19 Baked Chicken Recipes to Save Time: Busy Days, Easy Dinners
On hectic days, it can seem impossible to prepare a homemade dinner. These baked chicken recipes are perfect for busy moms, offering simple preparation and delicious results. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, these dishes make dinnertime a breeze.
1. Baked Chicken Parmesan
Baked Chicken Parmesan is a healthier alternative to the traditional fried version. It offers the same cheesy, crispy goodness with less mess and fewer calories. This recipe includes crispy breaded chicken breasts baked until golden, then topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. This flavorful and hearty dish is ready in about 30 minutes, making it an excellent choice for busy weeknights.
2. Chicken Marsala en Croute
Chicken Marsala en Croute is an elegant dish that combines the rich flavors of chicken Marsala with the flaky texture of puff pastry. This recipe involves wrapping seasoned chicken breasts and a savory mushroom Marsala sauce in puff pastry, then baking until golden brown. The result is a sophisticated meal suitable for special occasions or a delightful Sunday dinner.
3. Cornflake Chicken
Cornflake Chicken Tenders offer a crispy and flavorful twist on traditional chicken fingers, making them a family favorite. This recipe involves dipping boneless, skinless chicken tenders into a milk and egg mixture and coating them with seasoned crushed cornflakes. The chicken is then baked until golden brown, resulting in a healthier alternative to fried chicken that’s easy to prepare and satisfying.
4. Creamy Cajun Chicken
Creamy Cajun Chicken is a flavorful dish that combines tender pan-fried chicken cutlets with a rich, zesty cream sauce. Seasoned with Cajun spices and complemented by sun-dried tomatoes, this recipe offers a delightful balance of heat and creaminess. It’s a quick and satisfying meal, ready in about 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
5. Truly Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
Truly, Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders are a healthier alternative to traditional fried chicken while delivering the same irresistible crunch and flavor. The secret lies in toasting panko breadcrumbs before coating the chicken, ensuring a golden and crispy exterior. A simple batter of egg, flour, mustard, and mayonnaise helps the breadcrumbs adhere, producing juicy, tender chicken that’s easy to prepare and perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings.
6. Easy Baked Chicken and Zucchini
Easy Baked Chicken and Zucchini is a simple and healthy meal that combines tender chicken with fresh zucchini tossed in olive oil and spices. Baked to perfection in 30 minutes, this versatile dish pairs well with rice or quinoa. It’s ideal for busy weeknights and stores well for meal prep.
7. Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits combines creamy chicken and vegetable filling with fluffy baked biscuits. This recipe simmers juicy chicken pieces with onions, carrots, celery, and peas in a flavorful sauce. The mixture is topped with homemade or refrigerated biscuits and baked until golden brown. brownThis filling dish is great for family dinners and only needs one skillet for easy cleanup.
8. Greek Sheet Pan Chicken
Greek Sheet Pan Chicken is a flavorful, all-in-one meal featuring juicy chicken thighs marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, and Dijon mustard, nestled among vibrant vegetables like zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, and tomatoes. After marinating, the chicken and vegetables are baked together and then topped with kalamata olives and feta cheese, creating a delicious and easy dinner option.
9. Easy Baked Lemon Chicken
Easy Healthy Baked Lemon Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish that combines tender, juicy chicken breasts with a zesty lemon-infused sauce. This recipe involves browning the chicken in a skillet, then baking it with a mixture of chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, honey, garlic, and Italian seasoning until cooked through. It’s a versatile meal that pairs well with various sides, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
10. Sheet Pan Curry Chicken and Vegetables
Sheet Pan Curry Chicken and Vegetables is a flavorful and convenient meal combining marinated chicken thighs with hearty potatoes and carrots, all roasted in a single pan. The curry marinade, made with soy sauce, vegetable oil, paprika, yellow curry powder, cumin, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper, infuses the chicken and vegetables with rich, aromatic spices. This dish is ideal for busy weeknights, providing a hearty and well-rounded meal with minimal cleanup.
11. Baked Chicken Salad Pie
Baked Chicken Salad Pie is a comforting dish that combines creamy chicken salad with a flaky pie crust topped with melted cheese. This recipe involves mixing cooked chicken, almonds, onions, celery, and water chestnuts with a creamy sauce, then baking it in a pie crust until golden and bubbly. It’s an easy-to-make meal perfect for family dinners or potluck gatherings.
12. Chicken Chimichangas
Chicken chimichangas are a delicious Tex-Mex dish with flour tortillas filled with shredded chicken, refried beans, cheese, and spices. They are then deep-fried to a crispy golden brown. This recipe offers frying and baking methods, allowing you to choose your preferred preparation style. For a satisfying meal, serve these chimichangas with toppings like sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
13. Easy Chicken Tetrazzini
Easy Chicken Tetrazzini is a cozy casserole that combines succulent chicken, pasta, and a luscious, creamy sauce. It bakes until bubbly and golden. This recipe from Belly Full features a blend of sour cream, melted butter, and cream of chicken and mushroom soups, creating a rich and flavorful dish that’s easy to prepare and satisfying for the whole family.
14. Quick Chicken Piccata
Quick Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts sautéed and served with a tangy lemon-caper sauce. This recipe involves dredging thin chicken cutlets in flour, pan-frying them until golden brown, and then creating a sauce with white wine, lemon juice, capers, and butter. It’s an easy yet sophisticated dish ready in less than 30 minutes, making it ideal for weeknight meals or special gatherings.
15. Chicken & Dumpling Casserole
Chicken and dumpling Casserole is a comforting dish that simplifies traditional chicken and dumplings. It consists of shredded rotisserie chicken, a milk and flour batter, and a creamy soup mixture layered in a baking dish. As it bakes, the layers transform into a hearty casserole with tender dumplings, making it ideal for a cozy family meal.
16. Deviled Chicken Thighs
Deviled Chicken Thighs are a flavorful dish featuring bone-in chicken thighs coated with a tangy Dijon mustard and cayenne pepper mixture, then topped with a crispy panko and Parmesan crust. These spicy and savory thighs bake to golden perfection, making them an easy and delicious weeknight meal.
17. Mediterranean Chicken
One-Skillet Mediterranean Chicken is a flavorful and convenient dish that combines tender chicken breasts with tomatoes, olives, and a zesty lemon-garlic sauce. This recipe involves searing seasoned chicken in olive oil, then simmering it with white wine, lemon juice, and chicken broth before adding fresh tomatoes, red onions, and green olives. Finished with a sprinkle of parsley and optional feta cheese, it’s a quick meal in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
18. Crunchy French Onion Chicken
Crunchy French Onion Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish that combines tender chicken breasts with a crispy coating of crushed French fried onions. This recipe involves dipping the chicken in a beaten egg, pressing it into the crushed onions, and baking until golden brown. It’s an easy meal that pairs well with various side dishes, perfect for weeknight dinners.
19. Roast Chicken With Vegetables and Potatoes
Roast Chicken with Vegetables and Potatoes is a classic one-pan meal that combines a whole chicken with carrots, shallots, and fingerling potatoes, all seasoned and roasted to perfection. This dish offers a balanced and hearty dinner option, with the vegetables absorbing the savory flavors of the roasting chicken.