Easy Chicken Recipes for Dinner with Few Ingredients (7 or Less!)

2015-06-09
Easy Chicken Recipes for Dinner with Few Ingredients (7 or Less!)

Take the hassle out of cooking tonight with these easy chicken recipes for dinner with few ingredients. All have seven ingredients or less (many are 5-ingredient chicken recipes), so there's minimal prep. No, our total ingredient list didn't count salt, pepper, nonstick spray, and oil. But you can count on recipes such as chicken Alfredo, chicken salad, and chicken wraps for the perfect weeknight dinner solution.

01 of 11

Lemon-Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Number of Ingredients: Three

If you're as hooked on air fryer recipes as we are, this is the easy chicken recipe for dinner with few ingredients (only five with seasonings!) you've been waiting for. It's a quicker roast chicken that needs zero oven time to cook to crispy-skin perfection. If you're lucky enough to have leftovers of this healthy chicken entrée, enjoy them in sandwiches, on salads, or as part of a platter of nachos the next day.

02 of 11

Lemon-Ginger Chicken Thighs

Number of Ingredients: Six

Think fresh! A fragrant mix of lemon and green onions decks our easy chicken skillet recipe. A lemon-ginger rub and tangy honey-lemon sauce crank up the citrus factor even more while utilizing a few ingredients.

03 of 11

Chicken with Parmesan Noodles

Number of Ingredients: Six

Make yourself a cozy (inexpensive) weeknight meal with this easy chicken recipe for dinner with few ingredients. Pesto-coated chicken, cooked carrots, and Parmesan cheese bring the flavor; pasta pleases anyone craving carbs. (If you're watching 'em, try this meal with zucchini noodles instead of angel hair.)

04 of 11

Southwestern Chicken and Macaroni Salad

Number of Ingredients: Six

Bold flavors such as traditional Mexican salsa and poblano peppers amp up this pasta salad to the must-make-weekly territory. The easy chicken casserole recipe calls for frozen cooked chicken strips and jarred salsa, so it's a cinch to prep, requiring just 18 minutes of hands-on time.

05 of 11

Chicken and Lemon-Broccoli Alfredo

Number of Ingredients: Six

Light Alfredo pasta sauce dresses up stove-top chicken and mushrooms in this delicious dinner. Cooking broccoli with slices of fresh lemon is an easy way to add zing to the dish. Try the easy six-ingredient chicken recipe for dinner over a bed of pasta, quinoa, or rice on nights you're craving a heartier meal.

06 of 11

Pan-Roasted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Apples

Number of Ingredients: Five

Your regular pan-roasted chicken has never tasted this good. Drizzled with maple syrup and baked with apples and Brussels sprouts, the indulgent chicken dinner is perfect for any occasion. Luckily, the 5-ingredient chicken recipe is easy enough for weeknights too.

07 of 11

Chicken Breasts with Herbs

Number of Ingredients: Seven

A quick sauté followed by a brief braising keeps chicken breasts moist—and the garlic, lemon, and parsley bright. The fresh herb mixture is our shortcut version of Italian gremolata in this easy chicken recipe for dinner with few ingredients.

08 of 11

Lemon-Thyme Roasted Chicken with Fingerlings

Number of Ingredients: Six

Not only does our low-fuss roasted chicken recipe come together with only a handful of ingredients, but it also can be on your table in 30 minutes. Slices of lemon and thyme provide the one-dish recipe with loads of flavor. (We consider garlic a kitchen staple, so this is actually a five-ingredient chicken recipe.)

09 of 11

Chicken and Asparagus Skillet Supper

Number of Ingredients: Six

"This is a wonderful summer dish ... nice and light. I serve it with brown rice to complete the meal," says BH&G home cook Elsie. Asparagus, squash, and green onion add a garden-fresh touch to this chicken-and-bacon combo. The skillet dinner gets rich flavor from the salty, savory bacon goodness.

10 of 11

Chicken with Summer Squash

Number of Ingredients: Six

Come summer, not much tastes better than this easy chicken recipe for dinner with few ingredients. Plus, it will keep your kitchen fairly cool because it only calls for 15 minutes of skillet cooking time. (You could also try it in a pan on the grill.) Prepared rotisserie chicken is a shortcut: Quarter the chicken and serve it on a bed of sautéed squash, cherry tomatoes, and arugula or spinach leaves.

11 of 11

Veggie Wraps with Chicken

Number of Ingredients: Six

Consider this simple weeknight supper an Italian twist on fajitas. The light wrap recipe makes the most of garden-fresh veggies. Grilled chicken breast (DIY or purchase them grilled) is a healthy, filling protein, and dried-tomato pesto makes a zesty spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the easiest part of the chicken for quick, healthy meals?

    Boneless chicken breasts cook faster than any bone-in chicken piece, including thighs. Not to mention they’re low in calories and high in protein—around 250 calories and 50 grams of protein per 160 grams of skinless chicken breasts. Ground chicken is also versatile for meatballs, fajitas, or any recipe that calls for ground beef, and it’s also low in calories. 

  • How long do I season chicken before cooking?

    Chicken absorbs marinades and rubs really well—so anywhere from 30 minutes before and up to 24 hours if you’re into meal prepping for the week. However, if you’re short on time, you can season your chicken as you go without any trouble.

  • How do I know when my chicken is done?

    For safety, chicken should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees, at minimum, for breasts, and up to 180 or 190 degrees for bone-in pieces. Do not rely on the color to know if your chicken is safe to eat, as it can still be a little pink especially if the bone is still attached. 

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