22 Heart-Healthy Chicken Recipes Packed with Flavor (2024)

26 Easy, Tasty Chicken Recipes to Add to Your Meal Plan

Oven-Fried Chicken

Yes, "fried" chicken can also be a healthy dinner option. A coating of crushed cornflakes and spices adds bold flavor to this decadent feel-good dish. Oven-frying chicken offers a way to enjoy this comfort food without all the calories.

Chicken and Asparagus Skillet Supper

Here's a healthy chicken dinner that's low-carb and ready to add to your keto meal plan. Juicy chicken thighs are accompanied by asparagus, squash, and bacon for a delicious dinner. Bonus: this is one of those 20-minute dinner recipes, making it an easy option for busy weeknights.

Lemon Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Grab a whole chicken on your next grocery run to make this healthy chicken recipe for the family tonight. The 3-ingredient recipe (plus some salt and pepper) stuffs the bird with lemon and thyme before popping it in your air fryer. No oven or preheating is required!

Mediterranean Chicken-Pomegranate Stir-Fry

Even if you're not following a Mediterranean diet, you're definitely going to enjoy this healthy chicken meal. The easy skillet dinner idea starts by seasoning chicken breasts with warm spices such as cumin, coriander, and paprika before stir-frying with fresh vegetables. Serve over rice with pomegranate seeds and chopped pistachios.

Greek Oregano Chicken with Spinach, Orzo, and Grape Tomatoes

This Greek-inspired healthy chicken dinner is a touch over 400 calories, but it includes your veggies and pasta—making it a complete meal. Lemon peel and juice punch up the flavor without adding sodium or fat.

Korean Chicken Tacos

Here's a fun twist for taco night. This Asian-inspired chicken taco is bursting with flavor from soy sauce, lime juice, ginger, chili-garlic sauce, and kimchi. Quickly cook everything in one skillet and pile onto corn tortillas for an easy, healthy chicken dinner idea.

Buy It: Lodge Cast Iron Skillet ($25, Walmart)

Picadillo-Style Chicken Taco Salad

This healthy chicken dish is loaded with flavor from ample spices, onion, and olives. A delightful hint of sweetness comes from a sprinkling of snipped prunes (seriously, try it before you judge). Crispy tostada shells add a satisfying crunch without the calories and fat of traditional fried taco salad shells.

Lemon-Sage Roasted Chicken Thighs

You can't go wrong with a one-pan dish. A medley of baby carrots, garlic, and shallots cooks alongside tender chicken thighs in a zesty lemon broth, adding a full-bodied flavor. With fewer than 400 calories per serving, this healthy chicken dinner recipe is definitely one to make again and again.

Cilantro-Lime Pasta Salad

Loaded with chunks of avocado and mango, this beautiful dish makes an excellent healthy chicken dinner during hot summer days. But there's no need to limit it to one season; you're likely to crave it year-round. The bright, refreshing flavors taste great either hot or cold, making this an excellent brown-bag lunch recipe.

Chicken Alfredo Cauliflower Rice Bake

When you're craving Italian but trying to cut the carbs, opt for this healthy chicken dinner idea. Cauliflower rice is swapped for regular rice and light Alfredo sauce provides creaminess without packing on a ton of calories. Use a rotisserie chicken to keep the prep time down.

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Spring Onions and Baby Bok Choy

This healthy chicken recipe stays nice and juicy while packing in flavor thanks to bone-in chicken thighs. Grilled bok choy and homemade relish complete the meal. If you can't find spring onions (bulb onions harvested before the bulb swells), you can substitute ramps or green onions here as well.

Power Kale Salad

A main-dish salad is as nutritious as it is filling. Kale, a healthier swap for lettuce, has a good amount of fiber, and you can't beat the leanness of a baked chicken. Even the dressing is healthy; the pomegranate-blueberry juice and cherries are full of antioxidants.

Thai Green Curry Chicken

In only 35 minutes, you can be indulging in this better-than-takeout Asian-inspired dish. Coconut milk offers a bit of sweetness to balance the classic Thai flavors in this healthy chicken recipe.

Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Roll-Ups

These easy chicken roll-ups mean you don't have to sacrifice flavor to watch your waistline. Each serving has fewer than 250 calories (while still giving you 28 grams of protein) and showcases Mediterranean flavors with garlicky goat cheese, dried tomato pesto, and roasted red bell peppers.

Sweet Potato, Chicken, and Spinach in Browned Butter

Get your "noodle" fix by spiralizing sweet potatoes. Combined with spinach and apples sautéed in brown bed butter, you've got a delicious fall dinner ready in 30 minutes. Top with Parmesan and walnuts for a nutty finish.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

A creamy sauce may not seem like the start to a healthy chicken dinner, but our Test Kitchen made it work thanks to light sour cream and yogurt. Diced green chile peppers bring extra flavor to the chicken and spinach in this Southwestern dish. Garnish with chopped tomato and toasted almonds for a colorful touch.

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Salad

Turn your favorite party appetizer into a healthy chicken dinner with this main-dish salad recipe. Chicken breasts are marinated in a hot pepper sauce blend before being grilled to perfection. Tossed with cabbage, carrots, celery, and blue cheese dressing, it's an irresistible blend of spice and crunchy texture.

Pasta with Chicken, Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese

This simple healthy chicken dish combines the heartiness of a pasta salad with the freshness of a tossed green salad. Feta cheese and a tangy citrus dressing tie it all together. Opt for a gluten-free pasta made with plant-based ingredients such as chickpeas to keep your dinner allergy-friendly while adding some extra fiber.

Red Bean, Chicken, and Sweet Potato Stew

The peanut butter base of this soup gives it a mild nutty taste, while Cajun seasoning and cilantro brighten the flavors. Use your slow cooker to make this healthy chicken meal even more convenient.

Pressure Cooker Indian-Spiced Chicken

Grab your Instant Pot to make this easy healthy chicken dinner. The Paleo-friendly recipe brings the heat with the addition of Indian spices (curry and cayenne powder). Coconut milk tames the spice while making the dish nice and creamy. Serve over hot cauliflower rice to keep the carb count down.

Paleo Chicken Meatball Noodle Bowl

Wondering how this healthy chicken dinner with noodles is Paleo? The parsnip "noodles," that's how. The spiralized veggies are quickly sautéed and topped with homemade chicken meatballs. Finished with a sweet and spicy vinegar mixture, it's a healthy chicken recipe that will seriously turn heads.

Chicken Enchilada Wraps

This blend of spicy seasonings and fresh ingredients come together in just 25 minutes, making these wraps a delicious healthy chicken dinner idea for weeknights. Make them even more efficient by preparing the filling ahead of time—just cover and chill for up to 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is chicken a good option for heart-healthy meals?

  Of course! If you choose mostly ground chicken or chicken breast, you’ll be getting around 35 grams of protein; about 170 calories, and 3.5 grams of fat, per portion, making it the perfect addition to any low-calorie, high-protein-friendly lifestyle. Also, chicken is one of the leanest meat out there, however, we recommend methods like boiled chicken breast or oven-baked whole chicken to keep it truly healthy.
  

• What’s the best way to add more flavor to chicken soups and stews?

  Besides loading your recipes with fresh herbs, veggies, and seasoning, you may want to add some chicken broth or chicken stock to kick the flavor up to another level—this is perfect to thin any chicken soup or stew recipes as well as working as a base for any chicken marinades. Make sure to choose low-sodium options if you’re watching your daily intake.
  

• How long to cook chicken to get juicy results?

  First of all, avoid consuming chicken that’s still pink—if you’re not sure how long to cook chicken, whether you’re using a whole chicken or cut pieces, check the temperature. Cook breast meat to 165°F and at least 175° for thighs and drumsticks is recommended. Otherwise, it pretty much depends on the cooking method and portions, but it shouldn’t be less than 20 minutes, minimum.