Good Healthy Chicken Meals Easy to Make

This is a collection of 32 delicious, healthy chicken recipes that are easy to make, perfect for sharing with family or friends. It includes one-pots such as stews, casseroles and soups as well as salads and appetizers.

Chicken and potato stew in bowl with vegetables and parsley.

When it comes to family dinners chicken is a staple ingredient for many of us. It's relatively cheap, easy to cook and can be prepared in lots of different ways. It tastes delicious whether grilled, baked or fried, can be added to casseroles, stews and curries and a number of other quick and convenient dishes.

It's also low in fat, which makes it a great source of protein as part of a healthy diet.

What's the healthiest way of cooking chicken

One of the healthiest ways of preparing chicken has got to be poaching as it involves using a minimal amount of fat. In the real world, however, especially if whipping up a quick family dinner, we are more likely to prepare chicken using different methods often involving more fat (i.e. oil, butter etc). Stir frying and grilling are probably the next healthiest options, followed by shallow frying with deep frying being the most calorific way of cooking chicken.

Another important factor to consider are the extra ingredients we use in chicken dishes. So even though chicken itself is a healthy option the rich and creamy sauce we serve it with may not be. But it doesn't have to be this way!

This recipe collection shows that it's possible to make creamy, comforting chicken meals that are delicious as well as healthy!

Chicken breasts vs chicken thighs: which is healthier

The nutritional content of chicken breasts and chicken thighs is not exactly the same. For example skinless chicken thighs (dark meat) contain 3 times more fat than skinless chicken breast (white meat). Chicken white meat contains a little less calories and more protein and is lower in iron than dark meat.

It's worth remembering, however, that chicken (both white and dark cuts) in general is a healthy sources of protein, perfect to include in everyday healthy cooking. So long as you don't use too much fat in your chicken dishes.

Healthy creamy chicken recipes

1. Healthy Creamy Spinach Chicken

This creamy spinach chicken is a quick, healthy and delicious meal idea the whole family will enjoy. It is made without any cream (not even the 'skinny' kind) and comes together in just over 20 minutes!

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 12 minutes, Total Time: 22 minutes

Creamy spinach chicken in large shallow pan with blue spoon.

2. Chicken Breast in White Sauce (Low Fat)

This chicken in white sauce is a simple and easy to make dinner recipe that comes together in under 30 minutes. Although comforting and deliciously creamy the sauce is low in fat and does not contain heavy cream.

Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 30 minutes

Top down view of 4 chicken breasts in white sauce with spoon in large white pan, with green cloth to the right and plates at the top.

3. Leftover Chicken Potato Bake (Healthy)

This aromatic, citrusy chicken potato bake is an easy way to turn your leftover chicken into a delicious family dinner. Preparation is simple and the dish only needs 15 minutes in the oven. It's creamy and comforting though not too calorific. Perfect served with carrots, beans or peas.

Prep Time: 30 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes

Side view of potato and chicken in creamy sauce in white bowl with yellow casserole dish and halved lemon in background.

4. Mini Chicken and Asparagus Pot Pies (Healthy)

These healthy, delicious mini chicken and asparagus pot pies are a fantastic way to turn your chicken leftovers into a family meal. These creamy chicken pot pies come with a light, crispy puff pastry top, are low in fat, simple and super easy to make.

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes

Close-up view of mini chicken pies with fork and green cloth to right on top of dark tray.

5. Chicken and Mushroom Casserole (Healthy)

This delicious chicken and mushroom casserole is a healthy, easy to make and versatile dinner idea the whole family will enjoy! Made using a handful of ingredients and ready in under 40 minutes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 35 minutes

Top down view of chicken and mushroom casserole in black oval dish with spoon.

Healthy chicken stews and casseroles

6. Chicken Potato Winter Stew

This chicken potato stew is a true winter warmer, hearty, rich, satisfying and delicious. It's easy to make, doesn't require hours of cooking so it's perfect as a weeknight family meal.

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes

Chicken potato stew with vegetables and herbs in pot.

7. Chicken and Butternut Squash Casserole

Chicken and butternut squash casserole with beans is a simple, frugal and healthy dinner idea, perfect to share with family or friends. Make a big batch and enjoy the next day too!

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Chicken butternut squash casserole in white pot with grey lid on green cloth with squash.

8. Sauerkraut Casserole with Chicken

This hearty, delicious sauerkraut casserole with chicken and potatoes is the perfect Oktoberfest dish, rainy day autumn dish, and a healthy one-pot comfort food dish that's ideal for sharing. It's super simple to make and requires very little effort.

Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes, Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Potatoes, carrots, chicken pieces and sauerkraut in large white pot with spoon and lid in top right.

9. Easy Apricot Chicken Tagine with Chickpeas

This delicious, aromatic, sweet and tangy apricot chicken tagine cooked in a rich tomato sauce with chickpeas requires surprisingly little effort and makes a fantastic weeknight family dinner.

