The last thing you want to do when you get home from a long day of work is worry about what to make for dinner. But that doesn't mean you need to make the same boring dish night after night. Try some chicken--one of the easiest and healthiest ways to get lean protein in your diet. Check out our 10 favorite chicken recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.
Chicken Spinach Parm
This just might be the simplest chicken dish out there. It takes only 10 minutes to make, and packs a serious nutritional punch: Spinach is one of the most powerful veggies out there, chock full of vitamins A, C, K, and calcium, fiber, and beta-carotene. Enjoy dinner while your food helps fight off cancer and heart disease.
Ingredients:
• Olive oil
• Boneless, skinless chicken breast
• Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• Grated parmesan
• Marinara
• Garlic
• Baby spinach leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
Nutrition facts per serving: 366 cal, 17.4 g fat (2.9 g sat), 21 g carbs, 4.1 g fiber, 32.1 g protein
Click here for the full recipe and directions.
Chicken Flautas
Skip the frozen food aisles: If you have shredded chicken on hand, you can make this finger food yourself. Serve with rice and beans, or a side salad for a complete meal.
Ingredients:
• Shredded cooked chicken breast
• Shredded low-fat jack cheese
• Red onion
• Soft flour tortillas
• Pico de gallo
Nutrition facts per serving: 289 cal, 9.8 g fat (4.7 g sat), 26.5 g carbs, 1.8 g fiber, 21.9 g protein
Click here for full recipe and directions.
Chicken Pesto Pizza
Who isn’t psyched about pizza for dinner? A prebaked pizza shell is the secret to this quick and easy dish--great for those rushed weeknights. Having control over the toppings makes it healthier than delivery, but just as delicious.
Ingredients
• 12" prebaked pizza shell
• Prepared pesto
• Cooked chicken
• Roasted red pepper
• Water-packed canned artichoke hearts
• Crumbled goat cheese
Nutrition facts per serving: 528 cal, 19.6 g fat (5.9 g sat), 58.8 g carbs, 5.2 g fiber, 29.9 g protein
Click here for full recipe and directions.
Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Pasta is a secret weapon for the active woman. Not only is it a meal-in-minutes, but if you choose the whole-wheat stuff, it'll provides a gradual release of energy all day long. This recipe is a well-rounded dish, combining spinach, beans, and roasted red peppers to keep your belly full and your taste buds happy.
Ingredients:
• Barilla Plus penne pasta
• Chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Dried rosemary
• Cannellini beans
• Roasted red pepper
• Baby spinach leaves
• Grated parmesan
Nutrition facts per serving: 405 cal, 6.3 g fat (1.7 g sat), 46.4 g carbs, 8.9 g fiber, 39.5 g protein
Click here for the full recipe and directions.
Lemon Herb Chicken
This simple recipe has only eight ingredients, but each one brings major flavor. The lemon adds the tang while the herbs add an exotic, homemade touch. Serve with brown rice and a side of broccoli for the ultimate comfort meal.
Ingredients:
• Olive oil
• Chicken breasts
• Lemon
• Parsley
• Mint
• Basil
• Salt and pepper
• White wine
Nutrition facts per serving: 377 cal, 24.1 g fat (3.5 g sat), 5 g carbs, 1.3 g fiber, 28 g protein
Click here for full recipe and directions.
Moroccan Stewed Chicken
You might think you have to cook all day for this flavorful dish—but you can get the rich “stewed” taste in just 30 minutes. The chicken loads this dish with protein, but the veggies and legumes keep it well-balanced. Serve it with 1/2 cup cooked couscous tossed with golden raisins, toasted pine nuts, and chopped cilantro.
Ingredients:
• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• Zucchini
• Garbanzo beans
• Diced tomatoes
• Cilantro
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Chicken stock
• Cayenne pepper
• Ground cumin
• Ground cinnamon
Nutrition facts per serving: 356 cal, 12.1 g fat (2.9 g sat), 31 g carbs, 695 mg sodium, 6.5 g fiber, 29 g protein
Click here for full recipe and directions.
Sizzling Fajitas
Leftover chicken breasts get new life with this popular Mexican standby. And don’t be afraid to go heavy on the spice: It turns out capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their mouth-searing quality, can also fire up your metabolism, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology.
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Bell pepper
• Garlic
• Chicken breasts
• Salsa
• Chili powder
• Nonfat sour cream
• Whole-wheat tortillas
• Shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
Nutrition facts per serving: 288 cal, 10.2 g fat (4.6 g sat), 29 g carbs, 490 mg sodium, 2.7 g fiber, 25 g protein
Click here for the full recipe and directions.
Quick Pad Thai
Who needs to order takeout when you can create your favorite Thai dish at home? This exotic dish is easy to make with simple ingredients you already have in your pantry, like soy sauce, peanut butter, cilantro, and red pepper flakes. The best part? Dinner will be on the table in 25 minutes, and you don’t have to tip the delivery guy.
Ingredients:
• Whole-wheat cappellini or angel-hair pasta
• Chicken breasts
• Fish sauce
• Eggs
• Cilantro
• Olive oil
• Peanut butter
• Sugar
• Red chili flakes
Nutrition facts per serving: 342 cal, 9.9 g fat (2.1 g sat), 39 g carbs, 478 mg sodium, 4.9 g fiber, 25 g protein
Click here for the full recipe and directions.
Instant Chicken and White Bean Stew
You have to love a recipe with the word instant in the title and pesto in the ingredients list. On a night when you feel too tuckered out to cook, this dish practically makes itself with a little leftover chicken and some pantry items.
Ingredients:
• Onion
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Chicken broth
• Zucchini
• 1 can cannellini beans
• Black pepper
• Diced chicken
• Prepared pesto
Nutrition facts per serving: 265 cal, 8.3 g fat (1.8 g sat), 22 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 25 g protein
Click here to get full recipe and directions.
Spicy Chicken Stir Fry
Toss these good-for-you veggies and the chicken in a wok or skillet for a one-pan meal that couldn’t be simpler. Serve with brown rice for a complete meal that fills you up without being a total calorie bomb.
Ingredients:
• Peanut oil
• Red-pepper flakes
• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Asparagus tips
• Carrots
• Onion
• Snow peas
• Sliced almonds
• Reduced-sodium soy sauce
Nutrition facts per serving: 463.7 cal, 18.2 g fat (2.8 g sat), 13.6 g carbs, 4.5 g fiber, 60 g protein
Click here for the full recipe and directions.
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