Chicken is the basis of my meal plan. It’s economical, easy to cook, and everyone in my family likes it.
It can be baked, cooked in the crockpot, cooked in the Instant Pot, sheet-panned – you name it. So, let’s talk chicken!
Now, my husband doesn’t care if we have the same three meals over and over – he’ll eat anything – but my two teenagers are incredibly picky eaters, so I’m always searching for easy and reliable meals that everyone enjoys. These are a few of my favorite baked and casserole chicken dinners that are reliable favorites in our home.
Chicken is so easy to cook and make into delicious weeknight meals. If you’ve got about 45 minutes on a Tuesday evening, one of these recipes would work well for dinner.
Baked and Casserole Chicken Dinners
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. It’s a crowd-pleaser. There is never any of this casserole leftover. It checks all the kid-approval boxes: chicken, bacon, ranch, and baked cheese. This is the meal that I managed to make on a tiring Friday evening when I had zero energy, yet, it made me look like I spent more effort than I did. This casserole looks and tastes hearty but comes together effortlessly. Try this recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole.
Easy Chicken Tetrazzini
Baked pasta + chicken + cheese + a creamy sauce = YUM. It’s easy to make, cut the prep time in half using a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, delicious, AND it’s a winner as leftover for the next day’s lunch because it heats up so well.
Try this recipe: Easy Chicken Tetrazzini.
Chicken Bacon Fettuccine Alfredo Casserole
This one’s a bit more work but still easier than it looks. It’s another crowd-pleaser – chicken, bacon, AND fettuccine alfredo all baked into a casserole so you can serve a crowd and NOT stand at the stove!
Try this recipe: Chicken Bacon Fettuccine Alfredo Casserole.
This casserole is a weekly rotation at our house. My teens will eat it EVERY WEEK but I need variety.
Easy Chicken Casserole with Stuffing
Nothing like some Thanksgiving fare in the middle of the week. Layering on some chicken and stuffing and popping it in the oven until the top is crispy and golden-brown is super satisfying.
You could make your own stuffing from scratch but honestly, who has time for that on a school night? Grab some boxed stuffing and move on with your life.
Easy Italian Pasta & Chicken Dish
All the goodness of chicken and pasta tossed with olive oil and Italian seasonings. Throw together this recipe in NO TIME.
Serve it up with some salad and garlic bread and dinner will be done before your husband notices how quick dinner was. Keep it a secret.
Crack Chicken Instant Pot Recipe
Cream cheese, bacon, ranch seasoning, chicken…what’s not to love?! Throw it all together and let your electric pressure cooker do its thing for just 15 minutes.
The chicken will be so tender that you’ll be able to shred it right out of the pot. Serve it over rice, on a bun, in a tortilla…you name it.
Crescent Roll Crack Chicken Recipe
All the goodness of Crack Chicken wrapped up in flakey crescent rolls. Pop them in the oven until crispy and golden-brown and enjoy.
This is an easy-to-grab recipe that is perfect for a quick dinner or maybe even on a game night. This is an easy grab n’ go recipe that even teens will devour!
I cannot rave enough about these. They are SO easy and delicious.
Even our pet Gigi begs for these by standing right underneath the cooling rack waiting patiently. Gigi is an amazing pet, and everything revolves around food.
Huli Huli Pressure Cooker Chicken
Huli huli chicken is a Hawaiian style chicken dish that is coated with a deliciously tasty glaze with a strong ginger soy flavor. We have eaten this recipe several times before, but I love making it in the pressure cooker because it’s foolproof tender goodness.
We love this served with white rice and fresh sliced pineapple. We were in such a rut the past two weeks of the same dinner after dinner, and this brightened our Wednesday night.
The Best Marinade for Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken legs/drumsticks are one of the cheapest cuts of meat, and this marinade is amazing. It’s savory, a little sweet and super tasty.
You can grill them if you’re lucky enough to be outside, or you can pop them in the oven if you’re unlucky enough to have Iowa weather. My teenagers vie for the last chicken leg.
Chili’s Chicken Crispers Copycat Recipe
Chicken crispers are a must-have item on Chili’s menu, and this recipe will save you a fortune over buying them. This recipe makes enough to have chicken crispers, a side of fries and a salad.
That’s a whole meal and a heck of a lot cheaper than buying them. Add dipping sauce and you’re golden.
My 18 year old proclaims these are better than the ones from the restaurant.
Crockpot and Slow Cooker Chicken
Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe
Another recipe where you throw everything into a crockpot in the morning and walk away. This recipe is delicious and requires minimal effort.
The pineapple juice and soy sauce create a sweet and tangy glaze and it’s delicious when served over rice.
This recipe is so easy to make and tastes like you spent hours making it, which is NEVER. You’ll be in heaven when you bite into this amazing sweet and savory chicken that tastes like you’re eating food that was pulled directly off of the grill.
When I know that my energy will be depleted by 5pm, which happens more often than I would like, I’ll make this crockpot recipe before dropping the kiddos off at school in the morning. It’s my #1 go-to meal when I’m running on empty.
Crockpot Shredded Chicken Tacos
Simply season the chicken and add it and salsa to the crockpot and cook away. Later, you’ll shred the chicken and have a taco bar where each member of the family can create their own tacos with “you do it yourself” toppings.
This is key with our two teens because they have COMPLETELY opposing ideas of what belongs on a taco.
Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches (Crack Chicken)
Shredded chicken + cream cheese + ranch + cheddar + bacon all piled high on a bun = HEAVEN. I like to make these into little sandwiches that are perfect for sharing.
You can easily make a ton of them to make it stretch if you’re feeding a crowd at one of our get-togethers over the weekend. Many people ask me for this recipe after having it.
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta
Another one with ranch, cream cheese, and bacon. It’s a meal that will satisfy your heart’s desires and has absolutely NO fussing over a stove when everyone comes to dinner hungry.
Creamy, hearty, and delicious. My 15 year old requested that we make this “every Thursday.”
Buffalo Chicken Crock Pot Sandwiches
Pulled chicken + buffalo sauce + ranch = yum, yum, yum. Serve it on a hoagie roll or sub.
You can also adjust the spiciness of the sandwiches depending on who you’re trying to please. My husband is a sucker for anything with a hint of buffalo.
Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas
Chicken, peppers, onions, and spices cook in the Crock Pot for a few hours leaving them ready to shred and pile into tortillas with your favorite fajita toppings. Sour cream, cheese, guacamole, salsa, yum!
You’ll love the aroma this recipe fills your kitchen with, like a Mexican restaurant.
See what I mean? These kid-friendly slow cooker chicken recipes are perfect for hectic weeknights when the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
Chicken Soups and Chilis
White Chicken Chili
Great northern beans, shredded chicken, and green chilis make up this deliciously creamy White Chicken Chili recipe. It’s ready in less than an hour, and I’ve been making this recipe for years, it’s a definite sign of fall for us.
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and top with shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips. Also perfect to have left-over for the next days lunch.
Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This recipe for Chicken and Wild Rice Soup tastes just like Panera’s version and will save you from spending $12 for a bowl. Loaded with chicken, wild rice and veggies swimming in a thick, creamy broth.
Make a big batch on Sunday and you’re set with lunches for most of the week.
Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
A favorite for sick days or just a grey and rainy day. Takes about 45 minutes to prepare, made with pantry staples, chicken, carrots, celery, onions, egg noodles, broth, etc.
Nothing like the canned version.
Chicken Salads and Sandwiches
Best Ever Chicken Salad
This is our favorite recipe for Chicken Salad. Great for sandwiches or serve in lettuce cups!
This one’s a fan-favorite because it’s the perfect combination of creamy but not too mayonnaise-y. It’s nothing like any other chicken salad you’ve ever had.
Serve in croissants, on top of crackers, or just eat it right out of the bowl. Bonus points because it’s EASY to make, easy to pack up, and easy to clean up afterwards.
Sheet Pan Oven Quesadillas
Oh, quesadillas, how do I love thee. Making them in the oven, though, is genius.
You know how making quesadillas can be tedious? You can’t really make them all at once, you have to keep flipping them, and by the time everyone is eating, they aren’t crispy and melty any more?
Well, instead, load them up on a sheet pan, pop them in the oven, and voila: crispy, melty perfection. Bonus points for the fact that nobody’s standing over your shoulder asking if hers is ready yet.
I’ve been using these recipes time and time again this year. From crockpot meals to 30 minute casseroles, these are the ultimate solutions to getting a delicious chicken dinner on the table.
I promise there’s something in here you’re going to love.
These recipes make dinnertime simple. Grab a few or all of them, print them out and have them handy so you can whip up an easy, delicious, and filling meal that will keep dinner-time from being stressful.
Chicken Dinner Questions, Answered
Should I stock breasts or thighs for these recipes?
You can use whichever works for you in these recipes. Generally speaking, thighs are less expensive per pound and will withstand the rigors of long, slow-cooker cooking without drying out, but chicken breasts work wonderfully for casseroles and shredded chicken for sandwiches.
My general rule of thumb is to buy a ton of chicken, like double what we need, when it’s on sale and freeze it. I empty the chicken into gallon-size freezer bags, press them flat, and keep them in the freezer.
Saves me tons of time and effort when I’m rushing around trying to get to school on time.
Which of these work with a rotisserie chicken?
Almost all of them. Rotisserie chicken is the BEST when it comes to saving time because it is perfect for making into sandwiches or tossing into casseroles and soups.
If you’re looking to save money, buy a rotisserie chicken on Sunday and freeze half for later!
You can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken in place of cooked chicken for the tetrazzini or the stuffing casserole, or in chicken salad or this wild rice soup. It cuts the time down to twenty minutes.
However, I would NEVER suggest using rotisserie chicken or any pre-cooked chicken in a crockpot recipe. There’s no need to cook it, and it ends up really dry.
Kinda defeats the purpose of crockpot cooking, huh?
What’s the safest way to thaw chicken on a weeknight?
Leave the chicken in the bag, seal tightly, and submerge in cold water to defrost faster (change water once). Should take about an hour for a pound of chicken.
Moms of the past loved to leave the meat out on the counter to thaw, but you just can’t do that anymore. That said, nearly all of my slow cooker recipes will cook fine if you add the chicken while it’s still partially frozen.
Just make sure to cook on low.
How do I keep chicken dinners from feeling repetitive?
My family loves chicken. We have it twice a week without fail.
How do you avoid repetition? By switching between casseroles, crockpot dishes and soups.
If you call it chicken TACO night one night, chicken CASSEROLE night another night, chicken SOUP night yet another night…your family won’t realize they’re eating chicken over and over.