26 Easy Chicken Breast Recipes You'll Make on Repeat

Time to shake up your rotation? We have ideas.

<p>Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas</p>

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

<p>Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts

Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich

<p>Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

<p>Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Taquitos de Pollo (Chicken Taquitos)

<p>Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Taquitos de Pollo (Chicken Taquitos)

Chicken Caesar Wrap

<p>Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Chicken Caesar Wrap

Grilled Honey-Balsamic Chicken with Vegetables

<p>Simply Recipes / Mike Lang</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Grilled Honey-Balsamic Chicken with Vegetables

Chicken Schnitzel

<p>Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Chicken Schnitzel

Creamy Chicken Florentine

<p>Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Creamy Chicken Florentine

Greek Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce

Sally Vargas
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.

Get Recipe: Greek Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)

Lemon Chicken with Pasta, Olives, and Herbs

Sally Vargas | Banner Art Credit: Elena Resko
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.

Get Recipe: Lemon Chicken with Pasta, Olives, and Herbs

Cobb Salad

Sally Vargas
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.

Get Recipe: Cobb Salad

Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Nick Evans
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.

Get Recipe: Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Chicken Piccata

<p>Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Chicken Piccata

Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets

Coco Morante
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.

Get Recipe: Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets

Chicken Carbonara

<p>Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Chicken Carbonara

Easy Chicken Caprese

<p>Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Easy Chicken Caprese

Chicken Kiev

<p>Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel</p>

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.

Get Recipe: Chicken Kiev

Chicken Breasts With Mustard Cream Sauce

Sally Vargas
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.

Get Recipe: Chicken Breasts With Mustard Cream Sauce

Skillet Chicken and Rice

Nick Evans
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.

Get Recipe: Skillet Chicken and Rice

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Elise Bauer
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.

Get Recipe: Easy Chicken Fajitas

Grilled Chicken with Yogurt Garlic Marinade

Elise Bauer
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.

Get Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Yogurt Garlic Marinade

Chicken With Creamy Mushroom Sage Sauce

Sally Vargas
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.

Get Recipe: Chicken With Creamy Mushroom Sage Sauce

Teriyaki Chicken Breasts

Elise Bauer
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.

Get Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Breasts

Chicken, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes with Port Wine

Sally Vargas
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.

Get Recipe: Chicken, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes with Port Wine

Classic Chicken Salad

Elise Bauer
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.

Get Recipe: Classic Chicken Salad

Juicy Grilled Chicken Breasts

Eliezer Martinez
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.

Get Recipe: How To Grill Juicy Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts