If there is any truth to the United States, it is this: We love chicken. And why not? Lean chicken breasts are one of the easiest proteins to cook, and it’s a blank slab that can be flavored with herbs, spices, and sauces galore. Chicken legs are also relatively low in fat when properly treated and have their place in a healthy diet.
While fast-food chicken sandwiches and take-away play their role as the casual weekday fix, your sanity – and your health – well worth having some simple, healthy chicken recipes on hand. So that you can easily comb through the multitude of recipes on the Internet, we have put together our most popular chicken recipes of our readers’ choice.
If you’re shopping for a fried chicken for one of these quick meals, don’t miss out on We Tried 6 Store-Buought Rotisserie Chickens & This Is the Best
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
This Chicken Pot Pie delivers all of the flavors you’d expect from this popular comfort food with a fraction of fat and calories. No wonder it was the most popular chicken recipe on our website in 2021. If you’re curious, here are the best recipes of 2021, according to our readers.
Get our Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
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Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
We love our slow cookers in the US and what better way to use them than making this warming soup. Chicken noodle soup can’t cure a disease, but it makes it much easier to endure.
Get our chicken noodle soup recipe.
RELATED: 50 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes You Shouldn’t Live Without
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Chicken sings when it’s lightly seared and then refined with a light lemon butter sauce and a pinch of sour capers. This dish is a classic for a reason, give it a try!
Get our recipe for Easy Chicken Piccata.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Don’t have a slow cooker? Do not worry! This chicken noodle soup is prepared in the classic way: happily bubbling on your stove.
Get our chicken noodle soup recipe.
RELATED: 45+ Best Soups and Chilies to Prepare with Costco Rotisserie Chicken
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Marinating the chicken in buttermilk with a dash of hot sauce and seasoning the breadcrumbs with a touch of oil and herbs and spices make all the difference in this popular recipe.
Get our recipe for crispy baked chicken.
Gail Watson Photography
The classic flavors of chicken parm become a soul-warming all-in-one dish with this simple recipe. Bonus: It’s made with meat from a roast chicken, making it perfect for any night of the week.
Get our recipe for Rotisserie Chicken Parm Casserole.
RELATED: 45+ Best Homely Casserole Recipes for Weight Loss
Brie pass
If you’re in the mood for take-away, try this dish with lots of fresh orange flavor. You won’t miss the gooey, sticky sauce and you will feel a lot better without all of the sodium running through your veins.
Get our recipe for healthier orange chicken.
RELATED: 45+ Best Healthy Copycat Restaurant Recipes To Try Tonight
Jason Donnelly
Well-flavored breadcrumbs are key to this simple, oven-fried chicken. Make sure to cook your chicken on a rack in your pan for the best crispy results.
Get our recipe for healthy crispy chicken.
Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
The Instant Pot soaks simple skinless chicken legs with lemony goodness in less than 20 minutes. Honestly, this is one of the best gadgets you can add to your kitchen. If you love your slow cooker, it’s time for the Instant Pot.
Get our recipe for Instant Pot Lemon Chicken.
RELATED: The Most Popular Kitchen Gadget in Every State
Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
Our readers can’t get enough of chicken soup, which is prepared in record time in the Instant Pot with healthy wild rice.
Get our recipe for Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup.
RELATED: 21 Cozy Instant Pot Recipes Perfect for Weight Loss This Fall
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
You won’t find a hint of cream in this healthier version of alfredo sauce, but you won’t miss it with a creamy bechamel sauce base. A ton of crispy veggies and tender chicken make this a healthy and filling meal that tastes just as decadent as the calorie bombs you get at restaurants.
Get our recipe for Loaded Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Vegetables.
RELATED: The Most Unhealthy Pasta Dishes in America
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
The key to healthy cooking is knowing that a little bit of decadence goes a long way. A 1/4 cup of real half and half combined with Greek yogurt gives this dish the creaminess you want without all the fat and calories. Garlic, shallots and sherry give the mushrooms an intense aroma.
Get our recipe for Creamy Mushroom Chicken.
Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
Use your slow cooker to get all of the tangy enchiladas flavors you crave without all of the work. You can customize the seasonings in this dish to your liking.
Get our Recipe for Crock-Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
RELATED: The Best Healthy Breakfast Enchiladas Recipes
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Do you sense a Comfort Food theme in these recipes? Home cooking classics like this warming dish made from chicken and dumplings enjoyed great success throughout 2021. All of our recipes naturally have a healthy note so that you can feel comfortable with your selection.
Get our Chicken and Dumpling Recipe.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Greek salads are usually filled with crunchy, healthy vegetables, and this one is no different. Sliced chicken and flavorful feta cheese add a dash of protein, and chickpeas add fiber to make this a filling meal for lunch or dinner.
Get our Chicken Greek Salad Recipe.
RELATED: 19 Best Healthy Chicken Salad Recipes For Weight Loss
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Fried rice to take away is hardly filling with its small pieces of vegetables and the unfortunately scattered protein. In this recipe, we turn scraps of rice into a whole new healthy meal by packing in tons of veggies and lean protein. You will never be satisfied with the stuff in the container again!
Get our Recipe for Healthier Take-away Chicken Fried Rice.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Our version of Margarita Chicken, a meal you can have on the table in 20 minutes, has the same bells and whistles (cheese! Salsa! Sizzle!) Minus all the extra calories and dollars spent on dining in a restaurant.
Get our Margarita Chicken recipes.
Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
Packed with lean chicken, corn, white beans and chilies, this warming chilli pot will keep the whole family full all week long. When ready to eat, sprinkle your favorite toppings on top and dig in.
Get our recipe for Instant Pot White Chicken Chili.
RELATED: 20 Best Healthy Chili Recipes for Weight Loss
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Do you love Chicken Fingers? Switch to this oven-fried version once a week and you’ll lose 25 pounds (and 210,080 milligrams of sodium) in a year while still enjoying your favorite childhood food.
Get our Oven Baked Chicken Fingers Recipe.
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