Prep Time: 8 minutes, Cook Time: 50 minutes, Total Time: 58 minutes

Chicken with chickpeas in tomato sauce with almond flakes in shallow white dish.

10. Cauliflower Bulgur Wheat Casserole with Honey Chicken and Peaches

This cauliflower bulgur wheat casserole with honey chicken and peaches is healthy, delicious and can feed a crowd, which makes it an ideal family recipe. It combines different flavours and textures which work together fantastically well.

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes

Top down view of crispy chicken with peaches on a bed of cauliflower and bulgur inside black oval casserole dish, with spoon on top of green cloth to the right.

Healthy curried chicken recipes

11. Butternut Squash Coconut Chicken Curry with Lentils

This simple roasted butternut squash chicken curry with coconut and red lentils is a quick, healthy and delicious dinner idea. Ready in under an hour.

Prep Time: 10, Cook Time: 40 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes

Chicken squash curry in white bowl with spoon wrapped in cloth, with rice in small bowl in top right and halved squash in top left.

12. Healthy Curried Chicken Casserole with Rice

This healthy curried chicken rice casserole, which has elements of biryani and korma, is a delicious, low fat weeknight dinner idea the whole family will enjoy. It's low in fat and big on flavour!

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 25 minutes

Top down view of curried chicken rice in black oval cast iron dish on top of wooden board with wooden spoon in bottom right corner,

13. Chicken Mulligatawny Soup with Sweet Potato & Spinach

This chunky chicken mulligatawny soup with sweet potato and spinach is a real winter warmer. Hearty, nourishing and full of spice, it makes a delicious lunch or light meal. Made using easy chicken stock from scratch (recipe included).

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Chicken mulligatawny soup in purple bowl, black saucepan, with spoon and yogurt in blue bowl on oven tray.

Stuffed chicken recipes

14. Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Chicken

This spinach and cheese stuffed chicken recipe comes with a deliciously creamy filling and a crunchy topping of parmesan and breadcrumbs. This dish requires minimal preparation and is ready in just over 30 minutes!

Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 23 minutes, Total Time: 38 minutes

Side view of spinach and cheese stuffed chicken breast on top of plate with chicken in background.

15. Mushroom Stuffed Creamy Chicken Breast

This delicious, succulent mushroom stuffed chicken comes with a creamy sauce that's easy to make and low in fat. This recipe works well as a family meal as well as party food idea.

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes

Side view of 6 mushroom stuffed chicken breasts in creamy sauce.

16. Cauliflower Rice Crusted Chicken

This cauliflower crusted chicken is a quick and easy, delicious dish that's perfect for sharing. All you need is a blender and 10 minutes of your time!

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes

Top view of cauliflower rice chicken on white paper.

Healthy chicken soup recipes

17. Chicken and Potato Vegetable Soup

This delicious chunky chicken and potato soup is a true winter warmer. Hearty and filling, it is simple to make and brimming with nutritious ingredients.

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 55 minutes

Top down view of chunky chicken, potato and carrot soup with spoon in purple bowl wrapped in green cloth, with herbs in top right.

18. Polish Chicken Barley Soup (Krupnik)

Chicken barley soup ('krupnik') is a traditional Polish dish, satisfying and simple to make, perfect to enjoy during colder months. It is made using pearl barley, root vegetables and a small amount of porcini mushrooms.

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 50 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour

Chunky potato, carrot and barley soup in white bowl with spoon, green cloth to the right and dill at the top.

19. Polish Egg Drop Noodles Chicken Soup (Lane Kluski)

Polish egg drop chicken soup is made using homemade egg drop noodles and simple Polish chicken soup made from scratch. This is super easy to make, healthy and delicious comfort food, perfect to enjoy on a cold day.

Prep Time: 8 minutes, Cook Time: 1 hour, Total Time: 1 hour 8 minutes

Chicken egg drop noodle soup in white bowl with spoon and parsley to right and partial view of pot at the top.

20. Polish Chicken Noodle Soup (Rosol)

This nourishing Polish chicken soup (rosol) is a traditional recipe, the perfect healthy comfort food to enjoy on a cold day. It requires few ingredients, no chopping and is super easy to make.

Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 1 hour, Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Chicken noodle rosol soup in orange bowl with spoon and parsley on green cloth.

Spiced chicken recipes

21. Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs

This sheet pan chicken thighs recipe comes with a sweet and tangy honey balsamic dressing and involves a few easy steps. It contains a handful of pantry staples and comes together in under 40 minutes!

Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 40 minutes

Side view of roasted sheet pan chicken thighs with onions.

22. Spiced Crispy Chicken Legs

These delicious Moroccan spiced crispy chicken legs are perfectly crispy on the outside with gorgeous, succulent meat on the inside. This recipe is super easy to make and does not involve marinating or precooking the meat - just coat in the spices, bake and enjoy!

