Chicken dinners can get a bit yawn-worthy. But it doesn’t have to be that way! We’ve rounded up 23 innovative chicken recipes that are anything but boring. These dishes will definitely spark your enthusiasm for chicken again but the best part is they’re easy to make and won’t require hours in the kitchen.
Coconut Lime Baked Chicken
Coconut lime baked chicken, served with mango sticky rice, brings a tropical flair to your table. This recipe is for those looking to transform their chicken dinner into a crispy, tender, and flavor-packed meal. It’s a creative culinary adventure that’s both enjoyable to make and eat.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Lime Baked Chicken
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Break free from boring chicken dinners with slow cooker honey garlic chicken. This dish offers a unique combination of sweet and sticky sauce with pineapple, slowly cooked to perfection. It’s a hands-off recipe that guarantees a flavorful twist to your usual chicken meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Gochujang Chicken
For those seeking a vibrant kick, gochujang chicken is a game-changer. This 30-minute recipe features a spicy and sweet sauce that will rejuvenate your chicken dinner routine. It’s an inventive choice for anyone looking to elevate their meal with bold flavors.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Chicken
Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Eggplant
Cheesy chicken stuffed eggplant is a novel way to enjoy chicken, blending tender poultry with rich cheddar inside a hearty eggplant. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s an inventive dinner option that veers away from the mundane, promising a meal that’s as satisfying as it is creative.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Eggplant
Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Dive into the rich flavors of chicken stuffed poblano peppers, where melted cheese, black beans, and Mexican spices come together for a comfort food experience with a twist. This dish is a testament to how versatile chicken can be, offering a creative escape from routine chicken meals.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Creamy Turmeric Chicken with Chickpeas
This creamy turmeric chicken offers a one-skillet meal that combines hearty chickpeas with rich flavors, ready in under 30 minutes. It’s an ideal choice for anyone wanting to add a creative and nutritious spin to their chicken dinners, proving healthy can also be inventive.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Turmeric Chicken with Chickpeas
Goat Cheese Fried Chicken with Cherry Sauce
Add some sophistication to your chicken with goat cheese fried chicken topped with cherry tarragon sauce. The crispy exterior, creamy sauce, and tart cherries provide a unique taste experience. It’s a creative recipe that transforms chicken into an elegant meal.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Fried Chicken with Cherry Sauce
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken
Grilled Hawaiian chicken stuffed with ham and pineapple under a teriyaki glaze offers a sweet and savory escape from the ordinary. This recipe is perfect for those who enjoy grilling and are looking for a creative twist on chicken that’s both fun to prepare and delightful to eat.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken
Indian Chicken Burgers
Indian chicken burgers with a refreshing yogurt cucumber slaw bring a flavorful alternative to traditional beef burgers. They are a creative way to enjoy chicken, perfect for a casual dinner or a summer BBQ, proving that chicken burgers can be anything but boring.
Get the Recipe: Indian Chicken Burgers
Sweet & Spicy Indian Chicken
Sweet and spicy Indian chicken marinated in yogurt and spices then glazed with maple syrup offers a rich blend of flavors. This recipe is a creative solution for anyone tired of plain chicken dinners, providing a sweet and spicy makeover that’s irresistible.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Indian Chicken
Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet
The Thai basil cashew chicken skillet is an easy, one-pan meal bursting with fresh basil and a savory sweet sauce. It’s a straightforward yet inventive recipe that brings a Thai-inspired twist to your chicken, ideal for a quick but exciting dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet
Buffalo Chicken Orzo Soup
If you love buffalo wings, this buffalo chicken orzo soup is for you. It combines the cheesy, spicy flavors of buffalo wings into a comforting soup form. This recipe is a creative take on enjoying chicken, perfect for those chilly evenings when you crave something warm and inviting.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Orzo Soup
Cheddar Chicken Bake
The cheddar chicken quinoa bake is a hearty, healthy casserole that’s easy to love. Utilizing leftover chicken, it’s a budget-friendly dinner for busy nights that doesn’t skimp on creativity or flavor, making healthy eating both simple and enjoyable.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake
Chinese Chicken Zoodles
Chinese chicken zoodles offer a healthy and quick 15-minute meal packed with the flavors of your favorite takeout. This recipe is a creative way to enjoy chicken while keeping things light and nutritious, proving fast and healthy meals can also be incredibly flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Zoodles
Cream Cheese Chicken
Cream cheese chicken, seasoned with a blend of spices, offers a creamy and indulgent meal without the fuss. It’s a creative twist on weeknight chicken dinners, providing a simple yet flavorful option that’s sure to break the monotony.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Chicken
Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet
This 20-minute garlic chicken bite skillet combines chicken with mushrooms, onions, and red peppers for a quick and flavorful meal. It’s an ideal recipe for those looking to add a creative and tasty twist to their chicken dinners without spending hours in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet
Chicken Saag
Shake up your chicken dinners with this chicken saag recipe. It’s pretty much like the spinach and chicken curry you get at your favorite restaurant but made simple for a weeknight meal at home. When you’re bored with the usual chicken dishes, this one brings in the flavors and ease you’re looking for. Quick to make and straightforward, it’s perfect for a hearty dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Saag
Honey Orange Sesame Chicken
Honey orange sesame chicken is a healthy take on takeout, ready in minutes. This recipe brings a sticky, sweet flavor to your chicken, making it a creative and enjoyable alternative to traditional chicken dishes. It’s perfect for those nights when you want something quick and rewarding.
Get the Recipe: Honey Orange Sesame Chicken
Maple Miso Chicken
Maple miso chicken offers a sweet and savory twist with its buttery glaze. This simple yet outrageously flavorful recipe is a creative way to jazz up your chicken dinners, ensuring a golden and sticky meal that’s bound to become a new favorite.
Get the Recipe: Maple Miso Chicken
Sheet Pan Maple Mustard Chicken
For a fuss-free dinner, try sheet pan maple mustard chicken. This one-pan wonder includes chicken, Brussels sprouts, squash, and cranberries, offering a balanced meal. It’s a creative way to enjoy chicken with minimal cleanup, perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Maple Mustard Chicken
Sticky Thai Chicken
Sticky Thai chicken thighs provide a flavorful and quick dinner option. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe is a creative alternative to takeout, offering Thai flavors that are sure to please. It’s an ideal choice for those looking to spice up their chicken routine.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Thai Chicken
Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Stuffed chicken marsala brings a twist to the classic dish with mozzarella, tomato butter, and basil. It’s a creative and more delicious take on chicken marsala, perfect for a dinner that impresses with both flavor and presentation.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Pecan Crusted Chicken
Pecan crusted chicken served with honey dijon yogurt sauce offers a crunchy, flavorful dinner option. This easy weeknight meal takes chicken to the next level with its unique coating and killer sauce, proving that creative chicken recipes can be simple yet spectacular.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Crusted Chicken
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.