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    Home » Chicken

    26 Chicken Dinners That Are Fast, Flavorful, and Weeknight-Ready

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated December 5, 2025 · Published December 5, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    These 26 chicken dinners are quick and easy to whip up on busy weeknights. Packed with flavor and variety, they offer something for everyone, from classic comfort dishes to fresh and zesty options. With these recipes, you can enjoy a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

    Cooked chicken drumstick.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Chicken drumsticks are quick to prepare, taking only 20 minutes after marinating in olive oil, lime juice, and spices. They come out tender on the inside with a crispy exterior, making this a reliable choice for busy weeknight dinners.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    Buffalo chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a simple and delicious dish that comes together in just 15 minutes. It features a zesty buffalo sauce paired with creamy blue cheese, mixed with pasta and tender chicken. This meal is perfect for a busy weeknight when you want something flavorful without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Thin Basil Chicken Breasts

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

    Thin chicken breasts are perfect for a quick dinner, especially when cooked in the air fryer. In just 6 minutes, you can have a flavorful meal ready to go, thanks to the delicious garlic and basil seasoning. This dish is simple and satisfying, making it ideal for busy weeknights.

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    Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

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

    Air fryer chicken cutlets are a great option for a fast and simple dinner during the week. They come out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making them a favorite for busy nights. You'll likely want to add this dish to your regular meal rotation.

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    Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

    Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Cooking Duo.

    This dinner is easy to whip up and full of flavor, using everyday ingredients you can find at the store. It's perfect for your weeknight meals, and even those who are picky eaters will likely enjoy it.

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    Marry Me Chicken Pasta

    Marry me chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta comes together in just 20 minutes and is sure to impress everyone. It features a delicious blend of crème fraîche, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs, making it a straightforward dish that doesn't take much time to prepare. This is a great option for a quick weeknight dinner that still feels special.

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    Easy Paella

    Paella.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Paella is a straightforward and delicious meal that everyone will love. Loaded with shrimp, chicken, green peas, and bell peppers, it's perfect for dinner gatherings and still tastes great the next day.

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    Tuscan Chicken Pasta

    Tuscan chicken pasta.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    This one pot pasta dish is packed with great flavors and is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Penne pasta is mixed with a creamy tomato sauce, along with tender pieces of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh cherry tomatoes, and spinach. It's a simple meal that brings together all these tasty ingredients in one pot, making cleanup easy.

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    Creamy Chicken Pasta with Red Wine & Mushrooms

    Red wine chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Creamy Chicken Pasta comes together in just 30 minutes and is sure to please everyone at the table. The dish features delicious flavors from red wine, mushrooms, and thyme, making it a satisfying choice for dinner. It's also perfect for leftovers, so you can enjoy it again the next day.

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    Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

    Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches are quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes to whip up. This dish is perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen. The spicy buffalo chicken combined with a tangy blue cheese coleslaw makes for a great flavor pairing that everyone will enjoy.

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    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken

    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken
    Photo credit: Always use butter

    Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken is a simple and delicious dish that comes together in just 20 minutes. The creamy sauce is packed with flavor from crème fraîche, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs, making it a great choice for busy weeknights. This meal is satisfying and easy to prepare, perfect for when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Baked Chicken Tenders

    Baked Chicken Tenders.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Oven baked chicken tenders are easy to make and only take about 25 minutes. Using basic ingredients you probably already have at home, they offer a healthier choice compared to fried chicken. These tenders are great for dipping in your favorite sauce or can be enjoyed right out of the oven.

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    Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken

    Baked parmesan crusted chicken.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Parmesan-crusted chicken is a simple and tasty dinner option that the whole family will love. With its cheesy and crispy coating, it's great for dipping and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes. This dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Balsamic Marinated Chicken

    Balsamic marinated chicken.
    Photo credit: Striped Spatula.

    Balsamic Marinated Chicken is a juicy and flavorful dish that's easy to make, making it a great choice for busy weeknights. It can shine in a chicken salad or be paired with your favorite sides. You can grill, bake, or air fry it, giving you plenty of options for cooking.

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    Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce

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

    Chicken enchiladas with green sauce are easy to whip up and perfect for a weeknight dinner. This dish features tender chicken seasoned with garlic, wrapped in soft tortillas, and topped with gooey cheese and zesty green chile sauce. It's a satisfying meal that brings a bit of flavor to your evening without taking too much time to make.

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    Massaman Chicken Curry

    A bowl of massaman chicken curry.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Massaman Chicken Curry is a quick and easy one-pot meal that you can whip up in about 45 minutes using ready-made curry paste. This dish is creamy and has a hint of sweetness, packed with chicken, potatoes, and peanuts. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Chicken Rotel Spaghetti

    Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel.
    Photo Credit Mandi of the Mountains.

    Baked chicken spaghetti with Rotel is a comforting dish that everyone in the family will love. It's easy to whip up and uses just a handful of ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

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    Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This weeknight meal is all about quick and tasty chicken wrapped in fresh lettuce. The ground chicken is seasoned with a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors, and you can easily tweak the spice to suit your taste. It's a simple dish that brings a bit of excitement to your dinner table.

    Get the recipe.

    3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

    3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Slow cooker shredded chicken tacos are easy to make with just three ingredients and a few minutes of prep. Simply put everything in the crock pot and let it cook for a few hours. Once the chicken is done, shred it, and dinner is served!

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    Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken

    Grilled lemon chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Lemon Chicken Marinade is easy to prepare with just a few healthy ingredients. It's perfect for grilling, pan frying, or baking, and it helps the chicken stay juicy and tender while packing in great flavor.

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    Fried Green Curry Spaghetti

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

    Thai curry and spaghetti blend together in a dish that's incredibly delicious and easy to make. This meal is quick to prepare, making it a great option for busy weeknights. You'll find it satisfying and flavorful, perfect for adding some variety to your dinner routine.

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    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    BBQ drumsticks.
    Photo credit: Food Folks and Fun.

    This chicken dish is quick to prepare and packed with delicious BBQ flavor, making it ideal for busy weeknights. You can savor a flavorful dinner without needing to fire up the grill.

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    Chicken Broccoli Stuffing Casserole

    Chicken Broccoli Stuffing Casserole.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Eating.

    This chicken broccoli stuffing casserole is an easy dinner option that brings together chicken breast, frozen broccoli, and stuffing mix. It's a quick meal that hits the spot, making it ideal for busy weeknights. With minimal effort, you can have a hearty dish ready to enjoy.

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    Air Fryer Chicken Legs

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

    Chicken legs come out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making them a great choice for dinner. Using an air fryer means you can whip up this tasty meal quickly, so you won't have to spend a lot of time cooking. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something satisfying without a lot of work.

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    Chicken Teriyaki Stir-fry

    Chicken teriyaki.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry is a simple and delicious meal that comes together in about 25 minutes, prep included. It's loaded with chicken, broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots, making it a filling low-carb option. You can enjoy it on its own or toss in some noodles or rice if you're feeding a larger group.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

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

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is a simple dish that comes together in less than an hour. It features zesty buffalo sauce, nutritious spinach, and lots of cheese, creating a delicious meal perfect for a busy weeknight.

    Get the recipe

    More Chicken Recipes

    • A bowl of massaman chicken curry.
      22 Easy One-Dish Chicken Dinners You’ll Want to Make All Week
    • Air fryer fried chicken tenders.
      Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Tenders
    • Thai cashew chicken.
      Thai Cashew Chicken
    • Baked parmesan crusted chicken.
      Baked Parmesan Crusted 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.

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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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