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Quick and Easy Chicken Recipes

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When life gets hectic (and let’s be honest—it usually is), dinner needs to be simple, nourishing, and something everyone will actually eat. This roundup of quick and easy chicken recipes for dinner is here to rescue your weeknights with minimal fuss and maximum flavor.

Whether you’ve got chicken breast, chicken legs, or chicken thigh on hand, you’ll find a recipe here to suit what’s in your fridge—and your family's taste buds. These are the easy and quick chicken dinner recipes busy parents rely on: oven bakes, slow cooker meals, one-pan wonders, and stir-fries that come together in under 30 minutes.

Perfect for real life, these recipes double as brilliant family dinner ideas that are budget-friendly, veggie-loaded where possible, and guaranteed to win smiles from toddlers to teens (and the grown-ups too). No complicated ingredients, no fancy techniques—just solid, reliable meals to help you sail through the dinner hour.

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So go ahead, scroll on and find your next go-to chicken recipe. Dinner is about to get a whole lot easier.

Six photo collage of family friendly chicken recipes including chicken patties chicken curry, chicken pie and rice bowls.

30 + Easy Chicken Recipes The Entire Family Will Love

Chicken Meatballs
These oven-baked meatballs are mixed in one bowl and ready in under 30 minutes. With hidden veggies and no frying required, they’re a wholesome and speedy win for busy nights.
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Toddlers hand holding up a chicken meatball bowl in background with baking paper with chicken meatballs inside, green checkered tea towel on benchtop. Sweet chilli sauce in a ramekin.
Chicken Parmesan
Crisped under the grill in just 20 minutes, this no-fry Chicken Parmesan delivers golden crunch and gooey cheese—perfect for a cozy dinner that feels fancy without the fuss.
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Plate on benchtop with chicken parmesan breast, fresh salad and corn cob.
Crockpot Chicken Nachos
Minimal prep and maximum flavour—these slow cooker chicken nachos do all the work while you get on with your day. Let the family build their own plates for a fun, hands-on dinner.
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Dinner plate of Crockpot Chicken nachos served on plate with nacho chips, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, mashed avocado and sour cream on top. Small bowls of nacho chips, avocado, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and sour cream on benchtop around dinner plate.
Best Butter Chicken
This easy butter chicken is made from scratch with a simple method and includes a clever veggie boost. Once the marinade is done, it comes together quickly for a flavorful family meal.
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A copper curry bowl filled with butter chicken on a marble bench top with a bowl of rice, poppadoms and coriander leaves.
Chicken Curry For Kids - Veggie Loaded
This mild chicken curry is loaded with veggies, thanks to a clever hack of blending raw cauliflower into coconut milk. It's a one-pot meal that's both nutritious and kid-approved.
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Chicken curry for kids being served from the pan
Mango Chicken Curry
This naturally sweet curry is perfect for toddlers, with blended lentils and carrots in the sauce. It’s allergy-friendly, easy to make, and always gets clean plates.
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A large pan full of Mango Curry, drizzled with cream and sprinkled with parsley sitting on a bench next to a small bowl of cashew nuts, a ramekin of coconut, a bowl of rice and a plate of sliced bananas.
Chicken Patties
These easy chicken patties are a family favourite—quick to make, freezer-friendly, and packed with hidden veggies. Serve them on their own, tuck them into lunchboxes, or pop them in a bun for a quick homemade chicken burger.
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Fried chicken patty held up on a metal spatula, a dozen patties below on wooden chopping board, fresh salad in bowl on benchtop.
Chicken Paprikash
This Chicken Paprikash recipe is a quick and easy take on the traditional Hungarian dish. Made with paprika and sour cream, it's a flavorful family dinner that's ready in under 30 minutes.
