32 Big-Batch Chicken Dinners That Serve a Crowd
Your entire family is coming over for dinner this weekend. All of them. Cue the panic, followed by stress and finally, defeat (which usually means ordering takeout). Don’t place a massive order for pizza just yet. With these 32 big-batch chicken recipes, you can whip up something to satisfy the whole crowd in just about an hour (and still have leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch).
RELATED: 17 Big-Batch Dinners for Clean Eating
Ina Garten’s Updated Chicken Marbella (Serves 6)
Let’s start with a new twist on a classic from Queen Ina. She revisited the ’80s recipe, tweaked the flavors a little, and somehow made it better than ever.
Bruschetta Chicken (Serves 6)
Thanks to juicy tomato chunks and a sprinkling of Parmesan, this dinner only tastes indulgent. In reality, it’s low-cal, low-carb and packed with protein.
The Ultimate Chicken Potpie (Serves 6)
Bake the rich filling and flaky crust in a cast-iron skillet (presentation matters, people), and the resulting dish is sure to warm you right up.
Crispy Baked Chicken Burritos (Serves 8 to 10)
You can freeze these burritos for up to a month. So, consider making a double batch in preparation for your next shindig.
Red Curry Sheet-Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Kale (Serves 8)
You can use any root veggie here, but we’re partial to the way the sweet potatoes caramelize in the oven. (Thanks, Phoebe Lapine.)
Low-Carb Chicken Divan (Serves 8)
What exactly is a divan? Turns out, it’s just a fancy term for creamy chicken casserole with broccoli.
Asian Chicken Meatball Soup (Serves 10)
Make a ton and freeze it for a rainy day (then invite over nine of your closest friends for a cozy treat).
Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs (Serves 6)
If you typically stick to boneless, skinless chicken breasts, it’s time to expand your horizons. Chicken thighs are way more flavorful and just as easy to cook.
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito Bowl (Serves 6)
Eat your heart out, Chipotle. Customize your burrito bowl with any toppings you’d like—we’re partial to salsa, sour cream, cheese and lime wedges. (At home, guac is never extra.)
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Ranch (Serves 10)
This protein-packed dinner is decadent comfort food at its finest. And did we mention it’s Whole30- and Paleo-friendly?
Queso Skillet Chicken (Serves 6)
Serve alongside a green salad…or better yet, plop the skillet down on the dining room table with a giant bag of tortilla chips.
RELATED: 13 Cheesy Chicken Recipes That Make Dinner a Breeze
Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein Noodles (Serves 6)
Wait, 20 minutes of prep and only 15 minutes of cook time? We’re adding this dish to our weeknight rotation, pronto.
Everything Bagel Chicken with Scallion Cream Cheese Sauce (Serves 8)
Grab a jar of “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning at Trader Joe’s, a package of cream cheese and a few pantry staples. That’s all you need to make this keto-friendly chicken dinner.
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Dill Greek Yogurt Sauce (Serves 8)
Pair with a huge Greek salad and warm pita bread, and dinner for eight is ready in about half an hour.
Chicken, Chorizo and Prawn Jambalaya (Serves 6)
Feed a crowd for dinner…or yourself, for an entire week. The choice is yours. (And did we mention it freezes fabulously in individual portions?)
One-Pot Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken (Serves 6)
Pop the whole bird on a sheet pan (or in a Dutch oven), cover it with oranges, honey, garlic, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, bake it in the oven and enjoy.
Easy White Wine Coq au Vin (Serves 6)
Eat your heart out, Julia Child. Our version is ready in under an hour and totally foolproof. Plus, it’s made with dry white wine instead of red, for an elegant twist.
Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch Slaw (Serves 6)
Remember, Taco Tuesday is just a state of mind. We give you full permission to eat these tasty little guys every night of the week.
Rotisserie Chicken Ramen (Serves 6)
Our recipe for rotisserie chicken ramen doesn't call for fancy ingredients (cue the precooked, store-bought chicken). It's also flavorful, filling and best of all, super-simple to make.
Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots (Serves 8)
Hosting a holiday meal at your place? This Middle Eastern-inspired beauty by Jake Cohen will be the ultimate showstopper.
The Best Chicken Tortilla Soup (Serves 10)
In less than an hour, you could be slurping this deliciously spicy soup (preferably topped with sour cream, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo and tons of cheese).
Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Serves 6)
When it comes to pasta, there is a definitive hierarchy, starting with the noble gnocchi. Which leads us to wonder why we’ve been wasting our time on any other pasta or noodle in soup.
RELATED: 23 Easy Gnocchi Recipes You Can Make at Home
Chicken and Bacon Mac and Cheese (Serves 6)
Come for the bacon, stay for the gooey mozzarella cheese, bacon and panko breadcrumbs.
Easy Instant Pot Honey Chicken (Serves 6)
If you haven’t invested in an Instant Pot, the time is now. Toss in some chicken, butter, honey, lemon pepper and curry, and dinner will be on the table in 20 minutes.
Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet (Serves 6)
The ultimate trifecta: It’s easy, gorgeous and so damn delicious. Save it for those nights when you’re entertaining a crowd and need to casually dish up something sensational.
Whole Coconut Curry Chicken (Serves 6)
The secret to the juiciest, most flavorful bird you’ve ever eaten in your damn life? Brown it in the oven, then simmer it on the stovetop in coconut milk for 40 minutes.
Green Chicken Enchiladas (Serves 6)
It’s a weeknight, and usually, recipes that take longer than an hour are off the table. But give this one a second chance, because prep time takes only 20 minutes, so you can spend the rest of the evening multitasking while these beauties bake in the oven.
Coconut Curry Chicken Noodle Soup (Serves 6)
Runny noses are no match for this Thai-inspired soup, featuring red curry paste, ginger and red pepper flakes.
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom One-Pan Casserole (Serves 10)
You’ve got nine people coming over in less than an hour. Ta-da, dinner is covered. (Now you just have to figure out what to wear.)
Chicken Alfredo with Spaghetti Squash (Serves 6)
This dinner has three secrets: It’s dairy-free, Paleo and Whole30-friendly.
Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet (Serves 6)
If it were up to us, we’d top everything with mozzarella. So naturally, this baked caprese chicken skillet with spaghetti is one of our favorite dinners on earth.
Slow-Cooker Pulled Chicken (Serves 6)
Pulled chicken is surprisingly versatile. Once you get the basics down, you can serve it however you'd like, be it as a main dish with some hearty sides or as a simple sandwich.
