• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
always use butter
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Blogging Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Blogging Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Chicken

    26 Chicken Dinners Made for Your Busiest Days

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated May 13, 2026 · Published May 15, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    Finding time to cook can be tough, especially during busy weeks. These 23 chicken meals are quick to prepare and very satisfying, making them perfect for hectic schedules. With simple ingredients and easy steps, you can enjoy delicious home-cooked meals without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a simple and comforting dish that you can whip up in under 30 minutes. It combines the creamy goodness of mac and cheese with the flavors of broccoli and chicken for a satisfying meal.

    Save This Recipe Form

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from us each week!

    Get the Recipe

    Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Skillet

    Teroyaki chicken and broccoli.
    Photo credit: Fit As A Mama Bear.

    This chicken teriyaki broccoli skillet is a simple and delicious meal with tender chicken and a tasty homemade teriyaki sauce. It's perfect for busy nights when you need something satisfying without a lot of work.

    Get the recipe

    Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

    Easy 15-Minute Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie

    These air-fried chicken nuggets are ready in no time, taking just minutes to prepare and about 10 minutes to cook. A special ingredient gives them a crispy outside and a juicy inside.

    Get the recipe

    Garlic Chicken with Honey Sauce

    Garlic chicken with honey and chopped green onions.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This garlic chicken with honey sauce is ready in just 20 minutes and only requires one pan. It's full of great flavors while using simple ingredients.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken

    Baked parmesan crusted chicken.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Parmesan-crusted chicken is a tasty dish that you can whip up quickly. This cheesy and crispy meal is great for a family dinner and can be on the table in under 30 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

    chicken pesto pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Barley & Sage.

    This chicken pesto pasta salad is perfect for a quick and easy meal. With creamy pesto, grilled chicken, spinach, and tomatoes, it comes together in under 20 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

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

    Air fryer chicken cutlets are a great option for a quick and delicious dinner any night. They turn out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making this a dish you'll love to have often.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce

    Chicken enchiladas with green sauce.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These chicken enchiladas with green sauce require only 10 minutes of prep and make the perfect comfort food any night of the week. This flavor-packed dish features garlic-infused chicken wrapped in soft tortillas and topped with melted cheese and the best green chile sauce. Make it all from scratch, or start halfway - your choice!

    Get the recipe

    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken

    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken
    Photo credit: Always use butter

    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken is a simple dish that you can prepare in just 20 minutes. The creamy sauce is full of flavor from crème fraîche, sun-dried tomatoes, and dried herbs.

    Get the recipe

    Larb Gai

    Larb gai.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Thai chicken salad is a quick and delicious option for busy days. It has true Thai flavors and is topped with crunchy peanuts.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

    Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    THese Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters are ready in just 15 minutes, with crispy skin and juicy meat. The marinade with lime juice adds a nice kick and helps keep the chicken tender.

    Get the recipe

    Fried Green Curry Spaghetti

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

    Enjoy a flavorful mix of Thai curry and spaghetti that's perfect for busy days. This dish is sure to become a favorite you'll want to make again.

    Get the recipe

    Thin Basil Chicken Breasts

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

    Air frying thin chicken breasts is a quick way to prepare a tasty dinner. With a generous seasoning of garlic and basil, this dish is ready in just 6 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Spicy Southwest Salad

    Spicy Southwest Salad.
    Photo credit: The Oregon Dietitian.

    This dish features chicken marinated in honey and lime juice, then grilled to perfection. It's served on a fresh bed of lettuce with avocado, veggies, and a zesty ranch dressing.

    Get the recipe

    Coconut Lime Chicken Pasta

    Coconut Lime Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Craft Cookbook.

    This is an easy meal to enjoy with family and friends. The bright coconut lime sauce gives a fresh spin to regular pasta, and it's ready in just 30 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    This pasta salad is a great option for a quick and tasty meal, perfect for busy days or when friends come over. It's easy to prepare and satisfying, making it a great go-to choice for any occasion.

    Get the recipe

    Caprese Chicken

    Caprese chicken.
    Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    Caprese Chicken is a straightforward dish with only 5 ingredients, all cooked in one pan. It's a filling meal that's perfect for busy days when you want something easy to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)

    ©Provided by Pups with Chopsticks

    Chicken with Thai Basil is a simple and delicious dish featuring chicken, green beans, and Thai basil in a tasty sauce. This is a great choice for a quick dinner that you can prepare in just 15 minutes with ground chicken.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Club Sandwich

    Chicken BLT.
    Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

    The Chicken Club Sandwich is packed with chicken, ham, bacon, avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes. It's a great option for a quick meal or snack.

    Get the recipe

    Pesto Chicken

    Pesto chicken with a side of salad.
    Photo credit: I Heart Nap Time.

    This easy pesto chicken dish requires just two ingredients: grilled chicken breast and a creamy basil pesto sauce. It's a quick meal that fits perfectly into a busy schedule.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Chicken Katsu

    Air fryer katsu chicken.
    Photo credit: Piper Cooks.

    This chicken dish is inspired by Japanese chicken katsu, with a juicy cutlet covered in crispy Panko breadcrumbs. It uses just 4 ingredients and is ready in only 12 minutes in the air fryer.

    Get the recipe

    Rotisserie Chicken Tacos

    Rotisserie chicken tacos.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    Rotisserie Chicken Tacos are a great option for a quick dinner. Just load up corn tortillas with shredded chicken, avocado spread, pickled onions, salsa, and cheese for a delicious meal.

    Get the recipe

    Chili Rubbed Chicken Thighs

    Chili rubbed chicken.
    Photo credit: Grits and Pinecones.

    Broiled chili-rubbed chicken thighs are simple to prepare and packed with flavor. This dish is juicy and satisfying, perfect for a quick meal.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken and Rice

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

    This chicken and rice dish is ready in just 15 minutes. It's a delicious meal that's great for busy days.

    Get the recipe

    Salsa Chicken

    Salsa chicken.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Salsa Chicken is a simple and healthy dish that's full of flavor. It's an effortless dinner option that comes together with hardly any prep time, making it a favorite for everyone.

    Get the Recipe

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake takes less than 10 minutes to prep and is all done in under an hour. It's loaded with spicy buffalo sauce and hidden spinach, and so cheesy and delicious. An indulgent and easy meal, perfect for a weeknight!

    Get the recipe

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Monterey Chicken Casserole.
      20 Chicken Dinners So Good Everyone Always Wants Seconds
    • Balsamic chicken.
      27 Crockpot Chicken Recipes That Make Dinner Easy
    • 27 Game-Changing Chicken Bakes to Try
    • Lemon pepper chicken thighs.
      19 Super-Simple Crockpot Chicken Thigh Recipes to Try

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years 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, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Readers Love These Recipes

    • a spoonful of mac and cheese being lifted out of the pan
      Dump-and-Bake Mac and Cheese without Flour
    • a pan full of chicken teriyaki stir fry.
      Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry
    • top down view of a tortellini casserole
      Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Spinach
    • King ranch chicken casserole.
      24 Dump-And-Bake Dinner Casseroles That Get the Job Done

    Popular Weeknight Dinners

    • Salmon piccata in a skillet.
      Salmon Piccata
    • buffalo cauliflower tacos on a blue plate.
      Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
    • feta cheese stuffed chicken on a blue plate
      Feta Cheese Stuffed Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Basil
    • side view of a healthy salmon fish taco with ginger avocado salsa, and a lime wedge
      Easy Healthy Salmon Tacos with Ginger Avocado Salsa (15 minute dish)

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    All affiliate links are always marked with "*" or "affiliate".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    A collage of sites where always use butter content has been featured.

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • info@alwaysusebutter.com
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2026 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB