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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    18 Quick and Easy 20-Minute Chicken Dinners for Busy Weeknights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 27, 2024, updated May 22, 2024 - Leave a Comment

    These 18 chicken dinners can all be made in just 20 minutes, perfect for quick and easy meals on busy weeknights. All full of flavor and simple to prepare, these recipes ensure a delicious meal without the hassle.

    Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

    Air fried chicken cutlets.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make these air fryer chicken cutlets for a quick, easy, dinner any night of the week. With crispy, juicy, chicken you'll definitely want seconds of, and a super simple process that will have you making it over and over.

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    Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Chicken lettuce wraps.
    Photo credit: I Heart Nap Time.

    These easy cashew chicken lettuce wraps are made in one pot in just 20 minutes! A better-than-takeout recipe that the whole family will love. And if you prefer, you can of course serve the cashew chicken over rice instead.

    Get the recipe

    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken

    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken
    Photo credit: Always use butter

    Make this flavor packed Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken in just 20 minutes for a deliciously simple weeknight meal. This super creamy sauce boasts delicious flavors from crème fraîche, sun-dried tomatoes and dried herbs.

    Get the recipe

    Rotisserie Chicken Tacos

    Rotisserie chicken tacos.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    These quick and easy Rotisserie Chicken Tacos feature some really unique flavors that’ll definitely shake up your Taco Night! Corn tortillas and shredded chicken are layered with a delicious avocado spread, pickled red onions, and your choice of salsa and cheese!

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    Air Fryer Chicken Legs

    Chicken legs marinated in Mexican chicken marinade.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Experience the perfect blend of crispy skin and tender meat with this foolproof Air Fryer Chicken Legs recipe. Using the magic of air frying technology, these chicken legs turn out golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside.

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    Lemon Chicken Pasta

    Lemon chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This creamy lemon chicken pasta comes together in about 20 minutes for a quick and easy dinner that everyone in the family will love! Al dente spaghetti is tossed in a lemon garlic Parmesan cream sauce and topped with slightly crisp sauteed chicken for a simple yet utterly delicious meal.

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    Fried Green Curry Spaghetti

    A bowl of fried spaghetti with green curry.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Thai curry + spaghetti = a dish so delicious you'll be wanting it every week.

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    Chicken and Rice

    15-Minute Chicken and Rice
    Photo Credit: Tried and True Recipes.

    Who doesn’t love a 15-minute chicken and rice recipe? This 15-minute chicken and rice comes together quickly and tastes delicious.

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    Thin Basil Chicken Breasts

    Thin Basil Chicken Breasts.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Cook thin chicken breasts in your air fryer for a quick, easy, flavorful dinner. All done with 6 minutes of cooking and heavily seasoned with garlic and basil.

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    Coconut Lime Chicken Pasta

    Coconut Lime Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Craft Cookbook.

    This Coconut Lime Chicken & Pasta is an easy way to treat your friends and family to something fun! If you’re tired of classic pasta sauces, this tangy coconut lime sauce will be a refreshing change of pace, and the whole meal comes together in about half an hour.

    Get the recipe

    Larb Gai

    Larb gai.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This healthy Thai chicken salad dish is a dish you'll be making every week. It has an authentic base topped with peanuts for crunch.

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    Chicken Club Sandwich

    Chicken BLT.
    Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

    This tasty Chicken Club Sandwich is piled high with chicken, ham, bacon, avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes. It’s perfect for a quick meal for one or an afternoon snack.

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    Blackened Chicken Tenders

    Blackened chicken.
    Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

    Blackened chicken tenders are so easy to make at home. You can use the homemade spice blend in the recipe card, or pick up a bottle of blackening spice at the store for an even quicker meal!

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    Santa Fe Chicken Salad

    Santa Fe chicken salad.
    Photo credit: Healthy Mom Healthy Family.

    This Santa Fe Chicken Salad comes together quickly with rotisserie chicken and a quick two-ingredient creamy salsa dressing, for a satisfying yet healthy meal.

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    Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles

    Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Made with quick-cooking instant ramen noodles coated in peanut sauce for a dinner that can be on the table in under 20 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Chicken Katsu

    Air fryer katsu chicken.
    Photo credit: Piper Cooks.

    This easy breaded chicken recipe is a version of the Japanese dish chicken katsu, a tender chicken cutlet coated in crispy Japanese Panko breadcrumbs. Just 4 ingredients and 12 minutes in the air fryer!

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

    Pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Nutmeg and Vinegar.

    This chicken pesto pasta salad is perfect for spring and summer. It's a healthy, simple salad that is quick to prepare and perfect for a BBQ!

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    Spicy Southwest Salad

    Spicy Southwest Salad.
    Photo credit: The Oregon Dietitian.

    Chicken is marinated in honey, fresh lime juice, and seasonings, then grilled to perfection. Placed on atop a bed of lettuce, avocado, fresh vegetables, and smothered in homemade spicy ranch dressing, this is a salad you just cant't beat!

    Get the recipe

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      21 Cheap Dinner Casseroles We Can’t Stop Making
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      28 Must-Try Crockpot Recipes for a Stress-Free Summer

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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