26 Easy Chicken Breast Recipes You'll Make on Repeat

Time to shake up your rotation? We have ideas.

By
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel began testing recipes for Simply Recipes in 2018. She started her food blog in 2017 and taught children's baking classes around Seattle.
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Published August 07, 2023
Rachel Knecht
Two plates of chicken Florentine.

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

There are as many ways to cook chicken breasts as there are cooks in the kitchen. Poach, bake, or grill it. Fried or browned on the stovetop, chicken breasts can do it all.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts have a reputation of being more difficult to cook than thighs, mainly because chicken breast is leaner and can quickly become dry and chalky. That’s where we come in! All of these recipes result in juicy, flavorful chicken breast.

One of the secrets to juicy chicken breast is to make sure that it’s not overcooked. You’re looking for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Another tip for getting perfectly cooked chicken is to make it thinner by either pounding it to an even thickness or to cut them lengthwise for thinner pieces (also known as butterflying). To jazz it up, we pair chicken breasts with decadent sauces, fresh herbs, mild morels, or bright greens. Which way is your favorite?

  • Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts

    Lemon Pepper Chicken in a Pan Garnished with Shredded Parsley and Lemon Slices

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz

    I always have a jar of lemon pepper in the cupboard and now I know just what to use it for. You can save yourself a step and buy chicken cutlets for this recipe.

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  • Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich

    Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwiches on a Parchment Lined Tray With One Sandwich Cut in Half, and on the Counter Next to the Tray, Plates With Individual Ingredients and a White Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

    Pounding chicken until thin helps it cook evenly and quickly. Thickly sliced tomato and flavorful pesto round out the sandwich, while taking advantage of summer’s bounty. You can buy pesto or make it yourself.

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  • Chicken Alfredo Pizza

    Chicken Alfredo Pizza Cut Into Slices With One Slice Slightly Removed From the Rest to Get a Cheesy Pool, All on a Cutting Board, and Next to the Board, a Blue and White Striped Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    I’m always down for a white pizza. Alfredo sauce coats the crust and is then topped with chopped, pan fried chicken breast and enough parmesan and mozzarella to make every bite a delight.

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  • Taquitos de Pollo (Chicken Taquitos)

    Bowl of Taquitos Topped with Shredded Lettuce, Salsa, Crema Mexicana, Cilantro, and Queso Fresco

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Skip the freezer section and make your own chicken taquitos! Use toothpicks to keep them together when frying and load up on all your favorite toppings. Serve with black beans to turn it from appetizer to a main course.

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    Continue to 5 of 26 below.

  • Chicken Caesar Wrap

    Chicken Caesar Wraps Cut in Half on a Plate with a Small Bowl of Dressing

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Take your salad on the go with this easy wrap. It’s worth taking the extra couple minutes to make your own dressing and make sure to save some for dipping.

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  • Grilled Honey-Balsamic Chicken with Vegetables

    Grilled Honey-Balsamic Chicken with Vegetables

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

    Who knew chicken and vegetables could be this pretty. Grilling the vegetables whole saves on time and makes grilling much easier. The honey balsamic marinade doubles as a glaze for the chicken, keeping it juicy and flavorful.

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  • Chicken Schnitzel

    chicken schnitzel on plate with arugula and lemons

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Based on Wiener schnitzel, this chicken version will have your family running to the table. Pound the chicken breasts until thin, bread, and fry until golden and cooked through. Serve with Dijon mustard and lemon wedges. 

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  • Creamy Chicken Florentine

    Creamy chicken Florentine in skillet.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Treat the ones you love with this jaw-dropping chicken dinner. Chicken cutlets are first browned in a skillet and then served with a creamy mushroom and spinach sauce. Make sure to use heavy cream for this recipe so that it doesn’t curdle.

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    Continue to 9 of 26 below.

  • Greek Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce

    Greek Chicken Skewers with Flatbread and Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)
    Sally Vargas

    Cutting chicken breast into bite-sized pieces is a surefire way to speed up dinner. Using a grill pan instead of a grill lets you skip the skewers but don’t skip the yogurt sauce or warm flatbread for serving.

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  • Lemon Chicken with Pasta, Olives, and Herbs

    Yogurt marinated lemon chicken with pasta, olives and herbs on a rimmed plate. A fork and knife rest on the right edge of the slate plate. A grey linen is folded to the left of the plate an a tumbler of white wine is above the plate to the left.
    Sally Vargas | Banner Art Credit: Elena Resko

    This dish has it all: tangy lemon and olives, creamy pasta, and punchy herbs. Marinating the chicken in yogurt keeps it juicy and adds a slight tang. This recipe serves two but can easily be doubled to feed four.

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  • Cobb Salad

    Cobb Salad
    Sally Vargas

    Cobb salads are wonderful for making ahead because all the pieces can be prepared and refrigerated beforehand. The chicken in this recipe is poached, but you could easily bake or grill it instead.

