Chicken recipes that need minimal cleanup are perfect when you need recipes that taste as good as they look. From quick weeknight options to dishes fit for a crowd, these ideas are made to be simple and satisfying. You’ll find plenty to keep your table full and your family happy.

Chicken Marsala

A bowl of chicken Marsala over mashed potatoes served with buttered peas and carrots.
Chicken Marsala. Photo credit: Sage Alpha Gal.

This chicken Marsala recipe features tender chicken breast served in a buttery mushroom and Marsala sauce. Serve it with your favorite starch — like mashed potatoes or buttered noodles — and a side of seasonal vegetables for a filling meal that’s elegant but easy to make!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Marsala

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

A basket of fried chicken pieces and fries on newspaper-themed paper, placed on a wooden table with a side of seasonings.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

This Buttermilk Fried Chicken isn’t just crispy—it’s the reigning champ. A tangy buttermilk marinade keeps the meat juicy, while the spiced crust delivers unbeatable crunch. Accept no soggy imposters!
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Two crispy fried chicken drumsticks on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, garnished with dill. A fork is placed beside the dish. The chicken is golden brown and the potatoes have a smooth texture.
Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Oven ‘fried’ and still finger-lickin’ good—because Southerners know a good shortcut when they see one!
Get the Recipe: Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy

A plate of breaded and fried chicken cutlet topped with brown gravy sits on a bed of white rice. The dish is garnished with chopped fresh herbs and accompanied by a sprig of parsley. A striped yellow and white napkin is placed beside the plate on a wooden table.
Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

There’s nothing more comforting than golden-fried breaded cutlets topped with rich, savory pan gravy. Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy delivers cozy, down-home flavor in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy

Chicken-Fried Chicken with Creamy Country Gravy

A classic Southern comfort food, this Chicken Fried Chicken features a breaded and fried cutlet topped with rich gravy, served with mashed potatoes on a decorative green and white plate beside a gold fork and knife.
Chicken-Fried Chicken with Creamy Country Gravy. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

If you’ve ever been to the South (or if you just have good taste), you’ve probably encountered Chicken-Fried Chicken with Gravy. A crispy, golden brown, tender chicken breast smothered in a creamy, country-style gravy; yeah, that’s comfort food at its finest!
Get the Recipe: Chicken-Fried Chicken with Creamy Country Gravy

Country Captain Chicken Is the Curry the South Claimed

A plate of white rice topped with tender Country Captain chicken in tomato sauce, garnished with chopped parsley and slivered almonds, served with a gold fork on the side.
Country Captain Chicken Is the Curry the South Claimed. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Meet Country Captain Chicken, the dish that sailed from the Indian subcontinent to the American South, docking deliciously in kitchens from Savannah to Charleston! It’s like your favorite Southern comfort food took a semester abroad and came back with stories—and spices.
Get the Recipe: Country Captain Chicken Is the Curry the South Claimed

Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole

A plate of chicken with rice garnished with parsley on a white surface with an orange napkin, wooden utensils, and ingredients nearby.
Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole is such an easy weeknight dinner. It includes cheesy, yummy broccoli with seasoned chicken on top, served on a bed of a rice and pasta blend. Bake it in the oven and, voila, the tastiest casserole ever!
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole

Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

A bowl of rice with corn and herbs on a striped cloth with garnishes on the side.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole Recipe has just five ingredients. And you can make it with rice, chicken and cheese you have leftover from other dishes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot

A whole chicken seasoned with herbs and spices in a slow cooker, ready to be cooked.
Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

When I talk about making fried chicken in my slow cooker, the word “fried” is a euphemism. I’m not really frying anything. However, the end result tastes like fried chicken.
Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot

30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta

Creamy Chicken And Corn Pasta closeup partial of finished dish cropped horizontal.
30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta recipe is so easy to make and so delicious to eat. Bowtie pasta complements the seasoned chicken chunks. Also, it’s topped with bacon. Bacon makes everything better.
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta

Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie

Close-up of a roasted chicken with crispy, golden-brown skin seasoned with herbs and coarse salt, on a wooden cutting board.
Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This recipe for how to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer will change your mind about supermarket rotisserie chicken forever. It is far cheaper and far more delicious.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie

Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer

A close-up of chopsticks holding a piece of glazed, grilled chicken. The chicken appears juicy and well-cooked.
Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

There are a couple of reasons we think you’re going to love learning about how to make BBQ drumsticks in the air fryer. One is it it is much neater than cooking them on the grill.
Get the Recipe: Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer

Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

Plate of chicken with a creamy sauce, served with potatoes and carrots, garnished with parsley.
Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This recipe for Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken is such a classic. It has only six ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Close-up of a stack of seasoned, grilled chicken drumsticks, with one drumstick partially eaten, revealing moist, cooked meat inside. A lemon wedge and herbs are visible in the background.
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

