• 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

    20 Easy Chicken Dinners You Can Just Dump and Enjoy

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated March 5, 2026 · Published March 16, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    Chicken dinners can be simple and satisfying, especially when you can just toss everything together and let it cook. These 20 easy recipes are perfect for busy nights, requiring minimal prep and cleanup. From hearty casseroles to flavorful one-pot meals, you'll find plenty of options to enjoy without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Ranch Chicken & Potato Casserole

    Ranch potato bake.
    Photo credit: The Food Blog.

    This one-pan meal features chicken, potatoes, broccoli, bacon, and cheese all cooked together. It's a great option for a quick and satisfying dinner when you're short on time.

    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

    Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

    Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    This easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup combines a whole chicken with carrots, celery, and basic seasonings for a warm and satisfying meal. It's perfect for those hectic evenings when you want something comforting without a lot of fuss.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Cacciatore

    Chicken cacciatore with pasta.
    Photo credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    This easy chicken dinner is perfect for those nights when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen. With its Italian flavors, it pairs well with pasta, polenta, or mashed potatoes.

    Get the recipe

    Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole

    A casserole dish full of spinach artichoke casserole.
    Photo credit: Nibble and Dine.

    This is a quick and easy meal that combines rotisserie chicken with frozen vegetables. It comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for a busy night.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This chicken and broccoli dish is a filling meal that's great for those hectic evenings. It's easy to prepare and you'll have leftovers to enjoy later.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Thigh Tray Bake

    Chicken thighs and vegetables.
    Photo credit: Living Lou.

    Evenings can be busy, so this easy chicken tray bake makes dinner a breeze. Just toss chicken thighs, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots together in a flavorful marinade, and you'll have a delicious meal in less than 45 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken & Dumplings

    Chicken and dumplings.
    Photo credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

    This comforting chicken dish is super easy to make and cooks itself in the crockpot. Just throw everything in, and you'll have a delicious meal waiting for you.

    Get the recipe

    Cajun Chicken Pasta Casserole

    Cajun chicken pasta casserole.
    Photo credit: Practically Homemade.

    This casserole is packed with cajun flavors and is incredibly easy to prepare. Just toss everything in the oven without boiling the pasta, and you'll have a delicious creamy dish ready to enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

    Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    Photo Credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    This chicken gnocchi soup is perfect for busy weeknights when you need something quick and comforting. Using frozen chicken breasts makes it even easier to whip up a delicious meal.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

    Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken.
    Photo credit: Dinner at the Zoo.

    This teriyaki chicken is made by cooking chicken breasts with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey until they're nice and tender. Shred the chicken and serve it over rice for an easy and tasty meal.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This easy chicken dinner is perfect for those hectic evenings when you need something quick. Just chop up some ingredients, mix them together, and let the oven handle the rest for a tasty meal with chicken and veggies.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken & Veggies

    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken & Veggies.
    Photo credit: This DIY Life.

    This honey garlic chicken and veggies dish is an easy one-pot meal that comes together without any fuss. It's ideal for busy weeknights when you want something tasty without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

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

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is a great option for busy weeknights. With spicy buffalo sauce, fresh spinach, and plenty of cheese, this dish is easy to make and satisfying.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Stew

    Chicken stew.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot Chicken Stew is super easy to make with only 10 minutes of prep time. Just throw everything in and let it cook for a hearty meal filled with veggies, all done in under 45 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

    sun-dried tomato pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This chicken and pasta dish is easy to make and packed with flavor, featuring melted cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. It's perfect for those hectic evenings when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Mississippi Chicken

    Mississippi Chicken
    Photo Credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

    Mississippi Chicken is an easy crockpot meal that requires only five ingredients. It's packed with flavor and goes great with mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki

    Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki.
    Photo credit: Frugal Family Times.

    This recipe makes dinner a breeze on hectic evenings, allowing you to cook frozen chicken without any prep. Just throw in the ingredients, and in 30 minutes, you'll have a delicious meal ready to enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

    Slow Cooker Chicken Curry.
    Photo credit: A Cedar Spoon.

    This Slow Cooker Chicken Curry is perfect for busy days. Just throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning, and by dinner time, you'll have a tasty meal ready to enjoy with rice and naan.

    Get the recipe

    Buffalo Chicken Chili

    Buffalo Chicken Chili (Slow Cooker)
    Photo Credit: The Nessy Kitchen.

    This buffalo chicken chili is an easy dish that works well for hectic days or game nights. It combines the familiar flavors of chili with a spicy buffalo wing twist, making it a great choice for any evening.

    Get the recipe

    Crockpot Chicken Corn Chowder

    Crockpot Chicken Corn Chowder.
    Photo Credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    This creamy chicken corn chowder made in a is packed with tender chicken, potatoes, and veggies, making it a warm and filling meal. It's an easy dish that you can just throw together and enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Jamaican jerk chicken.
      23 Juicy Chicken Thigh Dinners You'll Make Again and Again
    • Chicken and rice soup.
      21 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes Perfect for Meal Prepping
    • Chicken parmesan pasta.
      17 Fast Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights
    • Buffalo chicken lasagna rolls.
      24 Clever Ways to Use Leftover Rotisserie Chicken

    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

    • lemon ricotta pasta on a green plate.
      10-Minute Lemon Ricotta Pasta
    • Air fryer steak tips on a plate.
      Air Fryer Steak Tips
    • pork chop on a plate
      Cast Iron Pork Chops with Mushrooms, Red Wine & Thyme
    • Ravioli casserole.
      No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    Our Favorite Gameday Recipes

    • duck breasts topped orange sauce
      Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce (Best Sauce for Duck!)
    • Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
      Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
    • The 31 Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for Busy People
    • pork chop on a plate
      Cast Iron Pork Chops with Mushrooms, Red Wine & Thyme

    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 © 2018-2025 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB