20 Five-Ingredient Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner
When it comes to making dinner, I always count it a victory when I find a recipe I want to make and I already have all the ingredients. It’s even more of a win when I can count all the ingredients on one hand.
Get ready for a victory dance because we’ve got 20 satisfying chicken dinners that are perfect for dinner. And not counting the basics (like oil, salt, pepper, and water), these weeknight-friendly recipes all have just five main ingredients (or fewer!).
Lean Chicken Breast
There are 101 reasons to keep chicken breast in your meal plan rotation, but I love this mild-mannered meat most of all for its versatility. From the stovetop to the oven, the slow cooker, and beyond there’s a variety of ways to bring it to the table, and its plain flavor means it pairs well with all sorts of sauces, herbs, and dressings.
- How To Cook Golden, Juicy Chicken Breast on the Stove
- How To Cook Moist & Tender Chicken Breasts Every Time
- How To Chicken Breasts in the Oven: The Simplest, Easiest Method
- How To Make Easy Shredded Chicken in the Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker Salsa Pulled Chicken
- Dubliner Cheese and Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- BBQ Shredded Chicken
- Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Grapes, Hazelnuts, and Parmesan
Meaty Chicken Thighs
This lineup is reason enough to keep a couple packs of wallet-friendly chicken thighs stashed in the freezer at all times. Compared to lean chicken breast, thighs are a fattier cut, which means they’re not as prone to drying out and they’re packed with a seriously meaty flavor.
- How To Make the Easiest Baked Chicken
- How To Cook Skinless Chicken Thighs in the Oven
- How To Make Crispy, Juicy Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker
- Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs
- Dill Pickle Chicken
- Grilled Chicken Thighs with Chimichurri (start with store-bought chimichurri)
- Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs
- Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Blistered Tomatoes & Basil
- Grilled Chicken with Apricot-Miso Glaze
The Whole Chicken
Cooking a whole chicken really is surprisingly simple. At the very least all you need is the chicken, some salt and pepper, and a cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, or slow cooker. From there, a sheath of olive oil or pat of butter will make for crispier skin, while a few cloves of garlic, a wedge of lemon, or fresh herbs will infuse extra flavor.