14 Simple Chicken Breast Recipes You Can Whip Up in Under 40 Minutes
Chicken breasts are a lean and versatile protein that can be transformed with a variety of spices and flavors. Though they often get a bad rap for turning out tough and dry, we’ve rounded up quick and easy chicken recipes that ensure juicy, tender chicken every time. With just 40 minutes or less of prep work, you can make a delicious meal with either bone-in or boneless, skin-on or skinless chicken, as well as cutlets. These simple and flavorful chicken breast dishes are sure to impress without any hassle.
RELATED: How to Cook Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer in 4 Simple Steps
When shopping for chicken breasts, you have a few options:
- Boneless breasts cook quickly but can dry out if overcooked.
- Bone-in breasts take longer to cook but are juicier.
- Skin-on breasts keep flavor and moisture, and can get crispy.
- Skinless breasts are lean and high in protein.
- Cutlets are thin slices of chicken breast.
- Tenders are fast-cooking strips from the bottom of the breast.
01 | Crispy Chicken Cutlets With Artichoke Dressing
Instead of pan-frying, this recipe roasts panko-coated chicken cutlets and asparagus on separate baking sheets. The cutlets get a quick broil at the end for an extra crispy finish, and everything is topped with a tangy artichoke dressing.
02 | Chicken Orzo Skillet
This weeknight meal takes 40 minutes to prepare, but if you use rotisserie chicken instead of searing chicken breasts, you can save up to ten minutes. The wonderful thing is also you just need one pan to prepare it. Made with fresh foods such baby spinach, orzo, and sun-dried tomatoes, this meal is both savory and decadent.
03 | Roasted Chicken With Lemon-Garlic Green Beans
Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts used in this simple one-pan supper get golden and crispy in the oven. Along with the chicken, lemony green beans and potatoes roast to create a filling feast requiring very little work.
04 | Chicken Paillard
Though "paillard" is simply the French term for pounded, it sounds elegant. Beginning with a boneless, skinless chicken breast hammered thin between plastic wrap, this chicken breast recipe employs that approach. Perfect pan-fried after just salt and pepper seasoning. The ultimate effect is a delicate, delicious cutlet that cooks fast and goes nicely with practically any vegetable side.
05 | Lime-Scented Chicken with Salsa and Olives
This recipe keeps boneless, skinless chicken breasts juicy and tender by searing them first and then braising in a flavorful mix of jarred (or homemade) pico de gallo, olives, and capers. The result is a dish packed with bold, zesty flavor. Serve it with lime wedges and warm tortillas or some crusty bread to soak up all the goodness.
06 | Crunchy Almond Chicken with Arugula Salad
Keeping chicken cutlets gluten-free, this recipe wraps them in a mix of sesame seeds and almond flour (instead of breadcrumbs) to produce a golden, crispy coating with a toasted taste. You'll have just enough time to pull together a fresh arugula and Brussels sprouts salad with a basic lemon dressing as the chicken fries on the burner.
07 | Oven-Cooked Chicken Strips
Chicken tenders are not exclusively for young people! After dipping in a mixture of egg and milk, these baked tenders—coated in seasoned flour—are rolled in panko breadcrumbs before baking for just fifteen minutes. The recipe calls for a big batch—36 tenders—so you might bake some now and freeze the rest for later. For the ideal pairing, present them with a homemade honey-mustard-mayo dip.
08 | Coconut-Crusted Chicken with Mango Chutney Slaw
Craving a tropical flavor? This chicken breast recipe features coconut and mango as the star ingredients. The crunchy coating for the pan-fried chicken cutlets combines coconut shreds and panko, while mango chutney takes the lead in the make-ahead slaw.
09 | Chicken & Avocado Grain Bowl
There are just 25 minutes to put together this bowl dinner. It includes gently seasoned, pan-seared chicken cutlets cooked quickly to a golden brown. After a drizz of lemon juice and spicy sauce, the chicken is set on a bed of white rice and garnished with creamy avocado, grilled onions, crunchy radish pieces, and scallions.
10 | Savory Chicken Veggie Pot Pie
Beginning with boneless, skinless chicken breasts boiled in water, chilled, and shredded, this traditional dish After that, the shredded chicken is piled with creamy white wine sauce-cooked veggies, all arranged on a baking sheet and covered with a store-bought crust.
11 | Crunchy Chicken Cutlets
Making crispy chicken cutlets calls for this fast chicken breast recipe. After coating the cutlets in egg and a panko mixture, they are cooked in heated oil till brown and crunchy. You can enjoy them on their own with your favorite sides, or use this recipe as a base for other uses for crispy chicken cutlets, such as in sandwiches, salads, or wraps.
12 | Orange Chicken Stir-Fry over Rice Noodles
Though boneless, skinless breasts are a fantastic option, this recipe calls for chicken thighs. Its sweet and spicy sauce is equally as good as your preferred Chinese takeaway, maybe even better! As the base, you might keep to rice noodles or vary with white or brown rice.
13 | Creamy Curried Chicken with Ginger
In this comfortable slow-cooker dish, you might replace chicken thighs with boneless, skinless breasts. The cooking period runs from three to eight hours, yet preparation calls for less than fifteen minutes. Given your early start, this meal is really simple to make.
14 | Corn and Avocado Salad with Grilled Chicken
Try this grilled dinner salad when it is too hot to cook indoors. Marine boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a lemony rosemary vinaigrette; then, grill them next to corn on the cob drizzled with a little of oil. All mixed in the leftover vinaigrette, the salad finishes with avocado slices, shaved Parmesan, and baby spinach.
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