25 Easy Chicken Dinners for When You're Too Tired to Cook

Make the impossible possible with these low-effort recipes.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published February 03, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
no-peek chicken in a casserole dish at a table setting with two glasses and a table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Mustering up the energy to cook dinner can sometimes feel impossible, but the right recipes can make it totally doable. This collection features fuss-free chicken dinners like quick skillet and one-pot meals, hands-off casseroles, sheet-pan suppers, and a few four- or five-ingredient winners. We're talking Chicken Carbonara, Chicken Divan, Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, and One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes. Whatever you choose, you can sit down to a satisfying meal with minimal effort.

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  • 20-Minute Chicken Enchilada Chili

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "This chili starts with that doctored-up enchilada sauce and just three more main ingredients go into the pot: shredded cooked chicken, canned black beans, and canned (or frozen and thawed) corn. For the chicken, you can use leftovers or a rotisserie chicken." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Queso Spaghetti

    Chicken Queso Spaghetti on a plate with a fork

    Simply Recipes / Morgan Baker

    "One of the reasons this chicken queso spaghetti has endured in my family is how flexible it is. On especially busy nights, I reach for pre-shredded rotisserie chicken, which keeps the prep minimal and gets dinner on the table fast." —Morgan Baker, Recipe Developer

  • Salsa Chicken

    salsa verde chicken in a dutch oven at a table setting with a stack of plates with utensils and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "Jarred salsa verde is the key ingredient here. It gently cooks the chicken breasts and permeates them with great flavor as they cook. Look for salsa verde that has a thicker texture—some store-bought salsas can be runny." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • No-Peek Chicken

    no-peek chicken in a casserole dish at a table setting with two glasses and a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "The playful name comes from the set-it-and-forget-it nature of this dish. You add all of the ingredients to a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake. No peeking! This helps ensure the rice cooks through and the chicken is moist." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

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  • Chicken Larb Lettuce Wraps (Larb Gai)

    Sally Vargas

    "In this recipe, you cook ground chicken (or turkey) in a skillet quickly until it browns, add some chopped shallots, and season it all with lime juice, chili sauce, and fresh herbs. Pile it into a lettuce cup for a supper that has tons of flavor with very little effort." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Microwave Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)

    Microwave Oyakodon and Rice in a Small Plate Surrounded by a Table Setting with a Spoon, a Table Napkin, and a Small Plate with Kimchi

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "Oyakodon is quick and easy to make at home and is traditionally cooked on the stovetop. But making it in the microwave cuts the cook time in half to under 10 minutes—this is significant for a busy working mom who is often up against the clock to get dinner on the table." —Myo Quinn, former Associate Editorial Director

  • Dump-and-Stir White Chicken Chili

    overhead view of a bowl of Dump-and-Stir White Chicken Chili

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Craig Ruff / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle

    "From start to finish, this soup is ready in 20 minutes or less, and all you’ll need is a can opener and a pot. Dinner doesn’t get much easier than that." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Creamy Chicken Florentine

    Creamy chicken Florentine in skillet.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "With tender chicken cutlets nestled into a creamy spinach sauce, this recipe uses just one pan and is practically a complete meal all on its own." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

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  • One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

    Overhead view of a baking sheet of roast chicken thighs and potatoes

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "I employ the contents of a ranch seasoning mix packet to keep things easy and use it to marinate both the chicken and potatoes. I often use baby Yukon gold potatoes because there’s minimal prep—just a simple wash and pat dry, and they’re ready to go." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Divan

    Casserole dish with chicken divan topped with crushed crackers a wooden spoon serving a portion

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "I still crave the comforting predictability of chicken Divan on cold days. It’s also a great choice for busy weeknight dinners because you just load everything in a casserole dish and let the magic happen in the oven." —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Tacos

    Buffalo Chicken Tacos Topped With Blue Cheese Crumbles and Green Onion Slices and Next to a Lime Quarter, All on a Platter, and in the Surroundings, Another Lime Slice on the the Counter, a Small Bowl With More Cheese, and a Glass of Water

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "They come together in under 20 minutes thanks to grocery store shortcuts like rotisserie chicken and bagged coleslaw mix. Even better, you don’t need to turn on the oven or stove. It’s a no-sweat, family-friendly dinner that is sure to become a regular on your roster." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Dill Pickle Chicken and Rice Skillet

