Healthy Chicken Recipes (2024)

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Think chicken is a snooze-fest? THINK AGAIN. With the right recipe, chicken is anything but boring. Here are my favorite Healthy Chicken Recipes that are sure to keep your weeknight dinners interesting!

Chicken is my go-to meat for recipe planning, because it’s a blank canvas for all kinds of different flavors and cooking techniques.

Chicken is easy to use, a healthy source of protein, widely available, and budget-friendly. Weeknights (and weekends for that matter) are busy, and these recipes will help!

These chicken recipes are your answer to”what can I cook that’s healthy?”, “what are healthy lunches to eat?”, “what can I use chicken breast for” and SO MUCH MORE.

I have more than 130 delicious chicken recipes on my site and counting! These are 50 of my absolute favorites. They’re easy to make and guaranteed to make your meals more interesting.

Below you can find both easy, healthy chicken breast recipes and healthy chicken thigh recipes. There are ideas for making soups, salads, Asian recipes, Indian recipes, casseroles, and beyond.

To make browsing these recipes easy, they’re listed below in categories. If you would like to jump to a specific section, simply click the appropriate link below. Otherwise, keep scrolling to see them all!

What is the Healthiest Way to Eat Chicken?

Poaching, sautéing, baking, and using a slow cooker or Instant Pot are the healthiest ways to make chicken because they don’t add much (if any) calories and fat from oils or breading. (This easy Baked Chicken Breast is a go-to in our house.)
Many of the recipes you’ll find below are easy, healthy chicken recipes with few ingredients that would make a good, healthy meal for lunch and dinner.

How to Know When Chicken is Done

Using an Instant Read Thermometer is the best way to check your healthy chicken recipes for doneness. Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
You can also cut into larger pieces of chicken to check the internal color. If you cut into a piece of chicken, and it looks raw and uncomfortably pink, then the chicken is not done.
When chicken is done cooking and it is cut, the juices should run clear.

What Goes Well with Chicken?

While many of these recipes can be a full meal by themselves, you may want to serve some side dishes. Here are a few ideas of what to serve with chicken:

Roasted or Sautéed Vegetables. You can pair any of these chicken recipes with a healthy side of Sautéed Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Roasted Zucchini.
Rice. Lemon Rice would pair nicely with many of these recipes, and this Homemade Fried Rice is a great side dish for many of the Asian-inspired recipes.
Salad. A fresh, simple salad likeArugula Salad, Spinach Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing, Brussels Sprouts Slaw, or Caesar Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crispy Chickpea Croutons would go well with many of these recipes.

Recommended Tools for Making Chicken Recipes

Slow Cooker. Perfect for making all the Healthy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes.
Instant Pot. Whip up any of these Instant Pot Chicken Recipes anytime you like.
Whisk. I love the smaller size of this whisk.
Instant Read Thermometer. The best way to tell if your chicken is done.
Sharp Chef’s Knife. An incredibly useful kitchen tool for any and all chopping.

Now, let’s get to those tasty healthy chicken recipes!

Crockpot Chicken Recipes

Some of my favorite chicken dishes are made in the slow cooker. Whether you need healthy chicken recipes for two or healthy recipes for a crowd, these easy slow cooker recipes are the perfect fit for busy weeks.

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker with Chicken Cacciatore
Healthy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
Crock Pot Chicken and Rice
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Shredded Chicken Sandwiches

If you want a plain, shredded chicken recipe, this Crock Pot Shredded Chicken is for you!

One Pan Chicken Recipes

Make cleanup a breeze with these one pan recipes! Everything cooks together in one pot or skillet, so you aren’t left with a pile of dishes at the end of the night.

Chipotle Chicken Skillet
Taco Pasta
Creamy Chicken Stroganoff
Sheet Pan Chicken with Rainbow Vegetables
Fiesta Chicken
Thai Chicken Curry
Sheet Pan Italian Chicken
Quick Chicken Sweet Potato Kale Skillet with Cranberries and Goat Cheese
Harvest Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Apples

Light and Healthy Chicken Recipes

If you’re looking for healthy chicken recipes for weight loss, these are the best fit. Each one uses light ingredients but still has oodles of flavor.

Grilled Chicken Tenders
Chicken Kabobs
Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Lemon Basil Chicken
Baked Lemon Chicken with Asparagus
Grilled Chicken Fajitas
Strawberry Chicken With Avocado
Grilled Orange Chicken Kabobs

Family Favorite Chicken Recipes

Recipes your entire family will love! Even picky eaters will enjoy these family favorites. They’re deeply comforting and filled with rich flavor.

Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese
Chicken Cacciatore
Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu
Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes
Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Apples and Brussels Sprouts
Healthy Chicken Pot Pie
Lemon Pepper Wings
Baked Chicken Meatballs

Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

Chicken Salad Recipes

A fresh and delicious healthy salad with crisp veggies, juicy chicken, and an easy, creamy homemade dressing. Perfect for healthy family meals and potlucks!

Curry Chicken Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Whole3o Chicken Salad
Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

Indian Healthy Chicken Recipes

These easy, healthy Indian chicken recipes are made with easy to find ingredients, and they’re better for you than the restaurant version!

Chicken Tikka Masala
Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

Asian Chicken Recipes

Lightened-up versions of your favorite takeout dishes. They have just as much flavor, and they’re delicious leftover!

Healthy Orange Chicken
Stir Fry Noodles
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
Crispy Asian Chicken Tenders
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Pineapple Chicken

Chicken Casserole Recipes

When you need to make recipes for meal prep, these casseroles are perfect. Each one is packed with veggies!

Chicken Pesto Pasta
Chicken and Biscuits
King Ranch Chicken
Healthy Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Chicken Soup Recipes

These healthy chicken soups are cozy, light, and perfect for chilly nights. Plus, using the slow cooker or Instant Pot makes them easy!

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

With so many recipes to choose from, you can cook chicken just about any night of the week without growing weary. I’d love to hear which one you try first!

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