17 Roasted Hen Recipes Excellent for Weeknight Dinners — Eat This Not That

There’s really nothing quite like roasting a whole chicken with hearty veggies on a cool weekday. Between the delicious spices, crispy chicken skin and juicy vegetables, it really is one of the most magical, soothing and cozy meals ever. Because of this, when the weather turns cooler, we like to have a few fried chicken recipes in our arsenal to use on busy weekend evenings when we need to throw something light in the oven for dinner.

What is the difference between baked and roasted chicken?

We’re glad you asked. While we have numerous baked chicken recipes that you can use for midweek meals, some experts say that fried chicken is a little different because of the temperature at which it cooks. Baked chicken is usually oven cooked below 375 degrees Fareinheight, while fried chicken recipes cook at around 400 and above. Other cooking experts would argue this, saying that roasting is defined by the type of food you cook in the oven (meat, vegetables, potatoes), while baking is for treats like bread, desserts, or anything else that needs a finish of a kind.

For our summary, We made a list of fried chicken recipes that cook at 400 degrees or more. Some of these recipes work with a whole chicken – perfect for a family – while others work with smaller amounts of chicken, such as just boiling the breasts or legs.

Here are our favorite fried chicken recipes to cook at home for cozy nights. Then be sure to check out our list of the 100 Easiest Recipes You Can Make for more recipe inspiration and subscribe to our newsletter for daily meal inspiration!

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Roast a whole chicken to enjoy with your family or just do it early in the week and use the chicken all week long with our 20+ easy healthy recipes starting with a rotisserie chicken.

Get our recipe for herb chicken with root vegetables.

Courtesy Kristine Kidd

For a simple, autumn-flavored meal during the week, this roast chicken cooks different parts instead of a whole bird along with other hearty vegetables.

Get our recipe for fried chicken and vegetables with autumn spices.

Jason Donnelly

This crispy chicken is seasoned to perfection and one of those perfect fried chicken recipes to go with any side you want. Roasted Broccoli? Rosemary Potatoes? The world is your oyster.

Get our recipe for healthy crispy chicken breasts.

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

It’s our take on the classic Sunday roast – complete with hearty, good-for-you veggies and crispy chicken skin that you’ll want to cook every weekend of your life.

Get our Sunday Roast Chicken recipe.

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

A healthier twist on the usual restaurant favorite, this crispy chicken parm is served on a simple bed of cooked spinach with garlic.

Get our recipe for Chicken Parm with Spinach.

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Are you looking for clever fried chicken recipes that consume boneless and skinless chicken breasts? This Mediterranean-inspired chicken is easy to prepare and will be on your table in under 30 minutes.

Get our recipe for Mediterranean-inspired chicken with tomatoes and capers.

Waterbury Publications, Inc.

This flavorful variant of the roast chicken is served with a side dish of lemony cauliflower, which is perfectly roasted.

Get our recipe for Tandoori Chicken Legs with Basil Roasted Cauliflower and Pecans.

Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!

Who doesn’t love a simple pan dish? This five ingredient barbecue chicken dinner barely takes time to toss and cooks in your oven in no time at all.

Get our Recipe for 5-Ingredient Barbecue Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner.

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This cordon blue recipe is filled with goodness, bathed in breadcrumbs, and oven-fried for just under 20 minutes for the perfect elegant weekday meal.

Get our recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu with Honey Mustard.

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Fancy tacos but no tortillas? This margarita chicken recipe will consume your salsa, cheese, and can of black beans in your pantry that will instantly satisfy your taco cravings.

Get our Margarita Chicken recipe.

Waterbury Publications, Inc.

This smoky roast chicken goes perfectly with savory green beans (cooked with bacon!) And is even compatible with the keto diet.

Get our recipe for Smoky Bell Pepper Roast Chicken with Savory Green Beans.

Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!

Another easy pan meal! This chicken fajitas pan dinner makes Taco Tuesday an even easier weekday event.

Get our recipe for Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas.

Waterbury Publications, Inc.

This roast chicken recipe requires hardly any ingredients and lets you enjoy a healthy weekday meal in just under 30 minutes.

Get our Recipe for Chicken Pesto Recipe.

Posie Brien / Eat This, Not That!

In this delicious low-carb dinner option, skewered chicken is fried right on a baking sheet, seasoned to perfection, and served on a bed of seasoned celery rice.

Get our recipe for Chicken Kebabs with Celery Rice.

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

We may have cheated a little (it cooks at 350, not 400) but we couldn’t help but add one of our classic crispy chicken favorites. This crispy, juicy, light baked chicken recipe tastes particularly good with a side dish with our sweet potato fries!

Get our Fried Chicken Recipe.

Courtesy Kristine Kidd

Looking for a gluten-free breaded chicken recipe? Save that simple weekday meal for later!

Get our recipe for gluten-free chicken in the oven with baby spinach salad.

Waterbury Publications, Inc.

We admit this food is technically not a fried chicken. It actually cooks in the slow cooker! But between the hearty veggies and the deliciously juicy chicken, it has the same vibe you want when looking for cozy fried chicken recipes, so we had to add it.

Get our Maple Balsamic Chicken and Vegetable Recipe.