    Cooked chicken thighs on a bed of rice with chopped pickles and herbs in a skillet

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "Whenever I can find a way to work pickles into a recipe, I do. I recently developed a recipe for a five-ingredient, one-pan rice bake, and as I was testing it I had a thought: a rice bake would be a great vehicle for dill pickle flavor!" —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

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  • 4-Ingredient Chicken Pot Pie

    A plate containing chicken pot pie with a serving utensil nearby

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "If you like a lot of crust with your chicken pot pie, thaw two sheets of puff pastry and bake the second sheet on a sheet pan alongside the pot pie (there's no need to roll out the puff pastry at all). Serve it with the pot pie—you can break off pieces as desired." —Megan Scott, former Senior Editor

  • Chicken and Corn Casserole

    Chicken, Corn, and Tangy Cabbage Casserole in a baking dish with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer 

    "The ingredient that makes this casserole special isn’t chicken, corn, or even cheese—it’s tangy pickled cabbage. Whether you go for kimchi or sauerkraut, this powerhouse ingredient comes ready-to-use straight from the jar or bag—no chopping, trimming, or fuss required." —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

    Chicken stuffing casserole in a baking dish with a serving spoon visible

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hausser

    "The casserole can be assembled in advance, it requires minimal ingredients and minimal prep time, there are endless ways to adapt the basic recipe to suit your family’s preferences, and it’s one of those rare gems that everyone seems to love." —Blair Lonergan, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Chicken Cobbler

    Angled view of a white plate of chicken cobbler and fork on a speckled countertop

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "This super easy cobbler is made all in one baking dish—right down to melting the butter! Just assemble all the layers (no stovetop cooking required) and pop the dish in the oven to cook all together, freeing you up for other tasks." —Afton Cyrus, Senior Editor

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  • Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Sheet pan with cooked chicken strips and assorted vegetables surrounded by small bowls of guacamole pico de gallo and condiments

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "My version of this easy sheet pan fajitas recipe calls for chicken tenders for the easiest possible prep. You can also swap in an equivalent weight of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, just plan for a few extra minutes to cut them into strips." —Deborah Koenig, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Carbonara

    Chicken carbonara

    Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes

    "Once you have the method down, it will lose its mystique and become a go-to for when you’re in the mood for a hearty meal that can be whipped up in just 30 minutes." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Skillet Chicken and Rice

    Nick Evans

    "Cook the chicken, add the veggies and rice, nestle the chicken back in, simmer it all together, and dinner is done." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets

    Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets in a Stainless Steel Skillet

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "With its warm topping of tomatoes and cheese, this dinner is plenty rich and flavorful. Serve on top of fettuccine or zucchini noodles, or alongside steamed rice and vegetables." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

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  • Thai-Style Chicken Fried Rice

    Thai fried rice on a platter at a table setting with a serving of fried rice on a plate, a small plate with Thai basil, a glass of water, and a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "This take on the take-out favorite is Thai-inspired, with red curry paste providing the bulk of the flavor ... In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have restaurant-worthy chicken fried rice." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Creamy Tuscan Chicken

    creamy tuscan chicken in a pot next to sliced bread on a wooden board and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "It feels natural to serve this creamy dish over pasta to catch all the sauce. Long shapes like fettuccine and spaghetti are good choices as well as short shapes like penne and even orzo." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Sheet Pan Chicken Caesar Salad

    Sheet pan caesar salad on a platter with a bowl of fresh parmesan, salad utensils, and a beige table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN

    "There isn’t a ton of prep with this dish, but if you want to get ahead of the game, you could cook the chicken and croutons up to 1 day in advance. Let the chicken cool before storing it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Keep croutons in an airtight container on the counter." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos

    overhead close-up view of BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "This is one of those recipes where the measurements suggested are just that: suggestions. Feel free to add or subtract according to your family’s taste buds! Start with some shredded cooked chicken and toss it in bottled barbecue sauce." —Claudia Cash, Recipe Developer

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  • Greek Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)

    Sally Vargas

    "I’ve given instructions for both inside cooking and outdoor grilling. The day I made these was cold and rainy, so I made everything on the stovetop in a grill pan I keep for occasions like this. Turn the heat up high and you'll still get great grill marks!" —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

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