skinless chicken breasts provide a lean protein source. The salad is loaded with whole grains and green vegetables: watercress and spelt are tossed with a simple lemon dressing and topped with grated cheese.

Recipe: Grilled chicken with wheat groats salad

Grilled chicken and dried apricot salad on Greek flatbread

Serve grilled chicken on a bed of romaine lettuce and toasted whole-wheat pita bread, topped with a lemon-oregano dressing. For a healthy dessert, soak dried apricots in orange juice and serve over yogurt.

Recipe: Grilled chicken and dried apricot salad on Greek flatbread

BBQ chicken with lettuce, grilled corn and smoothie

This barbecue sauce is packed with vitamins and antioxidants, thanks to its mango, raisins, and sun-dried tomatoes. It's perfect with juicy chicken thighs, but also pairs well with grilled pork loin.

Recipe: BBQ chicken with lettuce, grilled corn and smoothie

Grilled chicken with red onion sauce

A touch of allspice and curry powder in a honey mustard sauce gives Rachael Ray's tender barbecue chicken a rich flavor.

Recipe: Grilled chicken with red onion sauce

Egg noodle soup

With just 8 ingredients and 7 minutes of prep, Alton's lightened-up version of the classic Chicken Noodle Soup is super easy to make.

Recipe: Egg noodle soup

Oven-baked chicken with aromatic herbs and roasted root vegetables

Chef Eddie makes herb-roasted chicken with carrots, rutabaga, and turnips. The mouthwatering aroma will fill the house!

Recipe: Oven-baked chicken with aromatic herbs and roasted root vegetables

Chicken fillet with ginger and green onions in parchment

Add an Asian-inspired marinade to chicken breast. Baking the meat in parchment paper with peas and shiitake mushrooms preserves the juiciness and flavor of the dish without adding excess fat and calories.

Recipe: Chicken fillet with ginger and green onions in parchment

Grilled chicken breasts with warm salad

Roasting kale gives it a crisp texture that pairs perfectly with grilled chicken. A squeeze of lemon adds a fresh twist to this simple, healthy dish.

Recipe: Grilled chicken breasts with warm salad

Chicken roasted with spring vegetables in an apricot glaze

Tender chicken, asparagus, snow peas, and carrots are sautéed with apricot jam and fresh tarragon for a healthy meal ready in just 35 minutes.

Recipe: Chicken roasted with spring vegetables in an apricot glaze

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