53 Best Healthy Chicken Recipes
Looking for healthy chicken recipes to add to your weeknight rotation? We rounded up 53 of our best takes on everybody's favorite lean protein, from foolproof grilled chicken to garlicky baked chicken to chicken zoodle soup. We've even got a rendition or two of that old classic: the whole roast chicken. (Just one note before we get started: "Healthy," of course, means different things to different people. Consult your doctor or a registered dietitian and nutritionist for the diet that’s best for you.)
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton1/53Grain Bowls With Chicken, Spiced Chickpeas, and Avocado
Store-bought rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken) helps this nourishing grain bowl come together in a snap. Use whatever cooked grains you've got on hand: quinoa, farro, barley, or brown rice.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich3/53Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, and sambal oelek give this larb just the right balance of spicy, pungent, salty, and sweet—serve it with lime wedges to get that sour note, too. This dish comes together in minutes.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell6/53Spiced Chicken with Spaghetti Squash, Pomegranate, and Pistachios
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton7/53Lemony Chicken Soup With Farro, White Beans, and Kale
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell8/53Freeform Chicken Meatballs With Carrots and Yogurt Sauce
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi10/53Gingery Chicken Soup With Zucchini “Noodles”
Not only is this soothing chicken soup just as comforting as your grandma’s, it's also gluten-free, thanks to the spiralized zucchini “noodles.” Garnish with freshly grated ginger for a kick.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou11/53Grilled Chicken With Lemon and Thyme
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell12/53Lentil and Chicken Soup With Sweet Potatoes and Escarole
A half hour is just about all it takes to turn leftover chicken (or store-bought rotisserie chicken) into healthy chicken soup—which gets a dose of brightness from lemon and fresh dill.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Frances Boswell16/53Foolproof Grilled Chicken
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Heather Greene, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou17/53Chicken with Lemon and Spicy Spring Onions
Roasting two chickens on one baking sheet is an effortless but strategic way to cook for a crowd—or for plenty of leftovers or nextovers. As the fat renders, it bastes the vegetables for a built-in side dish.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich18/53Slow-Cooked Chicken Stew With Kale
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell21/53Crispy Chicken Thighs With Kale, Apricots, and Olives
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott24/53Braised Chicken Thighs With Squash and Mustard Greens
Photo by JP Bevins, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone25/53Slow-Cooker Green Chicken Chili
Store-bought tomatillo salsa is the secret ingredient in this easy, flavorful chili, which can be cooked one of two ways: Set it and forget it all day in a slow-cooker, or make it on the stovetop in a Dutch oven.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton26/53Tandoori Chicken Bowls
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop and Food Styling by Ali Nardi27/53Braised Chicken With Asparagus, Peas, and Melted Leeks
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi28/53Chicken Meatballs with Ginger and Miso
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Claire Saffitz30/53Yogurt-Braised Chicken Legs With Garlic and Ginger
Marcus Nilsson31/53Green Goddess Cobb Salad
All the flavors of spring make up this bright, hearty salad—fennel, pea shoots, tarragon, chives—and it comes together in a snap thanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken. You could make it extra healthy by omitting the fried chicken skin and guanciale that give the dish crunch, or you could … not do that. Up to you!
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Claire Saffitz34/53Roast Chicken with Bell Peppers, Lemon, and Thyme
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich35/53Spicy Grilled Chicken with Crunchy Fennel Salad
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone37/53Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken With Tangy Green Sauce
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop and food styling by Ali Nardi40/53Roasted Chicken Thighs with White Beans, Lemon, and Capers
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Judy Mancini44/53Low-Fuss Crispy Roast Chicken
As the bird roasts, its juices drip onto a bed of sliced potatoes and onions. The result? The ultimate side dish for your chicken dinner, no extra work required.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone45/53Quick Chicken Tikka Masala
Aromatic spices and tangy yogurt give great flavor to this fast and healthy version of everyone's favorite weeknight Indian meal. How fast? Epi's food director designed it to come together in just 22 minutes.
Photo by Susan Bell46/53Poached Chicken, Crunchy Vegetables, and Herb Dressing
Weeknight meals are a breeze if you've got poached chicken breasts in your fridge—truly, they're a cook's secret weapon. Here they're the basis for a cool, crunchy salad finished with an aromatic almond and herb dressing.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop styling by Brian Heiser, food styling by Rhoda Boone48/53Roasted Chicken With Lemon, Ramps, and Green Olives
