50 Easy Christmas Chicken Recipes That Are Perfect for the Holidays
Things you love: sweater weather and family dinners. Things you hate: washing dishes and standing over a hot stove for hours—especially on Christmas. We feel you. So, here are 50 chicken recipes to whip up for the holidays (and all winter long) that are mind-blowingly easy to pull off and way speedier than roasting a whole turkey. That way, you can focus on what matters: presents.
The 75 Best Christmas Party Appetizers
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Balsamic Cranberry Roast Chicken
It tastes as glorious as it looks. Even better, it cooks to crispy perfection in a single skillet.
Erin McDowell
2. Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken
Minimal effort, maximum flavor. Can you believe this stunner is only seven ingredients away? (And that's *including* salt and pepper.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
3. Chicken Pot Pie
Baked in a skillet for crispy brown edges, of course. Store-bought frozen puff pastry makes it a breeze to assemble.
Erin McDowell
4. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
A crowd-pleasing appetizer if we’ve ever seen one. Serve them with blue cheese dressing, celery, carrots and lots of toothpicks.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
5. Garlic-Breaded Roast Chicken Breast
Warning: This one will go fast, even at the picky kids' table. It's prime for casual holiday dinner with a few friends or relatives.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
6. Spicy Yogurt Marinated Chicken Legs
Their juiciness is a Christmas miracle all its own. The acidic Greek yogurt marinade helps tenderize the chicken pieces.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. Cheater’s White Wine Coq au Vin
Who invited Julia Child to dinner? (OK, it was us.) This French classic is ridiculously impressive, and our version is ready in less than an hour.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
8. Slow Cooker Chicken Piccata
Crockpot season is a big-time blessing for busy hosts. This crowd-pleaser basically prepares itself, people.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
9. Parmesan-Ranch Chicken Thighs
So crispy, yet no messy frying required. You probably have nearly all the ingredients you need already in your kitchen, too.
Half Baked Harvest
10. Cider-Roasted Chicken with Walnut Goat Cheese and Grapes
This stunner doubles as a gorgeous centerpiece. Serve it once and crown yourself the hostess with the mostest—your guests sure will.
Spoon Fork Bacon
11. Chicken Potpie Hand Pies
Pastries at cocktail hour? Don’t mind if we do. Shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken for the filling to speed things along.
AUBRIE PICK/CRAVINGS: HUNGRY FOR MORE
12. Chrissy Teigen's Cheesy Chicken Milanese
Pan-fried chicken stuffed with gooey cheese is our idea of festive. Feel free to fall-ify the arugula salad with sweet potatoes, squash or candied nuts.
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
13. Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet
Easy, gorgeous and delicious are our three favorite food groups. You won't need to boil the rice separately either; it cooks right in the skillet with the chicken.
Half Baked Harvest
14. Sheet Pan Sticky Pomegranate Chicken
Complete with honey-roasted kabocha squash and coconut rice, this main couldn't be more wintry if it tried.
Cook Beautiful
15. Pan-Roasted Chicken with Shallots and Dates
Oh hi, caramelized Medjool dates and briny olives. This dish is equal parts savory, briny and sweet.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
16. Roasted Drumsticks with Tomatoes
All you need are seven ingredients, one casserole dish and one hour. While the drumsticks cook, prepare your sides on the stovetop.
A New Way to Food
17. Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken
Your guests won't ever see this Insta-worthy wonder coming (and they'll have no idea that it only required four ingredients).
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
18. Chicken Satay with Coconut-Peanut Sauce
Fact: Appetizers just taste better on a stick. Make the zingy, creamy dip ahead to save time on the big day.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
19. One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Carrots
If you’re only serving four this year, look no further than this mess-free meal. (Dirty dishes kind of kill the post-dinner mood, no?)
Laura Edwards/From the Oven to the Table
20. Chicken with Feta Cheese, Dill, Lemon and Harissa Yogurt
Skip the tricky bird carving in favor of these skin-on chicken thighs. They're basically impossible to overcook.
Meseidy Rivera/Weeknight Gourmet Dinners
21. Crispy Za’atar Chicken and Cauliflower
The perfect pairing for roasted sweet potatoes, if we do say so ourselves. The star ingredient is za'atar, a savory, aromatic Middle Eastern spice blend.
My Forking Life
22. Air Fryer Peruvian-Style Chicken
No rotisserie required—you're welcome. Nearly all the ingredients are pantry staples you likely have on hand right now.
Lauren Volo/Cauliflower Power
23. One-Pan Lemon Sage Chicken and Cauliflower
Because dirty dishes are not on your holiday wishlist. Serve with dinner rolls or biscuits so not a drop of the creamy lemon sauce goes to waste.
Quentin Bacon/Cook like a Pro
24. Ina Garten’s Updated Chicken Marbella
In the Barefoot Contessa we trust. (The recipe calls for one-and-a-half heads of garlic, so you know it's delicious.)
Skinnytaste One and Done
25. Dijon Maple Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
Bury us in the savory-sweet glaze, please. It helps the veggies and chicken caramelize just right. Serve with rice or risotto.
