If there is one thing that is true about America, it is that Americans adore chicken. Then why not? Lean chicken breast is one of the simplest proteins to prepare, and it is a blank slate that can be adorned with an abundance of herbs, spices, and sauces. Even when properly prepared, chicken thighs are relatively low in fat and have a place in a balanced diet.
Even while fast-food chicken sandwiches and takeout have a place as an occasional evening option, it’s better for your sanity and your health to have some simple, nutritious chicken dishes on hand. To make it easier to navigate the vast number of internet recipes, we’ve compiled our most popular chicken dishes, as picked by our readers.
1. Chicken Pot Pie
This chicken pot pie has a quarter of the fat and calories of the traditional version of this comfort dish. No doubt it was our website’s most popular chicken recipe in 2021. Here are The Best Recipes of 2021, According to Our Readers, for your perusal.
2. Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
In the United States, we like slow cookers, and what better way to put them to use than to prepare this hearty soup? Even though chicken noodle soup does not cure a sickness, it makes it considerably more bearable.
3. Easy Chicken Piccata
When chicken is simply sautéed and served with a little lemon-butter sauce and a sprinkling of capers, it sings. Try this meal, it is a classic for a reason!
4. Chicken Noodle Soup
Not possessing a slow cooker? No worries! This chicken noodle soup is prepared in the traditional manner, on the stove.
5. Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken
In this famous dish, the additional steps of marinating the chicken in buttermilk with a dash of spicy sauce and flavoring the breadcrumbs with a bit of oil and herbs and spices make all the difference.
6. Rotisserie Chicken Parm Casserole
This simple recipe transforms the basic tastes of chicken Parmesan into a soul-warming, all-in-one dinner. It is excellent for any weeknight since it is cooked using chicken from a rotisserie.
7. mHealthier Orange Chicken
If you’re in the mood for takeaway, give this meal bursting with orange flavor a try. You’ll feel lot better without all of the salt rushing through your veins, and you won’t miss the sticky, gooey sauce.
8. Healthy Crispy Chicken
The secret to this easy oven-fried chicken is well-seasoned breadcrumbs. Be careful to roast your chicken on a rack placed inside the pan for the crispiest results.
9. Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
In less than twenty minutes, the Instant Pot fills plain skinless chicken thighs with lemony flavor. Honestly, this is one of the greatest kitchen gadgets to add. If you love your slow cooker, it’s time to upgrade to the Instant Pot.
10. Loaded Alfredo Pasta With Chicken and Vegetables
This healthier version of Alfredo sauce has no milk, but with a foundation of velvety bechamel sauce, you won’t miss it. The abundance of crisp vegetables and delicate chicken make this a nutritious and full supper that tastes just as indulgent as restaurant calorie bombs.
11. Creamy Mushroom Chicken
The secret to healthy cooking is understanding that a little amount of extravagance goes a long way. Combining a quarter cup of actual half-and-half with Greek yogurt provides this recipe the desired smoothness without the fat and calories. Garlic, shallot, and sherry provide rich flavor to the mushrooms.
12. Chicken and Dumplings
Do you detect a trend of comfort food in these recipes? In 2021, comfort cuisine staples such as this comforting chicken and dumplings meal struck a chord. All of our dishes are naturally nutritious, so you can feel good about your selections.
13. The Simplest Chicken Greek Salad
Greek salads are often loaded with fresh, nutritious vegetables, and this salad is no exception. This satiating lunch or supper has shredded chicken, tangy feta cheese, and chickpeas for protein and fiber, respectively.
14. Healthier Takeout-Level Chicken Fried Rice
With its little amount of vegetables and meager amount of protein, takeout fried rice is rarely satisfying. In this dish, leftover rice is transformed into a whole new nutritious supper by adding an abundance of vegetables and lean protein. You will never again be pleased with the contents of the container!
15. Margarita Chicken
Our 20-minute version of margarita chicken has all the same bells and whistles (Cheese! Salsa! Sizzle!) as the restaurant version, but without the extra calories and money.
16. Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
This pot of chili is loaded with lean chicken, corn, white beans, and chiles, and will feed the whole family for an entire week. When you are ready to eat, sprinkle it with your preferred toppings and dive in.
17. Oven-Baked Chicken Fingers With Chipotle-Honey Mustard Recipe
Enjoy chicken tenders? In a year, you will lose 25 pounds (and 210,080 mg of salt) while still enjoying your favorite childhood cuisine if you convert to this oven-fried version once per week.