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  • Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

    A plate with pickles, chips and shredded bbq chicken sandwich with pickle slaw and topped with bbq sauce. A second plate with two sandwiches and sarrano mayo are behind the plate.
    Nick Evans

    Banish dry chicken breasts for good by basting BBQ sauce. Butterflying the chicken breasts give more surface area for the sauce and help them cook more quickly and evenly. Serve with extra sauce and potato chips.

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    Continue to 13 of 26 below.

  • Chicken Piccata

    Chicken Piccata

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

    Don’t be intimidated by the name. Chicken piccata is very doable even on a weeknight. Brown chicken cutlets in a skillet and then use the pan juices to create a butter sauce that's brightened with lemon juice and capers. For an easy variation, try Chicken Piccata Pasta.

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  • Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets

    Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets in a stainless steel skillet
    Coco Morante

    Raid the pantry for this quick and simple chicken dinner. Choose a skillet, such as stainless steel or cast iron, that can be used under the broiler so that you can melt the cheese on top of the chicken all in one pan. 

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  • Chicken Carbonara

    Chicken carbonara

    Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes

    This rich and creamy carbonara has no heavy cream. Instead, you make a sauce with eggs and parmesan. It’s important to move quickly while making this recipe, so have all your ingredients ready before starting.

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  • Easy Chicken Caprese

    Chicken caprese on a black plate.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Skillet chicken cooked with mozzarella balls and fresh cherry tomatoes is the late summer meal we all crave. Add fresh basil and serve with crusty bread to soak up the sauce.

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    Continue to 17 of 26 below.

  • Chicken Kiev

    How to make chicken Kiev.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    This buttery, crunchy chicken dish is named after Ukraine’s capital Kiev. In this version strays from the traditional method and the herbed butter is placed in a slit in the chicken breast before being breaded and fried. 

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  • Chicken Breasts With Mustard Cream Sauce

    Chicken Breasts with Mustard Cream Sauce
    Sally Vargas

    It’s rare finding a recipe that’s quick enough for a weeknight, yet also wows guests. Flouring the chicken breasts increases the browning and adds to its charm. Serve with a green salad.

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  • Skillet Chicken and Rice

    Skillet chicken and rice with peas
    Nick Evans

    Chicken and rice is the dish I want when I’m longing for comfort food: tender chicken nestled in a pot of rice and peas. You can cut the chicken into chunks to make the meal spoonable.

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  • Easy Chicken Fajitas

    Chicken Fajitas Recipe
    Elise Bauer

    Chicken fajitas are my go-to when we eat out Mexican food. This recipe is so easy that I might as well make it at home. This recipe makes enough for 4 people and is ready in about an hour.

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    Continue to 21 of 26 below.

  • Grilled Chicken with Yogurt Garlic Marinade

    Grilled Chicken with Yogurt Garlic Marinade
    Elise Bauer

    We’ve all had dry chicken and one way to combat dryness is to marinade it in yogurt. This  marinade includes garlic and spices, which keeps the chicken tender and adds flavor. Serve with couscous.

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  • Chicken With Creamy Mushroom Sage Sauce

    Chicken with Mushroom Sage Sauce
    Sally Vargas

    Mushroom lovers rejoice! To make the sauce, mushrooms are cooked in butter and then heavy cream and sage is added to finish it. Turn this into a one skillet meal by cooking the chicken cutlets first, transferring them to a plate and then making the sauce as directed.

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  • Teriyaki Chicken Breasts

    Teriyaki Chicken Breasts on a blue platter.
    Elise Bauer

    Slightly sticky and sweet, teriyaki chicken uses only 7 ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes. The chicken is simmered in the homemade teriyaki sauce, which is then boiled down and poured over top the chicken. Serve with rice to sop up the extra sauce.

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  • Chicken, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes with Port Wine

    Chicken, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes with Port Wine
    Sally Vargas

    With only eight ingredients and one pan, you’ll have a dreamy chicken dinner. The sauce uses cremini mushrooms, plum tomatoes, and port wine. It is all simmered together until the chicken is cooked through and the flavors meld. You can substitute chicken broth for an alcohol-free version.

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    Continue to 25 of 26 below.

  • Classic Chicken Salad

    Chicken Salad with celery and bell pepper
    Elise Bauer

    Chicken salad is a classic for a reason: it’s easy and delicious! Using poached chicken breasts keeps the oven off during hot summer days and the chicken tender. Serve over lettuce or on toast.

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  • Juicy Grilled Chicken Breasts

    Grilled chicken breast on resting on each other on a cutting board.
    Eliezer Martinez

    Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can go from perfectly cooked to as flavorless and dry as sawdust in mere moments. The solution is...a solution! A 30-minute dip in a salt water brine delivers grilled chicken breasts that are succulent and tender.

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