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24 Casual Chicken Recipes for Lazy Weeknights

24 Casual Chicken Recipes for Lazy Weeknights

These fast and easy dinners have all the flavor with none of the fuss

By Shay Spence

Updated February 20, 2018 05:33 PM

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BROILED LEMON CHICKEN

Credit: Jennifer Causey

This weeknight chicken dish, adapted from the famed N.Y.C. Italian restaurant Rao's, is proof that sometimes the simplest dinners are the best. Get the recipe HERE.

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TERIYAKI CHICKEN LETTUCE CUPS

Credit: Greg Dupree

A light, healthy dinner that doesn't taste like diet food. It's a beautiful thing. Get the recipe HERE.

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BAKED RANCH CHICKEN BITES

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Katie Lee puts a twist on classic chicken nuggets by coating them in homemade ranch seasoning and salted popped popcorn. Get the recipe HERE.

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CHICKEN THIGHS WITH POTATOES & FENNEL

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Anything that only requires one dish to clean up afterwards automatically moves to the front of the weeknight dinner rotation. Get the recipe HERE.

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ROAST CHICKEN WITH RADISHES

Credit: Christopher Testani

Ina Garten's latest twist on roast chicken looks fancy, and that's just the beauty of it. In reality, this 5-ingredient dish requires practically no work: just put it all in a roasting pan and toss it in the oven. Get the recipe HERE.

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GRILLED CHICKEN WITH KALE SLAW

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Chef Lorena Garcia's "nutritious yet delicious" meal can be served as a salad or easily transformed by filling soft tortillas or hard taco shells with the hearty slaw, seasoned chicken and a drizzle of her homemade lime crema.
Get the recipe HERE.

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CHICKEN & MUSHROOM MARSALA

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Nothing quite beats the flavorful mushrooms and tender chicken that make up this one-skillet, comforting dish.
Get the recipe HERE.

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HONEY MUSTARD BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS

Credit: Goodlifeeats.com/Pinterest

Rosemary, garlic, and honey mustard are an oh-so-perfect flavor combo, and it only takes 10 minutes to prep, so you can go back to binging on Netflix as it cooks. Get the recipe HERE.

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ONE PAN CHICKEN BURRITO BOWL

Credit: Number-2-pencil.com/Pinterest

We love Chipotle as much as anyone (well, maybe not anyone), but it's pretty empowering to know you can make your own version at home and only have one pan to clean up afterwards. Get the recipe HERE.

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CALIFORNIA CHICKEN FLATBREAD

Credit: Lecremedelacrumb.com/Pinterest

Store-bought flatbread makes this the easiest meal ever – just pile up diced, cooked chicken, bacon, and mozzarella, then bake and top with avocado, cilantro, and chipotle ranch. What part of that equation could be bad? Get the recipe HERE.

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PULLED BBQ CHICKEN SANDWICHES

Credit: Ourlifetastesgood.blogspot.com/Pinterest

Chicken thighs are cheap and hugely flavorful, and cooking them in a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce means sandwich night couldn't be simpler. Get the recipe HERE.

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LEMON CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS

Credit: Pinchofyum.com/Pinterest

You really can't go wrong with lemon and chicken, and adding a big pile of fresh asparagus and a douse of honey butter to the mix doesn't hurt either. Get the recipe HERE.

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CHINESE CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

Credit: Kellysambitiouskitchen.com/Pinterest

These guys are easy, healthy, and packed with flavor. The combo of hoison, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and sriracha hits all the right notes. Get the recipe HERE.

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BALSAMIC PEACH CHICKEN SKILLET

Credit: Cookingclassy.com/Pinterest

Peaches, balsamic, and basil are a match made in heaven. Get the recipe HERE.

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BEER & HONEY BBQ CHICKEN SKEWERS

Credit: Jocooks.com/Pinterest

Doesn't get more casual than beer and meat on a stick, does it? For best flavor, let the chicken marinate in the beer and honey mixture overnight, then all you've got to do is fire up the grill and youure ready to eat. Get the recipe HERE.

