20-Minute Chicken Dinners

Crispy Fried Chicken

If you’ve wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana

Go to Recipe

BLT Chicken Salad

Featuring all the fun fixings for a BLT chicken sandwich, this salad is so lovable. I can prep the ingredients ahead of time and just throw it together at the last minute. Barbecue sauce in the dressing gives it unexpected flavor. Even picky eaters love my chicken salads. —Cindy Moore, Mooresville, North Carolina

Caesar Chicken with Feta

My tomatoey chicken is the perfect answer on those crazy days when supper has to be on the table in 30 minutes, tops (doesn't hurt that it's delicious, too). —Denise Chelpka, Phoenix, Arizona

Asian Chicken Rice Bowl

This super flavorful, nutrient-packed dish makes use of supermarket conveniences like coleslaw mix and rotisserie chicken. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for large families. —Christianna Gozzi, Asteria, New York

Sweet 'n' Spicy Chicken

My husband and children love this tender chicken with its spicy sauce. Peach preserves add just a touch of sweetness, while taco seasoning and salsa give the dish some kick. —Sheri White, Higley, Arizona

Cheesy Smothered Mushroom Chicken

You can’t go wrong when serving this speedy skillet creation. Top tender chicken breasts with mushrooms, bacon, green onions and cheese for a swift and savory sensation that’s sure to become a family favorite. —Penny Walton, Westerville, Ohio. If you enjoyed this recipe, then learn how to make smothered chicken at home.

Parmesan Chicken Couscous

Simple ingredients make clever use of leftover chicken in an innovative dish any home cook would be proud to plate. I like to serve it with a side of fresh fruit. —Lisa Abbott, New Berlin, Wisconsin

Tuscan Chicken

This moist and savory chicken entree is ready in an unbelievable 15 minutes flat! —Debra Legrand, Port Orchard, Washington

Almond Chicken Salad

My mother used to prepare this chicken salad with grapes and almonds for an evening meal during the hot summer months. It's my favorite of my mother's chicken salad recipes. You can also serve it as a delicious but quick luncheon or potluck dish. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas

Blackened Chicken and Beans

My husband loves any spicy food, and this is one quick-fix recipe we can both agree on. As the chicken cooks, whip up salads of lettuce, tomato, avocado and shredded cheddar cheese. Dinner's done! —Christine Zongker, Spring Hill, Kansas

Chicken with Pineapple

I'm always on the lookout for low-fat recipes that are scrumptious, too, like this pineapple chicken recipe. Quick-cooking chicken breasts get wonderful, sweet flavor from pineapple, honey and teriyaki sauce. —Jenny Reece, Lowry, Minnesota

Chicken with Mandarin Salsa

When I have some leftover veggies, I dress the salsa up a little with some diced green onions and bell peppers. If you like a spicier sauce, add cayenne pepper to the skillet. —Aysha Shurman, Ammon, Idaho

Orange Chicken Spinach Salad

For a salad with refreshing color and crunch, we toss chicken and spinach with mandarin oranges and red onion, then splash everything with a tangy vinaigrette. —Jean Murawski, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

Ramen Chicken Stir Fry

A frozen vegetable blend and noodles make this chicken ramen stir-fry a cinch to toss together. The filling meal is so easy to fix that teenagers can make it themselves. —Lois McAtee, Oceanside, California

Grilled Brown Sugar-Mustard Chicken

I came up with this recipe in college and it's been a household staple ever since. It's a snap to throw together with ingredients I have on hand. —Kendra Doss, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Chicken and Black Bean Salad

Here in California, we cook out year-round. I grill extra chicken specifically for this quick meal. It’s so colorful and fresh-tasting that even our kids love it. —Cindie Ekstrand, Duarte, California

Parmesan Chicken Couscous

Simple ingredients make clever use of leftover chicken in an innovative dish any home cook would be proud to plate. I like to serve it with a side of fresh fruit. —Lisa Abbott, New Berlin, Wisconsin

California Chicken Wraps

The combination of hummus and feta give these wraps unbeatable flavor. Hummus is a fantastic alternative to mayonnaise; try it on your favorite sandwich today! —Donna Munch, El Paso, Texas

Brown Rice Salad with Grilled Chicken

This delightful dish is nutritious, simple to fix and brightens up any buffet table. It's a terrific way to use up leftover chicken, and you can add veggies according to your family's liking. -Glenda Harper of Cable, Ohio

Spicy Apricot-Glazed Chicken

Looking for a new chicken idea? Save yourself a trip to the store and check the fridge first. I found out chili sauce, mustard and apricot preserves for a sweet, hot flavor. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

Garlic Chicken Penne

All it takes is four ingredients and 20 minutes to have this hearty dish ready for the table. Chicken, snap peas and pasta star in this dish, and the garlicky sauce ties it all together nicely. —Anne Nock, Avon Lake, Ohio

