10 Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes

When you need meal ideas for a family of 5, these 10 easy chicken dinner recipes do not disappoint. They are quick and simple to make and the whole family can enjoy meal time together.

This post contains affiliate links.

When I was first learning how to cook, chicken felt easy to tackle. 

I could put it in a fry pan, bake it, or throw it on the countertop George Foreman grill my dad bought for me as a “Congratulations on your first apartment!” present. 

I was living alone in Arizona, fresh out of college, just starting my very first teaching job (hey 7th grade writing), and had no idea how to cook. My meals consisted of salads, pastas, frozen pizzas, and too many happy hour specials. 

Bring us to the now after many nights learning about seasonings and internal temperatures, with three kids, more perfected tastes, and a husband who isn’t picky but does appreciate some flavor, and we have a set of go to easy chicken dinner recipes we can all agree on. 

These 10 easy chicken dinner recipes are all tasty and very customizable to your specific flavor preferences. A few of these dishes work excellent as either make ahead meals to work in tandem with your meal prep or as freezer meals to make those busy nights simple.

Quicker Than Take Out Chicken Lo Mein 

Similar to the Mahi Mahi Tacos Rob and I lived on at least once a week after we ate them in a restaurant and decided we could make them ourselves, this Quicker Than Take Out Chicken Lo Mein was created after spending entirely too much on take away Chinese food. Change it up to include whatever vegetables you have around that are tasty in stir fry like dishes: peppers, onions, zucchini, green beans, mushrooms, carrots. 

This meal stands alone, but if you want a side you can add an easy side salad with an Asian-inspired dressing.

Super Easy Chicken Bake 

This was one of the very first chicken dishes I learned how to make from my Finnish au pair. She was visiting (Hi, Tiina!) my sisters and I as adults and whipped up this super simple meal. I was so impressed at the minimal prep work and “babysitting” time that it became a family staple. 

Served over rice or with a side of pasta and we have a family meal win. I love this dish to feed a crowd as well.

Lightened Up Chicken Salad 

Whether you use a premade rotisserie chicken, make your own chicken, or use canned chicken, this lightened up chicken salad meal does not disappoint. Chicken salad is easy in the summer when you don’t want to cook and warming in the winter when you want something warm in your tummy. 

Have it as a sandwich, in a tortilla, or wrapped in lettuce. Serve it with chips, carrot sticks, or a pickle. Everyone is happy!

Lightened Up Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole 

As one of my go to freezer meals, this casserole, or hot dish as I need to start saying while we live in Minnesota, is quick to make and easy to make in bulk. For every single one I make, a second one heads to the freezer. 

You can play with the seasonings to see what your family enjoys the best. I can tell you this is one of the only meals in which my kids will eat rice. They are picky about some random things. 

I typically use this as a stand alone meal, but sometimes pair it with a salad or steamed carrots.

Spicy Chicken Rice Soup

A warming and spicy meal for those colder evenings, this soup is easy to make with minimal ingredients you have on hand. Even though I am not a huge soup person, this got the double thumbs up from Rob. In truth, I was in it for the crusty bread that I deem as a stable with any soup meal. 

You can go the truly warming route and serve this with a warm grilled cheese sandwich, or opt for a tossed salad.

Italian Chicken Zucchini Boats

With the garden about to pop with more zucchini than we can eat (I planted 13 green and yellow zucchini plants…oops), I love having these cheesy, saucy boats in our Family Meal Binder. The kids devour them, we go through a ton of zucchini to make it, and it is so simple to put together!

I like to serve these boats with some extra veggies on the side like carrots or corn. You could also serve it with some roasted potatoes or bit of pasta.

Sweet and Spicy Cashew Chicken Nuggets

In truth, I am a fan of buying healthier premade chicken nuggets that I can pop in the microwave for the kids. However, when I feel like going through the process – think snow days, sick days, or rest days – these chicken nuggets make an appearance. 

Flavorful and customizable, you can toss in the seasonings that your family likes best. Serve them with some homemade mac ‘n cheese and steamed carrots for the ultimate “kid dinner” comfort food. 

We used to call this plate line up a “babysitter dinner” because we would only get it when my parents went out.

Chicken Feta Spinach Puffs

While slightly labor intensive for the wrapping of each individual puff, these little bites of cheesy, pastry heaven are completely worth it. The stuffing comes together simply and then you just have to wait through the salivating while it bakes. 

Serve it with a simple side salad and creamy dressing.

Pineapple Chicken Kabobs

When we bought our first house in Colorado, Rob and I decided to throw ourselves a house warming party. Little did we care that we were still living on subflooring and the backyard had a few leftover rogue rose bushes looking to attack anyone who got too close.

We piled on the pineapple chicken kabobs, bought plenty of beer, and hosted more than 30 people. It was a blast and the sweet and savory meal made it all the more special.

Serve these kabobs with some tortellini pasta salad, snacking veggies, or chips and dip.

Chicken Pesto Calzones

One of our family’s favorites (but slightly labor intensive), these chicken pesto calzones are also perfect little one-handed freezer meals. Ideal for when you have a new baby and a ravenous mom hunting down something to eat while nap trapped. 

Serve these with some steamed broccoli or fresh tomatoes.

As far as easy chicken dinner recipes go, these are the 10 meals my family enjoys the most. Sure, we often just throw some chicken on the grill and call it good, but when you are learning how to cook or want to flex your culinary skills, these meals will not disappoint.