The Minimalist Kitchen
26. Family-Style Chicken Caesar Salad
The dressing uses olives and Worcestershire sauce, two vegetarian alternatives that offer just as much punchy flavor as traditional anchovies.
Grandbaby Cakes
27. Slow Cooker Rosemary Chicken
Just set it and forget it on Christmas Eve, then let it cook overnight. Set out some cookies for Santa so he's not tempted to investigate the herby aroma.
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jake Cohen
28. Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots
Save your carrot greens for garnishing. They look luxurious and pretty next to sliced rainbow radishes.
Christopher Hirsheimer/Canal House Cook Something
29. Chicken Thighs with Pancetta and Green Olives
Low and slow = crackly, crispy skin. This one-pan delight also only requires six ingredients, believe it or not.
Grandbaby Cakes
30. Southern Baked Chicken
Talk about a soul food essential. The recipe calls for using chicken wings, but you could substitute legs or thighs if you'd prefer.
Colin Price/Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook
31. Honey Mustard Sheet-Pan Chicken with Brussels Sprouts
The sprouts soak up allllll the pan juices, resulting in the most autumnal, drool-worthy veggie side of all time. Thank us later.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga
32. Spicy Lemon-Ginger Chicken Soup
This starter is bound to warm your bones. The broth is already flavorful, but adding turmeric root will offer both vibrant color and anti-inflammatory perks.
Paul Brissman/Antoni in the Kitchen
33. Antoni Porowski’s Chile-Maple Roast Chicken
Be sure to use pure maple syrup instead of pancake syrup here. It's the only sweet element in the butter rub (and arguably the most important).
Damn Delicious
34. One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Fall Vegetables
Thyme, rosemary and oregano, oh my! Bring on the red potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots and butternut squash.
Ellen Silverman/Everyday Dorie
35. Sheet-Pan Balsamic Chicken with Baby Potatoes and Mushrooms
If you have a crowd coming (or if you want leftovers), simply double the recipe and use two pans. Thanks, Dorie Greenspan.
Helen Cathcart/Tuscany
36. One-Pan Creamy Chicken Fricassee with Sage
Nonna will be so proud, even if you skip the whole cauldron-over-a-fire thing that they did in the old days. (This take cooks in a single skillet instead.)
Skinnytaste One and Done
37. Honey-Mustard Chicken Bake
Pro tip: Reserve half the honey-mustard sauce and drizzle it over the chicken and veggies just before broiling to caramelize the top.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
38. Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Between the tender rice, juicy chicken, creamy broth and toasty ciabatta, this app just might outshine the main course. Pass the Parm, please.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
39. Bruschetta Chicken
Come on, it’s already sporting a Christmas color scheme. Serve it with pasta, Caesar salad or garlic bread.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
40. Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Potatoes
Winner, winner, magazine-caliber chicken dinner. Your Crockpot really can do anything.
Uyen Luu/Vietnamese
41. Baked Ginger and Lemon Chicken
This citrusy, honey-kissed gem is only one hour away. Whether you use thighs, drums, wings or even pork ribs, plate them with salad, pasta or rice.
Ola Smit/Dinner's in the Bag
42. Greek Chicken with Feta and Kalamata Olives
Bye-bye, tedious cleanup. We'll pick crumbled feta cheese over dirty dishes any day. Might we suggest making a big Greek salad to serve alongside?
Donna Griffith/The Primal Gourmet Cookbook
43. Piri Piri Chicken
The key to this Portuguese main is spatchcocking the chicken to reduce the cooking time and maximize the crispness of the skin.
Aubrie Pick/Kitchen Remix
44. Potato Chip-Crusted Chicken with Arugula Pesto
An easy, kid-friendly meal for a casual Christmas. If you want to play it extra chill, serve the chicken on sub rolls with extra pesto, arugula and lemon juice.
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
45. Skillet Roast Chicken with Shmaltzy Potatoes
A buttermilk marinade ensures luscious, tender meat and a shatteringly crisp exterior. Just be sure to leave yourself plenty of time for brining the chicken.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
46. Baked Chicken and Mushroom Risotto
Risotto is delicious, but the O.G. method of making it can be a time suck. This version is almost totally hands-off, since it cooks in the oven.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
47. Mini Mason Jar Chicken Potpies
Are these not the cutest little casseroles you ever did see? We have a feeling the kids will gobble them up in ten seconds flat.
Katherine Gillen
48. Easy, Lazy Chicken Soup with Beans and Greens
Don't let the homemade stock intimidate you. It's pared down for the sake of simplicity, so it won't be as fussy to prepare as you think.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
49. Chicken Parmesan Bites
We're betting that if this was the sole dish you served on Christmas, not one guest would complain. Such is the power of warm marinara and crisp, cheesy chicken.
Kate Sears/The Modern Table
50. Garlic-Confit Chicken with Lemon and Thyme
It doesn't take much to create this soul-soothing entree. Twenty garlic cloves + five thyme sprigs + 1 lemon = pure holiday magic.
