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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Set It and Forget It Chicken Recipes for Busy Evenings

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on August 26, 2025, updated August 25, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Finding time to cook during busy evenings can be a challenge, but with these 22 chicken recipes, you can prepare delicious meals with minimal effort. Each recipe is designed to be set up quickly, allowing you to enjoy a satisfying dinner without spending hours in the kitchen. From slow cooker options to simple oven bakes, these dishes will help you keep mealtime stress-free.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta

    Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, mushrooms, and spinach with pasta in a rich tomato sauce. This dish is perfect for family dinners or when you have friends over. It's easy to prepare and is bound to be a favorite in your home.

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    Salsa Chicken

    A bowl of salsa chicken.
    Photo credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

    Crockpot Salsa Chicken is a simple and convenient dinner option that fits perfectly into a busy schedule. With just a few minutes of prep and a handful of ingredients, you can have a delicious meal ready with minimal effort. This dish is sure to become a favorite for everyone at the table.

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    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

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

    This dish features cheesy chicken and pasta, packed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. It's a hearty meal that's simple to prepare, perfect for a cozy night in. With minimal effort, you can enjoy a satisfying dinner that everyone will love.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein

    Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Enjoy a comforting homemade meal with this easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein. Packed with chicken and fresh vegetables, this dish features a flavorful chow mein sauce that you can make right at home. It’s a great alternative to takeout, allowing you to savor a delicious chicken chow mein without any fuss.

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    Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken

    Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Garden in the Kitchen.

    Tender chicken breasts cook slowly in a flavorful onion broth, then topped with melted Gruyere cheese. This dish is all about comfort and simplicity, perfect for a cozy meal. It's an easy way to enjoy a hearty dinner without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, creating a hearty meal that will definitely satisfy your hunger. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something filling without spending too much time in the kitchen. Plus, you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken

    Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Lemons & Zest.

    Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken is a fantastic option for busy weeknights. With just about 10 minutes of prep time, you can have a delicious meal ready to go. It's perfect for making pulled BBQ sandwiches and other tasty dishes. Plus, any leftovers can be easily frozen for later.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Chicken tinga features tender, shredded chicken cooked in a flavorful spicy sauce with onions, all made effortlessly in your slow cooker. This easy Mexican dish is perfect for a weeknight meal, bringing a bit of excitement to your dinner routine. It's a simple way to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Slow Cooker Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    Slow Cooker Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    This Chicken Enchilada Casserole is made with chicken breasts, green enchilada sauce, salsa verde, fire roasted green chiles, and a handful of other easy ingredients. It's a great choice for busy weekends, potlucks, or game days. Everyone in the family will love this tasty Tex-Mex dish.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken With Creamy Tomato & Spinach Sauce

    Slow Cooker Chicken With Creamy Tomato & Spinach Sauce.
    Photo Credit: My Life Cookbook.

    Keto slow cooker chicken with creamy tomato and spinach sauce is a flavorful and simple dinner option for busy weeknights. The sauce is rich and creamy, pairing wonderfully with fresh spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. Each serving contains only 3.3g of net carbs, making it a great choice for those watching their carb intake.

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    Slow Cooker Whole Beer Chicken

    Slow Cooker Whole Beer Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Whole Beer Chicken is packed with great flavors. A whole chicken is seasoned with butter, beer, lemon, and garlic, creating a tasty dish that’s easy to prepare. This is a good dinner option for busy nights when you want something satisfying without a lot of work.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

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

    This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare, taking less than 10 minutes, and it cooks in under an hour. It's packed with spicy buffalo sauce, has some hidden spinach, and is super cheesy. This dish is a satisfying and easy option for a weeknight dinner.

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts

    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts.
    Photo credit: Little Sunny Kitchen.

    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs are packed with delicious flavors and come with plenty of veggies, making it a satisfying low-carb dinner that everyone in the family will love. This dish is simple to prepare and cooks all in one pan, so cleanup is a breeze. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Cajun Chicken Foil Packs

    Cajun Chicken Foil Packets.
    Photo credit: Camp Grill Eat.

    Foil packets are a simple way to enjoy a meal on the grill, featuring boneless chicken thighs along with sliced peppers and onions seasoned with Cajun spices. This meal is quick to prepare and cooks up in just 30 minutes, making it a great option for busy nights. Plus, cleanup is a breeze since everything is cooked in the packets.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken & Broccoli Over Rice

    Slow Cooker Chicken & Broccoli Over Rice.
    Photo Credit: The Quicker Kitchen,

    Slow cooker chicken and broccoli over rice is a simple dish that comes together with minimal effort. This meal is perfect for families, offering tender chicken in a creamy, cheesy sauce along with plenty of broccoli. With easy cleanup and a comforting flavor, it’s a great choice for busy nights.

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    Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Chicken

    Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Chicken is a fantastic way to enjoy a classic Korean dish at home. Chicken breasts are coated in a delicious homemade sauce and cooked slowly until they're incredibly tender. This dish is sure to please everyone at the dinner table.

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    Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Ramen With Chicken

    Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Ramen With Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Lazy Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Ramen with Chicken is a tasty and easy one-pot meal. This dish combines creamy coconut milk, flavorful curry spices, and tender chicken for a satisfying dinner. It's perfect for those nights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Wings

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Wings.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Homemade BBQ chicken wings are easy to prepare in the slow cooker with just a few simple ingredients. This dish is perfect for gatherings or a casual night in. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to blend beautifully, resulting in tender and tasty wings that everyone will enjoy.

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    Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken

    Chicken thighs and pineapple sauce in a bowl.
    Photo credit: Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

    This Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken dish is both sweet and spicy, and so simple to make. This cheap chicken recipe is a weeknight dinner superstar. With only 4 ingredients, this tasty and super quick dinner couldn't get any easier!

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    Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki

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

    This recipe is all about convenience, allowing you to cook chicken breasts straight from the freezer. There's no need to plan ahead or thaw anything; just grab the frozen chicken, add a few easy ingredients, and in about 30 minutes, you’ll have a delicious meal ready to enjoy. It’s perfect for busy nights when you want something tasty without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

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    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for busy weeknights. With just a little chopping at the beginning, you can let it cook on its own while you take care of other things. It combines chicken, vegetables, and plenty of sauce, all in one pan, making cleanup a breeze.

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    Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken

    Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Italian bruschetta chicken is a delicious dish you can prepare in your slow cooker. It features tender chicken breasts that are covered with gooey mozzarella cheese and a fresh tomato topping made with ripe tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and balsamic vinegar. This meal is perfect for busy nights when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    More Recipe Roundups

    • Italian meatball soup.
      22 Quick and Easy Pasta Dishes That Will Transform Your Weeknight Meals
    • Spicy sausage pasta.
      18 Easy Meals for Hot Summer Nights
    • Chicken drumsticks & potatoes.
      23 Easy Sheet Pan Meals for Busy Families
    • Twice-baked potatoes.
      22 Savory Sides That Will Steal the Show at Your Labor Day BBQ

    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.

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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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