32 One-Pot Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknight Dinners (2024)

Juicy, tender, and quick to cook, chicken is our go-to protein on busy weeknights—especially these one-pot chicken recipes, which come together in no time but taste like you've labored all afternoon. Requiring just a single pot or sheet pan, they're not only a cinch to prep, but they're also quick to clean up. Some recipes are made with boneless, skinless chicken cutlets or bone-in, skin-on breasts; others call for dark meat thighs, ground chicken, and even leftover roast chicken. They're the ideal solution when you need to get dinner on the table fast.

30 Easy Weeknight Chicken Recipes Your Family Will Love

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Pan-Roasted Chicken With Za'atar, Potatoes, and Greens

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This colorful sheet-pan dinner stars chicken thighs, fingerling potatoes, red onion, and lacinato kale. It tastes as good as it looks—za’atar is the magical spice mix that brings it all together.

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Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms With Egg Noodles

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Chicken breasts, mushrooms, and shallots set the stage for this one-pot chicken recipe. Egg noodles, cooked in the same pan, and cream cheese—which creates a quick, rich sauce—steal the show.

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One-Pot Chicken and Brown Rice

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A healthy, hearty one-pan dinner that’s economical too. Use up the celery and carrots that have been languishing in your crisper drawer, along with an onion, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, and some brown rice.

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Lemon Chicken With Potatoes and Escarole

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Here's a sheet-pan chicken dinner you'll crave on the regular. Juicy roasted thighs, crispy potatoes, and wilted escarole combine for a cozy, delicious meal.

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15 Lemon Chicken Recipes That Prove It's a Perfect Pairing

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Chicken, Fennel, and Artichoke Fricassee

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Artichoke hearts, red onion, and fennel pair with chicken thighs for a skillet meal that's simply out of this world. The vegetables infuse the braising liquid, which cooks down into a flavorful pan sauce for the meat.

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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas

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Colorful and spicy, there's a lot to love about this one-sheet recipe. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are sizzled together with yellow and green bell peppers and then topped with sour cream, salsa, and ripe avocado, delivering zesty flavor in each bite.

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Skillet Chicken With Leeks and Carrots

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Consider this one-pot chicken recipe a spring take on roast chicken. Instead of a whole bird, we use chicken breast halves, which cook atop leeks, carrots, and bread cubes that soak up the meat's flavorful juices.

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Broiled Yogurt-Marinated Chicken and Chickpeas

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For lightning-fast meals, look no further than your broiler. Here, yogurt-marinated boneless chicken thighs are nestled on a baking sheet with spiced carrots and chickpeas, then broiled to perfection and served with couscous or crusty bread.

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Summery Chicken-and-Rice Soup

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Light, fresh, and full of flavor, this one-pot chicken recipe features zucchini and yellow squash plus leafy greens, making it a delightful option for the summer months. Save prep time by using shredded cooked chicken from leftover roast or rotisserie chicken.

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Chicken Paillard With Caprese Panzanella

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Inspired by the Caprese salad, this chicken dinner features tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, celery hearts, and capers, along with strips of breaded chicken cutlets for a no-fuss warm-weather meal.

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Chicken Scarpariello

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Hot and spicy, this interpretation of the Italian-American standard unites browned chicken thighs, hot pickled peppers, shallots, and Italian sausage links. Rosemary infuses the dish with an irresistible aroma.

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Chicken-and-Mushroom Congee

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Warm and comforting, this savory rice porridge is prepared in one pan with bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, ginger, scallions, and shiitake mushrooms. For extra oomph, top it with umami-rich sesame oil and chili sauce, such as sambal oelek, before serving,

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Ground Chicken Tacos

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This quick weeknight dinner is on the table in 35 minutes. The ground chicken mixture is flavored with cumin, coriander, and tomato paste, while minced chipotle in adobo brings the heat. It cooks on the stovetop in a skillet and is served in your favorite taco shells with all the fixings.

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Instant Pot Chicken Adobo and Rice

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The only piece of cookware you need to make this Philippine-inspired recipe is your beloved Instant Pot. Red Thai chiles, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, and garlic pack flavor, a winning combo with the bone-in, skin-in chicken thighs.

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Spicy Basil Chicken Stir-Fry

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A true crowd-pleaser, this Thai-inspired stir-fry recipe combines chicken thighs with shallots, fresh basil leaves, spicy serrano chile peppers, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. It's so flavorful that we guarantee there will be no leftovers.

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Creamy Lemon Chicken With Spinach and Artichokes

The secret to this rich, comforting one-skillet chicken recipe is the cream cheese, which creates a magical sauce when stirred into the pan juices. The results are rich and satisfying, with less fat than heavy cream.

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Cuban Chicken With Rice and Beans

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A little bit of bacon goes a long way in this recipe. Not only does it add richness to the rice and beans, but it also deepens the flavors of the chicken thighs, which are browned in bacon in an ovenproof skillet.

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Greek-Chicken Pasta

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Lemon juice and zest, plus plenty of fresh dill, brighten this chicken pasta dish. It's inspired by avgolemono, a classic Greek soup that's thickened with eggs instead of cream.

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Creamy Asparagus Chicken

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A splash of cream adds just the right amount of richness to this braised chicken dish with leeks, asparagus, and baby red potatoes. Finish with sprigs of dill.

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Instant Pot Chicken Marbella

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A retro one-dish delight with timeless flavors, this winning chicken dinner offsets salty, briny Castelvetrano olives with sweet, dark prunes. It all comes together in under an hour, thanks to that modern marvel, the Instant Pot,

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Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

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Few dishes are as comforting as a warming bowl of chicken noodle soup. All this one-pot chicken recipe requires is that you simmer the ingredients together on the stove.

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Garlic Chicken With Barley

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This set-it-and-forget-it one-pot chicken recipe uses a slow cooker, which requires more time but less hands-on cooking. A whole chicken is cut into pieces for a garlicky braise, then served on a bed of barley studded with peas and tarragon.

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Chicken and Mushrooms With Egg Noodles

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A one-pot dinner that's elegant enough for company, this dish bathes chicken in a rich cream sauce, offset by egg noodles. The finishing touch: chopped fresh dill and bits of bacon.

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Warm Quinoa and Chicken Salad

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For a taste of spring, quick-cooking quinoa is paired with boneless, skinless chicken breast. Light yet satisfying, this main-course salad is further enhanced with peas and asparagus.

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Chicken-Chile Stew

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Chicken thighs and cannellini beans are the base of this spicy stew that simmers in a Dutch oven. Poblano peppers and chili powder lend just enough subtle heat.

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Roast Chicken With Paprika and Roasted Garlic

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One pot doesn't just mean stews, soups, and skillet dishes. Here, chicken with a paprika-oregano rub is roasted alongside a medley of vegetables on a baking sheet, which cooks the bird faster than a traditional roasting pan.

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Instant-Pot Chicken Curry

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For a chicken curry in a hurry, there's no better small appliance than an Instant Pot. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are spiced with coriander, cumin seeds, and ginger for a whole lot of flavor in a short time.

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Chicken With Sausage and Potatoes

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Turn to your Dutch oven for this robust one-dish chicken recipe. Chicken breasts are teamed with Italian sausage and waxy potatoes, then perked up with red wine vinegar and fresh oregano for a hearty, rib-sticking stew.

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Roasted Chicken With Kale and Tomato Panzanella

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This sheet-pan supper is just a little different and altogether delicious. Chicken thighs and drumsticks are crisped up on the same sheet pan as the crusty bread, lacinato kale, and cherry tomatoes used for the panzanella that's served alongside.

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Pressure-Cooker Coq au Vin

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Take your taste buds on a trip to a French bistro without leaving your kitchen. This chicken dish is made in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker in a fraction of the traditional stovetop meal time.

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Chicken and Rice With Swiss Chard

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Chicken legs simmer together with a bounty of vegetables and rice in this versatile recipe. Use parsnips if you don't have carrots or swap out the Swiss chard for spinach—and if you're fresh out of basmati rice, sub in Carolina, converted, or jasmine rice.

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Chicken-and-Broccoli Stir-Fry

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Yes, you can whip up this takeout favorite at home. The sauce couldn't be easier—simply make a slurry with soy sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and sesame oil, then add it to the wok near the end of cooking.

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32 One-Pot Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknight Dinners (2024)

FAQs

How many meals can I make out of one chicken? ›

From a 1.5 kg organic bird, I'd usually get at least 23 meals. We both like the leg and thigh when freshly roasted, part of the breast might end up in chicken pies, or noodle soup, or a nachos sauce, or Caesar salad, or fried rice, or curry sauce, or ensalada Mixta, or sandwiches. Bones etc go into the next stock.

How to cook a lot of chicken at once? ›

Use multiple cooking pots: If you need to cook a large amount of chicken, you may need multiple pots, like multiple slow cookers or roasting pans. You'll want to avoid overstuffing a single pot so the chicken can cook evenly and thoroughly.

How do you get the most meals out of a whole chicken? ›

Turn the chicken breast-side up, then press down firmly on the breastbone to flatten and open out the chicken.
  1. Meal 1: Spatchco*cked roast chicken with orzo and roast vegetables. ...
  2. Meal 2: Chicken, leek and ham pasties. ...
  3. Meal 3 Freekeh, chicken and pomegranate salad. ...
  4. Meal 4: Chicken and mango coconut curry.

How do you make multiple meals out of one chicken? ›

How to make 3 meals from 1 chicken
  1. Roast Chicken with Rich Gravy. Ideally you want to serve that roast chicken with lots of sides so that a couple of slices of chicken will be enough to satisfy everyone. ...
  2. Chicken Fried Rice. ...
  3. Chicken and Vegetable soup.
Apr 11, 2020

How much chicken do you feed a crowd? ›

You should probably follow the rule that says thigh or breast, given that , one chicken will serve 4 people (2 thighs ans 2 breasts) , so for 100 people you need 25 chickens.

What food is good for batch cooking? ›

Best batch-cooking recipes
  • Melted leeks with spinach and basil ricotta.
  • French onion soup.
  • Butternut squash, tomato and rosemary sauce.
  • Beef, beetroot and butter bean stew with Stilton dumplings.
  • Batch-it-up family Bolognese.
  • Macaroni cheese chorizo bake.
  • Melted leeks with spinach and basil ricotta.
  • French onion soup.

What is the maximum amount of time to cook chicken? ›

The FDA recommends that food be cooled from 135°F to 41°F (57°C to 5°C) in six hours or less. This time limit helps prevent dangerous bacteria growth.

Does chicken get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

How do you make chicken last a week? ›

Six chicken recipes to make a roast last a week
  1. Meal 1: Roast chicken. Start the week with an indulgent roast, and serve with lots of seasonal veggie sides. ...
  2. Meal 2: Salad. Use the meat from one leg to make a Chicken salad. ...
  3. Meal 3: Chicken soup. ...
  4. Meal 4: Chicken and rice pie. ...
  5. Meal 5: Stock. ...
  6. Meal 6: Pasta.
Aug 11, 2017

How much is too much chicken in a meal? ›

Over 550 grams, runs the risk of neglecting other nutrients from protein sources like eggs, fish, or red meat. Keep in mind your body can only process so much protein, and you need to eat a variety to stay both healthy and balanced.

How many pieces of chicken should I eat per meal? ›

The recommended single portion of chicken is 3 to 4 ounces, about the size of a deck of playing cards. Some people use the palm of their hand as a guide. Depending on the vendor, some chicken breasts are two or three times the recommended serving size.

Can you put raw chicken in a casserole? ›

Can I Cook Raw Chicken In Casserole? Short answer: Yes! Long answer: Chicken has to be cooked to 165F internal temperature. If you cube your chicken and put it in a 400F preheated oven, it will most definitely cook to that internal temperature within 15-20 minutes.

What's the difference between chicken stew and chicken casserole? ›

What's the difference between stew and casserole? Casseroles are cooked in the oven and stews are cooked on the hob, but there's often not much difference in the ingredients.

What thickens chicken casserole? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

How much chicken for 10 meals? ›

When Meat Is a Component of a Dish. If the meat is part of a bigger dish, like pasta or curry, plan for 1/4 to 1/3 pound (four to six ounces) per person. That means you'll want at least 2 1/2 pounds of meat if you're planning to have 10 people over to dinner, and 5 or more pounds of meat if you're cooking for 20 guests ...

How many servings is one chicken? ›

A whole 3 to 4-pound chicken will feed 4 to 6 people, depending on ages and appetite. For Cornish game hens, which are very small chickens, count on one small (1.25 pounds) game hen per person or half of a larger (2-pound) game hen.

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