30 of Our Favorite Healthy Chicken Recipes

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
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updated Dec 8, 2020
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Saucy Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Peppers

Chicken is such a celebrated protein because it’s incredibly versatile. It’s also easy to make it a wholesome choice for you and your family. That makes it complete win-win all around.

Need more proof? Take these 30 healthy chicken recipes. Each and every one is a guaranteed feel-good option. Plus, there’s really something for everyone, whether you’re in need of a recipe that uses up the package of chicken breasts in your freezer, you want to break out your slow cooker, or your simply need a quick lunch to tide you over through the afternoon.

Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can take on pretty much any flavor you want to throw at it them, which means there are near infinite ways to prepare them.

1 / 9
Feta-Brined Chicken Breast with Rosemary
For moist and tender boneless, skinless breasts, turn to this staple Greek ingredient.
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2 / 9
Parmesan Chicken and Kale Sauté
This quick and easy one-skillet dinner always fits the bill on busy weeknights.
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3 / 9
Green Goddess Skillet Chicken and Veggies
A bottle of herby green goddess dressing plays both that marinade and the sauce in this colorful chicken and radish skillet.
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4 / 9
Spicy Pineapple Chicken Packets
Chicken breasts and pineapple are flavored with a spicy, citrus-spiked marinade and cooked in a foil packet for an easy, mess-free meal.
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5 / 9
Sheet Pan Honey-Dijon Chicken and Vegetables
A weeknight-friendly sheet pan dinner of tender chicken, broccoli, potatoes, and red onion, tossed in a sweet and savory honey-Dijon glaze.
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6 / 9
Easy Bruschetta Chicken
Juicy chopped tomatoes, sweet basil, and tangy balsamic are stirred into bruschetta then spooned over seared chicken breast for a quick weeknight dinner.
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7 / 9
Sheet Pan Balsamic Glazed Chicken and Potatoes
Brushed with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze and baked alongside crispy potato wedges and tender peppers and onions, the crowd-pleasing protein makes for our smartest sheet pan meal yet.
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8 / 9
Chicken Cacciatore
This comforting recipe for chicken cacciatore is made in a skillet and comes together in just 30 minutes.
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9 / 9
Lemon Pepper Chicken
You just need five ingredients — chicken included — and 45 minutes to bring this buttery, lemon-kissed chicken to the table. It’s sure to become a new family favorite.
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Healthy Chicken Recipes That Are Extra Easy

When time is of the essence, these are the recipes you’ll want to turn to. Some come together with just a few ingredients, while others require as little of your attention as possible.

1 / 8
Easy One-Pot Chicken Taco Soup
Loaded with juicy chicken, hearty black beans, and sweet corn, this quick soup was made with weeknight dinners in mind.
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2 / 8
Saucy Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Peppers
This big-batch sheet pan dinner has it all: saucy chicken, caramelized vegetables, and a pantry-friendly sauce everyone will love. Plus, it makes intentional leftovers for rolling over into another weeknight meal.
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3 / 8
Dill Pickle Chicken
Spicy and tangy pickle juice is the one-ingredient brine that makes the most tender and delicious chicken you will eat all summer.
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4 / 8
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Baked sweet potatoes are topped with hot sauce-poached chicken breast and ranch dressing in this easy, 5-ingredient dinner.
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5 / 8
Mediterranean Chickpea and Chicken Soup
This is everything you want in a homemade weeknight soup. Bone-in chicken thighs make for a richly flavored broth, canned chickpeas keep the cooking time to a minimum, and tangy tomatoes and warm spices bring the whole pot together.
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6 / 8
French Bistro Salad with Rotisserie Chicken
When you're craving a simple salad for dinner but need it to fill you up, this is the recipe to make.
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7 / 8
Baked Chicken and Veggies
Want to get a jump on dinner? This quick recipe for roasted chicken and mixed vegetables is perfect for meal prep.
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8 / 8
Chicken, Tomato, and White Bean Soup
This pantry-friendly soup features shredded rotisserie chicken, creamy white beans, and a full bunch of leafy nutrient-dense kale.
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Healthy Chicken Recipes for Lunch

These wholesome lunch recipes are as full of chicken as they are veggies. They’ll give you the energy you need to get through the rest of your work day.

1 / 6
The Best Pesto Chicken Salad
Juicy, shredded chicken is tossed with a creamy combo of fresh pesto and mayo, and studded with sundried tomatoes for extra richness.
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2 / 6
Greek Chicken Grain Bowls
These Greek chicken grain bowls are inspired by classic Greek salad and lemon-herb chicken, and topped with a tangy, 3-ingredient feta sauce.
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3 / 6
Cold Sesame Chicken and Noodle Salad
This chilled noodle salad brings bright and savory flavors along with chicken and a rich sesame ginger dressing.
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4 / 6
Chicken and Veggie Pesto Salad
Filled with a robust assortment of tender veggies, strips of juicy chicken, and tossed with an herby pesto, this no-lettuce salad is an essential.
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5 / 6
Italian Chicken Salad
This flavor-packed chicken salad sandwiched is loaded with herbs and wrapped up in tangy Dijon vinaigrette.
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6 / 6
Make-Ahead Chicken and Veggie Chopped Salad
This colorful salad can absolutely be customized depending on what you have in your fridge.
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Healthy Crock-Pot Chicken Recipes

Your slow cooker makes light work out of a number of meals, but it’s especially great at cooking up simple and satisfying chicken dinners.

1 / 7
Kerala-Style Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
This slow cooker chicken curry is deeply spiced with fennel, cinnamon, and coriander and simmered coconut milk until tender.
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2 / 7
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
This is a hearty slow cooker chicken stew with white beans, Southwest spices like cumin and coriander, and a few cans of fire-roasted green chilis.
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3 / 7
Slow Cooker Lemon-Garlic Chicken Breast
With a handful of ingredients you are treated to tender chicken gilded with a velvety lemon sauce infused with a richness reminiscent of roasted garlic.
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4 / 7
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Broccoli Bowls
The superstar slow cooker strikes again with this tasty combination of brown rice, white beans, chicken, and broccoli florets.
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5 / 7
Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken
Homemade pesto mixed with hearty chunks of chicken in the slow cooker, ready for a week's worth of salads, wraps, and grain bowls.
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6 / 7
Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Chicken
When poached chicken breasts in a luxurious lemon broth with wisps of green spinach and forkfuls of tender, nutty artichokes are the menu dinner feels extra special. Best of all, it's super easy to pull off.
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7 / 7
Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
This simple chicken chili comes together with just six ingredients. It's perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
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