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A frying pan filled with chicken paprikash
Honey Garlic Chicken
Sticky, sweet, and salty, this stir fry hits the table in just 15 minutes. A weeknight classic that’s loved by both kids and grown-ups.
Check out this recipe
A bowl of saucy chicken, and green steamed vegetables on a marble bench top.
​Apricot Chicken
This easy apricot chicken is so kid-friendly with its perfect combination of savoury and sweet. Tender chicken in a yummy sauce with pieces of sweet juicy apricot makes it a delicious family meal.
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A large skillet of apricot chicken on a table sop with a serving on a plate, halved apricots and a large bowl of rice.
Satay Chicken Stir Fry
Mild, nutty, and fast to make, this stir fry is a weeknight winner. It’s ready in under 30 minutes and full of flavor the whole family can enjoy.
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A blue bowl of chicken and vegetables with a peanut satay sauce on rice.
Crockpot Roasted Chicken
This set-and-forget whole chicken cooks low and slow to tender perfection. A hands-off dinner that feeds the whole crew with hardly any clean-up.
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A platter of roast chicken and vegetables in front of a slow cooker
Poached Chicken Breast
This simple poached chicken breast recipe requires just chicken and water, making it a fuss-free option. It's versatile—serve it hot with sides, shred for sandwiches, or use in salads.
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Slices of chicken breast on mashed potatoes with green beans and a yellow sauce.
Chicken Gnocchi Bake
One tray, minimal prep—this hearty dish pairs gnocchi, chicken, and Italian herbs in a no-fuss bake. Great for busy evenings and fridge raids.
Check out this recipe
Slices of chicken sitting on a bed of gnocchi in a tomato based sauce, pieces of zucchini visible.
Shredded Chicken Sandwiches
These shredded chicken sandwiches are a quick and adaptable meal—perfect for lunchboxes or easy dinners. Using poached chicken, they come together swiftly and can be customized to suit all tastes.
Check out this recipe
Shredded chicken sandwiches stacked on a wooden board and held together with a bamboo toothpick.
Asian Chicken Noodle Soup
This Asian-style chicken noodle soup is a one-pot wonder, ready in just 15–20 minutes. It's a comforting, kid-approved meal that's both quick and nourishing.
Check out this recipe
A grey ceramic bowl of chicken noodle soup. chili oil, noodles and bok choy visible.
Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry
This vibrant stir fry is a weeknight winner—ready in under 30 minutes with a sweet pineapple twist that kids adore. It's a flexible, one-pan meal where you can toss in your favorite veggies and let the hoisin-pineapple sauce do the magic.
Check out this recipe
A small black rimmed white bowl filled with a colourful chicken vegetable stir fry, pieces of pineapple and cashew nuts also visible.
Baked Chicken Cutlets
Crispy and golden without the frying mess, these oven-baked cutlets use a clever mayo-and-crumb coating for maximum crunch. They're quick to prep and a guaranteed hit with the whole family.
Check out this recipe
A dinner plate with green beans to the front and a crumbed chicken cutlet resting on mashed potato with a bowl of mashed potato in the background
Chicken and Leek Pie Family Friendly Dinner
This comforting pie combines tender chicken, sweet leeks, and hidden veggies under a flaky puff pastry top. It's a one-pan wonder that’s both hearty and simple to prepare.
Check out this recipe
Chicken and leek pie in baking dish.
Chicken and Leek Risotto
No stirring required—this oven-baked risotto is a hands-off dinner that delivers creamy comfort with minimal effort.Packed with leeks, peas, and tender chicken, it's a family favorite that’s freezer-friendly too.
Check out this recipe
A blue bowl filled with risotto, leeks, chicken and peas visible
Chicken Couscous with Chorizo and Chickpeas
This one-pan meal is bursting with flavor from smoky chorizo, tender chicken, and hearty chickpeas. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's a fuss-free dinner that brings everyone to the table.
Check out this recipe
A large cast iron skillet of Chicken Couscous resting on a wooden chopping board on a bench with a hand holding a serving on a plate above it.
Paprika Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Just five ingredients and into the oven they go—these smoky, garlicky drumsticks are low on prep and big on flavor.