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CHEESY CRACKER CHICKEN

Credit: Spicysouthernkitchen.com/Pinterest

This buttery, salty Ritz cracker-breaded chicken gets even more decadent when you top it with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce. Get the recipe HERE.

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POBLANO CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Credit: Whatsgabycooking.com/Pinterest

Store-bought rotisserie chicken and enchilada sauce combined with fresh chiles, onions, corn, and Mexican spices make fiesta night a total breeze. Get the recipe HERE.

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THAI CHICKEN FRENCH BREAD PIZZAS

Credit: Cookingforkeeps.com/Pinterest

Using a simple loaf of bread as your crust for these Asian fusion pizzas means dinner is a fun and easy event for everyone involved. Get the recipe HERE.

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BUFFALO CHICKEN CHILI

Credit: Gimmesomeoven.com/Pinterest

Why choose between wings and chili when you could have the best of both worlds? This gameday mashup is packed with shredded chicken, white beans, and sweet corn, and get its kick from a healthy dose of hot sauce and chili powder. Get the recipe HERE.

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SKILLET CHICKEN TORTELLINI

Credit: Lovelylittlekitchen.com/Pinterest

Itus no secret we love one-pot pasta dishes, and this one with fresh tortellini, diced chicken, pesto, and sundried tomatoes is definitely no exception. Get the recipe HERE.

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GRILLED CHICKEN FRESCO TACOS

Credit: Lovebakesgoodcakes.com/Pinterest

Marinating the chicken in cider vinegar, brown sugar, and three types of citrus juice before grilling mean these tacos have a serious tangy-sweet kick to them, cooled down by a light and refreshing pico de gallo. Get the recipe HERE.

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MOROCCAN CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Credit: Themediterraneandish.com/Pinterest

Turn the ordinary into something exotic and packed with flavor with these drumsticks marinated in harissa (North African hot chili paste) and enough garlic to kill a vampire 15 times over. Get the recipe HERE.

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SLOW COOKER CHICKEN NACHOS

Credit: Quirksandtwists.com/Pinterest

Once your chicken has hung out in the slow cooker covered in salsa and Mexican spices for a while, pile it high on tortilla chips and top it with cheese, tomatoes, guac (and whatever other fixings you want), for a totally no-fuss family-style dinner. Get the recipe HERE.

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ONE PAN CHICKEN AND RISOTTO

Credit: Recipetineats.com/Pinterest

No constant stirring necessary with this risotto method! Going from the stovetop to the oven and cooking the rice and chicken all-in-one pan gives you a dish that might look fancy, but the preparation couldn't be more casual. Get the recipe HERE.

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By Shay Spence

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24 Casual Chicken Recipes for Lazy Weeknights

1 of 24

BROILED LEMON CHICKEN

1 of 24

2 of 24

TERIYAKI CHICKEN LETTUCE CUPS

2 of 24

3 of 24

BAKED RANCH CHICKEN BITES

3 of 24

4 of 24

CHICKEN THIGHS WITH POTATOES & FENNEL

4 of 24

5 of 24

ROAST CHICKEN WITH RADISHES

5 of 24

6 of 24

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH KALE SLAW

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7 of 24

CHICKEN & MUSHROOM MARSALA

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HONEY MUSTARD BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS

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ONE PAN CHICKEN BURRITO BOWL

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10 of 24

CALIFORNIA CHICKEN FLATBREAD

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PULLED BBQ CHICKEN SANDWICHES

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LEMON CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS

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CHINESE CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

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BALSAMIC PEACH CHICKEN SKILLET

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BEER & HONEY BBQ CHICKEN SKEWERS

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CHEESY CRACKER CHICKEN

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POBLANO CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

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THAI CHICKEN FRENCH BREAD PIZZAS

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BUFFALO CHICKEN CHILI

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SKILLET CHICKEN TORTELLINI

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GRILLED CHICKEN FRESCO TACOS

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MOROCCAN CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

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SLOW COOKER CHICKEN NACHOS

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ONE PAN CHICKEN AND RISOTTO

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