Prep Time: 7 minutes, Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes

Top down view of 2 crispy chicken leg quarters on top of wire rack with lime wedges on top of wooden board.

23. Oven Pulled Chicken the Healthy Way

My easy, healthy oven pulled chicken is a quick, gluten free, lower sugar version of this popular dish. It contains a handful of spices and a little miso paste, which not only adds goodness but also a rich, savoury flavour, perfect in this dish.

Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes, Cook Time: 2 hours, Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Top down view of pulled chicken in black oval cast iron dish with fork, wraps, guacamole in small dish and green cloth.

24. Yogurt Marinated Spiced Chicken Breast

This delicious, Moroccan inspired yogurt marinated chicken is packed full of flavour and super easy to make. This is an all-season healthy recipe that's perfect for entertaining as well as a family dinner.

Prep Time: 4 hours 10 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Grilled chicken pieces on top of parchment with fork.

25. Spicy Chicken Burgers (Healthy)

These deliciously succulent spicy chicken burgers are low in fat, quick and easy to make and bursting with flavour! Made using pantry ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes.

Prep Time: 13 minutes, Cook Time: 8 minutes, Total Time: 21 minutes

Chicken burger in open bun with sauce, slice of tomato and pickles.

26. Grilled Chicken Pineapple Salsa Tacos

These chicken pineapple tacos are packed full of flavour and colour. The chicken is coated in spices then grilled and served in a tortilla along with a delicious, zesty and refreshing pineapple salsa. Perfect on a hot day and ready in 20 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes

3 tortillas with chicken and pineapple salsa on plate.

Breaded chicken recipes

27. Oven Baked Super Crispy Chicken Fingers

These oven baked chicken fingers are juicy and tender on the inside and super crispy on the outside. Made using panko breadcrumbs they contain a handful of spices, a little oil and come together in under 30 minutes - including preparation!

Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time; 11 minutes, Total Time: 26 minutes

Side view of crispy chicken fingers in bowl lined with parchment.

28. Crispy Cornflake Chicken Nuggets Recipe

These quick and easy homemade cornflake chicken nuggets are shallow fried to crispy perfection. Made using a handful of ingredients they are fantastic for entertaining as well as a family meal idea.

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 30 minutes

Spiralizer recipes with chicken

29. Chicken Zoodle Soup with Pasta

This delicious, versatile chicken zoodle soup is made from scratch and contains a mixture of vegetable noodles and wheat vermicelli. So it is not only full of goodness but also satisfying. It's the perfect healthy comfort food!

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 40 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes

Top down view of chicken noodle soup in black bowl with spoon on red-and-white checkered cloth with dill and parsley on cutting board in top right corner.

30. Hoisin Chicken Noodle Stir Fry (Low Carb)

This low carb Asian inspired hoisin chicken stir fry is made using a combination of wheat and zucchini noodles and comes together in minutes. It is a healthy and delicious dinner idea the whole family will enjoy.

Prep Time: 8 minutes, Cook Time: 8 minutes, Total Time: 16 minutes

Chicken stir fry in wok with lime in background.

Healthy chicken salad recipes

31. Curried Chicken Pineapple Salad (Healthy)

This 5-ingredient chicken pineapple salad is an easy way of turning leftover chicken into something delicious. This simple deli filler consists of chicken and pineapple pieces coated in a creamy, lightly curried, low fat sauce. Ready in under 10 minutes!

Prep Time: 9 minutes, Total Time: 9 minutes

Creamy chicken pineapple salad in purple bowl with spoon and wrap in background.

32. Chicken Quinoa Salad with Sriracha Dressing

This chicken quinoa salad is a fantastic healthy meal idea which, with a little preparation, can be put together in minutes. Enjoy it warm, cold, for lunch at home or at work. You can quickly make grilled chicken to add to this salad or use chicken leftovers if you prefer.

Prep Time: 8 minutes, Cook Time: 6 minutes, Total Time: 14 minutes

Grilled chicken strips, quinoa, cherry tomatoes and almond flakes with small dish with dressing and white spoon inside white bowl, with 2 forks, almonds and lemon wedge in background.

Top tips for cooking chicken a little healthier

Use skinless chicken whenever possible (this applies to both white and dark meats).
Make healthy swaps - for example, use low-fat dairy products when making creamy sauces.
Use moderate amounts of high-fat ingredients (such as cheese, butter and cream).
Bulk out your chicken dishes with vegetables and pulses whenever possible.
Shallow fry or grill rather than deep fry.

Keep in touch!

If you've made any of these one-pot healthy chicken recipes I'd love to know which one. How has it turned out for you? Let me know in the comments below, thanks:)

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Source: https://www.everydayhealthyrecipes.com/easy-one-pot-chicken-recipes-healthy/