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Nine cooked chicken drumsticks with sticky glossy paprika sauce on top inside a white oven dish lined with baking paper.
Honey Soy Chicken And Veggies Sheet Pan
This one-pan wonder combines juicy chicken, hearty potatoes, and colorful veggies, all glazed in a sticky honey-soy-mustard sauce. With minimal prep and just 35 minutes in the oven, it's a fuss-free, family-friendly meal that delivers big flavor with little effort.
Check out this recipe
Roasted chicken glazed in honey soy sauce roasted zucchini, carrots and potatoes on a baking tray.
Popcorn Chicken
These bite-sized chicken tenders are oven-baked to crispy perfection, making them a healthier alternative to takeout.Quick to prepare and fun to eat, they're perfect for little hands and big appetites alike.
Check out this recipe
A small mesh basket filled with popcorn chicken, plus a side plate of more popcorn chicken with batons of cucumber.
Maple Chicken Tray Bake
This 5-ingredient tray bake is a hands-off dinner hero—just prep, pour over a quick maple-butter caramel, and let the oven do the rest. With chicken, sweet potato, and green veggies all in one pan, it’s a no-fuss, family-friendly meal that delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
Check out this recipe
spoon of maple syrup caramel mixed with the tray juices from the chicken and vegetables.
Summer Roll Bowls
All the fresh, vibrant flavors of rice paper rolls—without the rolling! These deconstructed bowls come together in just 15 minutes, making them a quick, customizable dinner option that's perfect for busy families seeking a healthy, hands-on meal.
Check out this recipe
Summer roll bowl on benchtop, grated carrot, shredded cabbage, chopped lettuce, vermicelli, sliced cucumber, avocado, shrimp, chicken slices and satay sauce drizzled down the centre garnished with peanuts. Bowl in background with satay sauce and plate with grated carrot and cucmber slices.
Teriyaki Chicken Sushi Bowl
This build-your-own sushi bowl is a fun, interactive meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes. With oven-baked teriyaki chicken and a variety of fresh toppings, it’s a family favorite that lets everyone customize their bowl to their liking.
Check out this recipe
A bowl of teriyaki chicken Rice, vegetables and toasted seaweed pickled ginger and sesame seeds.
Pad Thai With Chicken
This homemade Pad Thai sauce is quick to whip up and brings authentic flavor to your stir-fries. Made with pantry staples, it's a versatile addition that can elevate a simple chicken and noodle dish into a family favorite in no time.
Check out this recipe
A white plate with black rim holding pad this, with bean sprouts, lime wedges and prawns visible above a large fry pan of pad thai.
Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
These 3-ingredient chicken nuggets are oven-baked and allergy-friendly—gluten, dairy, and egg-free. Quick to prepare and perfect for little hands, they’re a healthier alternative to store-bought options without compromising on taste.
Check out this recipe
Crumbed chicken nuggets in a green bowl with a small bowl of tomato sauce.
Chicken Pasta Bake
Packed with spinach, cauliflower, and chicken, this bake sneaks in plenty of goodness. Great for batch cooking and feeding a crowd.
Check out this recipe
A slate blue rectangular ceramic baking dish filled with a cheesy pasta bake
Chicken Pasta Soup For Kids
This one-pot creamy chicken pasta soup is the perfect comfort food for chilly days or when the family needs a nourishing boost. With no need to pre-cook the pasta, everything simmers together, making it a fuss-free meal that's both economical and kid-approved. The addition of pasta makes it especially appealing to little ones who might be hesitant about soup.
Check out this recipe
child's hands holding bowl of chicken pasta soup
Baked Mango Chicken Meatballs
These Mango Chicken Meatballs are juicy, naturally sweet, and packed with hidden veggies like carrot and onion. Baked in a mini muffin tray, they’re perfect for baby-led weaning, toddler meals, or a fuss-free family dinner. Freeze well, pack beautifully in lunchboxes, and are a great way to use up fresh or frozen mango. This easy recipe is dairy-free, oven-baked, and a hit with picky eaters!
Check out this recipe
A person holding a piece soft chicken meatball with a mango n a counter.

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