25 Easy Chicken Dinners for When You’re Too Tired to Cook

Mustering up the energy to cook dinner can sometimes feel impossible, but the right recipes can make it totally doable. This collection features fuss-free chicken dinners like quick skillet and one-pot meals, hands-off casseroles, sheet-pan suppers, and a few four- or five-ingredient winners. We’re talking Chicken Carbonara, Chicken Divan, Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, and One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes. Whatever you choose, you can sit down to a satisfying meal with minimal effort.

Never Lose a Recipe Again!

Keep all of your recipes at your fingertips. With the MyRecipes app you can easily save and organize your favorites from anywhere, including Instagram and TikTok, in one convenient place. Get the free app.

01 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“This chili starts with that doctored-up enchilada sauce and just three more main ingredients go into the pot: shredded cooked chicken, canned black beans, and canned (or frozen and thawed) corn. For the chicken, you can use leftovers or a rotisserie chicken.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

02 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“One of the reasons this chicken queso spaghetti has endured in my family is how flexible it is. On especially busy nights, I reach for preshredded rotisserie chicken, which keeps the prep minimal and gets dinner on the table fast.” —Morgan Baker, Recipe Developer

03 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“Jarred salsa verde is the key ingredient here. It gently cooks the chicken breasts and permeates them with great flavor as they cook. Look for salsa verde that has a thicker texture—some store-bought salsas can be runny.” —Laurel Randolph, Former Associate Editorial Director

04 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“The playful name comes from the set-it-and-forget-it nature of this dish. You add all of the ingredients to a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake. No peeking! This helps ensure the rice cooks through, and the chicken is moist.” —Laurel Randolph, Former Associate Editorial Director

05 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“In this recipe, you cook ground chicken (or turkey) in a skillet quickly until it browns, add some chopped shallots, and season it all with lime juice, chili sauce, and fresh herbs. Pile it into a lettuce cup for a supper that has tons of flavor with very little effort.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

06 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“Oyakodon is quick and easy to make at home and is traditionally cooked on the stovetop. But making it in the microwave cuts the cook time in half to under 10 minutes—this is significant for a busy working mom who is often up against the clock to get dinner on the table.” —Myo Quinn, Former Associate Editorial Director

07 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“With tender chicken cutlets nestled into a creamy spinach sauce, this recipe uses just one pan and is practically a complete meal all on its own.” —Laurel Randolph, Former Associate Editorial Director

08 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“I employ the contents of a ranch seasoning mix packet to keep things easy and use it to marinate both the chicken and potatoes. I often use baby Yukon Gold potatoes because there’s minimal prep—just a simple wash and pat dry, and they’re ready to go.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

09 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“I still crave the comforting predictability of chicken Divan on cold days. It’s also a great choice for busy weeknight dinners because you just load everything in a casserole dish and let the magic happen in the oven.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

10 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“They come together in under 20 minutes thanks to grocery store shortcuts like rotisserie chicken and bagged coleslaw mix. Even better, you don’t need to turn on the oven or stove. It’s a no-sweat, family-friendly dinner that is sure to become a regular on your roster.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

11 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“Whenever I can find a way to work pickles into a recipe, I do. I recently developed a recipe for a five-ingredient, one-pan rice bake, and as I was testing it, I had a thought: A rice bake would be a great vehicle for dill pickle flavor!” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

12 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“If you like a lot of crust with your chicken pot pie, thaw two sheets of puff pastry and bake the second sheet on a sheet pan alongside the pot pie (there’s no need to roll out the puff pastry at all). Serve it with the pot pie—you can break off pieces as desired.” —Megan Scott, Former Senior Editor

13 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“The ingredient that makes this casserole special isn’t chicken, corn, or even cheese—it’s tangy pickled cabbage. Whether you go for kimchi or sauerkraut, this powerhouse ingredient comes ready-to-use straight from the jar or bag—no chopping, trimming, or fuss required.” —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer

14 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“The casserole can be assembled in advance; it requires minimal ingredients and minimal prep time; there are endless ways to adapt the basic recipe to suit your family’s preferences, and it’s one of those rare gems that everyone seems to love.” —Blair Lonergan, Recipe Developer

15 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“This super easy cobbler is made all in one baking dish—right down to melting the butter! Just assemble all the layers (no stovetop cooking required) and pop the dish in the oven to cook all together, freeing you up for other tasks.” —Afton Cyrus, Senior Editor

16 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“My version of this easy sheet pan fajitas recipe calls for chicken tenders for the easiest possible prep. You can also swap in an equivalent weight of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, just plan for a few extra minutes to cut them into strips.” —Deborah Koenig, Recipe Developer

17 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“Once you have the method down, it will lose its mystique and become a go-to for when you’re in the mood for a hearty meal that can be whipped up in just 30 minutes.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

18 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“Cook the chicken, add the veggies and rice, nestle the chicken back in, simmer it all together, and dinner is done.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

19 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“With its warm topping of tomatoes and cheese, this dinner is plenty rich and flavorful. Serve on top of fettuccine or zucchini noodles, or alongside steamed rice and vegetables.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

20 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“This take on the take-out favorite is Thai-inspired, with red curry paste providing the bulk of the flavor…. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have restaurant-worthy chicken fried rice.” —Laurel Randolph, Former Associate Editorial Director

21 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“It feels natural to serve this creamy dish over pasta to catch all the sauce. Long shapes like fettuccine and spaghetti are good choices, as well as short shapes like penne and even orzo.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

22 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“There isn’t a ton of prep with this dish, but if you want to get ahead of the game, you could cook the chicken and croutons up to one day in advance. Let the chicken cool before storing it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Keep croutons in an airtight container on the counter.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

23 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“This is one of those recipes where the measurements suggested are just that—suggestions. Feel free to add or subtract according to your family’s taste buds! Start with some shredded cooked chicken and toss it in bottled barbecue sauce.” —Claudia Cash, Recipe Developer

24 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“I’ve given instructions for both inside cooking and outdoor grilling. The day I made these was cold and rainy, so I made everything on the stovetop in a grill pan I keep for occasions like this. Turn the heat up high, and you’ll still get great grill marks!” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

25 of 25

VIEW RECIPE

“On weeknights, I often find myself relying on this one-pot wonder of a recipe, which comes together in just half an hour. Rather than treating the orzo like pasta, this recipe leans towards a risotto. Creamy, golden, and with just enough lemony bite in each forkful, this recipe is a joy to tuck into on a cool night.” —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer

Read the original article on Simply Recipes