You can get the taste of fried chicken without oil or the mess when you make these chicken drumsticks in the air fryer. Prep and cooking time is 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

A plate with sweet and spicy glazed chicken topped with cranberries, served with green beans and a side of yellow rice.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

One of the reasons I love this Crock Pot recipe for chicken with cranberries is it has four ingredients only. That’s not a typo — just four ingredients. And with three of them, you’re opening a seasoning packet, a can of cranberry sauce or a bottle of Catalina dressing.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Cheesy potato casserole topped with crispy bacon and chopped green onions in a black dish.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a quick and delicious crowd pleasing dinner everyone loves. Even the picky eaters will ask for seconds. One of the reasons I love this recipe is it is one of the fastest Crock Pot recipes I’ve ever used. Unlike some other slow cooker recipes that cook overnight or take eight or 10 hours, this casserole is done in four hours.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini

Close-up of tortellini pasta cooking in a creamy yellow sauce with pieces of chicken, stirred by a wooden spoon.
Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

When I made this Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini, I cooked the chicken thighs in the alfredo sauce first, using evaporated milk. Then I added heavy cream and, finally, the tortellini, turning this into a delicious, easy one-pot meal that tastes just like the restaurant.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine

A close-up of fettuccine Alfredo topped with grilled chicken pieces, garnished with parsley. Breadstick visible in the background.
Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is such a delicious, quick and easy dinner. It features seasoned chicken that you serve on top of fettuccine noodles. Everything is tossed with a luscious alfredo sauce.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine

Sous Vide Chicken Breasts

A plate of grilled chicken breast slices on a bed of mixed greens, tomatoes, and mozzarella, garnished with fresh basil leaves.
Sous Vide Chicken Breasts. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Want to know how to get the perfect chicken breasts every time? Sous vide them! Sous vide, which means “under vacuum” in French, refers to the process of vacuum-sealing food in a bag, then cooking it in a water bath.
Get the Recipe: Sous Vide Chicken Breasts

Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

Sliced breaded and fried chicken breast on a wooden board, garnished with herbs and accompanied by lemon slices.
Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Air fryer chicken cutlets offer a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried versions while still delivering crispy, golden perfection. You can achieve restaurant-quality results at home with minimal oil and effort using this simple recipe.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with Fresh Veggies

A plate with grilled chicken breast, asparagus, and zucchini slices, garnished with basil, on a wooden table.
Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with Fresh Veggies. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

With this Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Breasts with Fresh Veggies, you’ve got a delightful combination of succulent chicken and fresh, seasonal vegetables, all cooked together on one pan for a fuss-free yet delicious dinner.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with Fresh Veggies

Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

Close-up of a dish featuring seasoned strips of chicken, red and yellow bell peppers, green peppers, and onions.
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

If you’ve ever gone out for Mexican food and ordered fajitas, you can smell them on the way to your table before they even arrive. This recipe for air fryer chicken fajitas provides the same olfactory and taste buds experience. Plus, it’s fast and easy for a busy night dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

A wooden board with seasoned chicken wings, a bowl of white dipping sauce with lemon slices, and celery and carrot sticks.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

The process for making these Air Fryer Chicken Wings is so simple. It has very few ingredients, takes very little time to cook and you end up with delicious, crispy chicken wings.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken

A cast iron skillet filled with cooked chicken pieces and topped with sliced peaches.
Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

I love finding ways to work peaches into a dinner when they’re in season during the summer. That’s why this peach whiskey barbecue chicken recipe works so well. It’s sweet and savory in all the right kinds of ways.
Get the Recipe: Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken

Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers

A plate of white rice topped with chunks of chicken and sliced green bell peppers, all cooked in a creamy yellow sauce.
Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

With prep and cooking time, we were able to make this Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers in about 20 minutes. That’s not an exaggeration.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers

Slow Cooker Wawa Inspired Chicken Corn Chowder

Close-up of a creamy chicken and corn chowder with chopped bacon and potatoes, garnished with fresh chives.
Slow Cooker Wawa Inspired Chicken Corn Chowder. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

If you’re looking for cold-weather comfort food, this slow cooker chicken corn chowder will leave you feeling full and satisfied. It’s so easy to make that I know I’ll be cooking it all winter long. It reminds me of the chicken corn chowder I would order from Wawa when I lived near one years ago.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Wawa Inspired Chicken Corn Chowder

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

A bowl of rice topped with shredded chicken and green onions, with chopsticks resting on the side.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken lets you feel like you’ve ordered in Chinese food without the take out price. The secret ingredients to this flavorful dish? Soy sauce, hoisin sauce, toasted sesame oil and rice vinegar.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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