Chicken Chimichangas

Crispy outside with gooey cheese inside, this homemade Mexican favorite had our testers saying, “Hello, delicious!” Pair with Spanish rice or serve with chips and salsa for a restaurant-quality meal prepared in minutes. —Bridget Harrison, Cedar Hill, Missouri

Curried Chicken & Peach Salad

This is a very healthy and simple salad to make; even my non-cooking husband can whip it together in minutes. We’ve served this to friends over the years, and they always ask for the recipe. —Radelle Knappenberger, Oviedo, Florida

Gnocchi Chicken Skillet

Stovetop chicken and gnocchi recipes like this one make for a homey dinner in a hurry. Personalize it with your own favorite sauce and seasonings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Maple-Thyme Chicken Thighs

We eat a lot of chicken at our house, and figuring out different ways to serve it gets challenging. My family went nuts for the cozy maple flavors in this recipe, so now I share it at potlucks, too. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

Chicken Tostada Salad

If I don't have any tostada shells on hand for this speedy salad, I just heat taco shells, break them in half and lay them flat on the plates. It works just as well. Great Southwest flavor! —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah

Monterey Chicken

This Monterey chicken transforms regular chicken into a savory dish with barbecue sauce, crisp bacon and melty cheese. It gets even better with a sprinkling of fresh tomatoes and green onions. —Linda Coleman, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Air-Fryer Chicken Parmesan

Quick, simple and oh-so-tasty, this air-fryer chicken Parmesan recipe is the perfect weeknight dish to have on hand. It’s just as crispy as the classic, if not crispier! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Pear Chicken Salad

This beautiful, flavorful salad from Rebecca Baird of Salt Lake City, Utah is sprinkled with feta cheese, sweetened cranberries and walnuts for extra depth, pop, and crunch. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah

Sweet Chili & Orange Chicken

My husband loves this simple sweet chili chicken dish so much he often requests it when he comes home from deployment. The sweet chili sauce adds just the right amount of heat to the bright, citrusy sauce. —Jessica Eastman, Bremerton, Washington

Bacon Chicken Chopped Salad

Here's one of many reasons we love tomato season. Chopped salads are so simple and such a fantastic way to eat fresh. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts

Chicken Croissant Sandwiches

These sandwiches are easy to pull together when you need something fun and taste-worthy in a flash. I make them often for occasions like brunches, church youth meetings and impromptu family gatherings. —Cheryl Sigler, Louisville, Ohio

Spice-Rubbed Chicken Thighs

For our must-have meal, we roast chicken using bone-in, skin-on thighs. This version without skin and bones has a zesty rub of turmeric, paprika and chili powder. —Bill Staley, Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Desert Oasis Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cook quickly and pair nicely with sweet and spicy ingredients like these. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Pear Chicken Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Classic pear salad gets an innovative makeover with chicken and maple vinaigrette. We like to serve it over crisp romaine for a refreshing experience. —Chrysa Duran, Cambridge, Minnesota

Smoky Gouda & Chicken Sandwiches

My whole family loves this, but especially my husband and I for the deep smoke and garlic flavors. The cheese combined with the savory garlic-herb mayo is simply mouthwatering. —Nancy Mock, Colchester, Vermont

Honey Mustard Apple Chicken Sausage

I threw this recipe together one day for a fantastic lunch. It’s a great way to use up leftover sausage and rice from dinner the night before. —Julie Puderbaugh, Berwick, Pennsylvania

Barbecued Chicken Pizza

This pizza starts with a prepared bread shell and barbecue sauce, plus leftover cooked chicken. I simply assemble and bake. Often, I cut the pizza into small bite-size pieces and serve it as an appetizer at parties or potluck dinners.—Patricia Richardson, Verona, Ontario

White Bean and Chicken Chili

To create this yummy white chili, I adapted three different recipes. It’s mild, so everyone can dig in. it's won ribbons in several recipe contests. —Julie White, Yacolt, Washington

Cashew-Curry Chicken Salad

My husband and I fell hard for the curried chicken salad from our grocery store deli, and I knew I could find a way to make something similar. This greek yogurt chicken salad has become one of our favorites to take on trips to the beach. —Janine Cooper-Moren, Portland, Oregon

Chicken Tzatziki Cucumber Boats

I’ve tended a garden for decades, and these colorful “boats” made from cucumbers hold my homegrown tomatoes, peas and dill. It’s absolute garden greatness. —Ronna Farley, Rockville, Maryland

Sesame Chicken Slaw Salad

I tasted many types of Asian chicken salad in California. When I moved back to Georgia, I wanted more. Here’s a gingery-sweet recipe using wonton strips. —Michelle Mulrain, Evans, Georgia