Staying inside and cooking every day, you may find yourself defaulting to the same meals every week. However, there is a huge variety of recipes and cooking techniques to explore, and now is the perfect time to try something different. Take a classic ingredient like chicken breast and make it new! One of the most versatile proteins, you can prepare chicken breast in the oven, on the grill, in the slow cooker, in an air fryer, and so much more. Learn more about seven different ways to cook chicken breast and find inspiration with our favorite recipes linked below.
Baking/Roasting
When you’re running low on time and need a simple, quick dinner, there’s nothing better than a sheet pan meal. Simply prepare the ingredients on a pan, place in the oven, and dinner is ready in practically no time.
A few of ideas we love? Coat chicken in seasoning, sauce, and cheese for a quick chicken parmesan, have a Taco Tuesday night with oven-baked chicken fajitas, or roast chicken and vegetables on one sheet pan for a well-rounded family dinner. And don’t forget about the best part of sheet pan dinners – minimal prep makes cleanup easier than ever!
Grilling
Grilling is a great way to cook chicken breasts quickly while adding more texture and flavor. Before grilling, you should always marinate your protein to add flavor and keep the chicken moist. One of our favorite grilled chicken breast recipes uses Grill Mates Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade to add a delicious blend of sweet brown sugar, bourbon, red bell peppers, and spices.
You can also make your own marinade by combining seasoning with liquids, such as oil and vinegar. Make Italian Herb Marinated Chicken by giving chicken breasts a 30-minute marinade in a mixture of Italian seasonings, olive oil, and white wine vinegar, then throw them on the grill. After 15 minutes, you’ll have a quick and tasty protein for lunch or dinner.
If you have some extra cans of Dr. Pepper around the house, you can use that to your advantage and make a tasty marinade by mixing the soda with Grill Mates Smokehouse Maple Seasoning. The result? A perfectly sweet and smoky flavored chicken.
While grilled chicken tastes great on its own, everything tastes better with bacon! Featuring bacon wrapped around chunks of smoky, maple-seasoned chicken, this recipe for Grilled Maple Bacon Chicken Bites is a summer barbeque must.
While marinating is crucial, you may not always have time to start the process hours before cooking. Be sure to check out our 5-minute marinating guide for the best way for achieving fast flavor.
Stir Fry
When you need to make dinner in as little time as possible, a stir fry is always a good option. Chicken and vegetables cook together in one pan, so it’s easy to make sure everything is perfectly seasoned and cooked through. You can always make a recipe your own by adding your favorite combination of vegetables, seasoning, and sauce, or you can find inspiration with a few of our top stir-fry recipes.
Lawry's Teriyaki with Pineapple Marinade adds delicious flavor to chicken, but it also makes a great stir-fry sauce when combined with broth and cornstarch. Try it out with the Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry recipe tonight.
When you’re craving something sweet and fruity, try this Hawaiian-inspired Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry. The flavors of McCormick Garlic Herb, Black Pepper and Sea Salt All-Purpose Seasoning, sweet pineapple juice, and tangy soy sauce coat chicken and veggies to make a delicious family-friendly dinner.
Stuffed
If you like your chicken full of cheesy goodness, stuffed chicken is for you! This method is easier than you may think, too. Simply cut out a pocket in the chicken breast to fill with cheese so everything melts together. Fresh mozzarella is ideal - try it with roasted red peppers to make Grilled Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken, or tomatoes to make Stuffed Chicken Caprese!
Skillet
When you’re out of ideas for dinner, there’s always the staple of chicken, vegetables, and rice to fall back on. This one-pan Southwest Skillet Chicken and Rice recipe only takes 30 minutes and uses Lawry’s Seasoned Salt and chili powder to kick up the southwestern flavor.
If you’re in the mood for Mediterranean-inspired flavors instead, try our McCormick Tuscan Chicken & Vegetables ONE Seasoning Mix. This Tuscan Chicken and Vegetables recipe calls for chicken tenders, but you can easily replace it with sliced chicken breast for an easy family dinner.
Slow Cooker
When you don’t have the time to cook during the day, the slow cooker is your best friend! Throw all the ingredients and spices in, then relax and go about your day as dinner cooks to perfection in the kitchen. The slow and low cooking method is a great way to keep chicken breast moist and flavorful without overcooking it.
While you’re busy working from home, your slow cooker will be working to simmer a flavorful chicken and rice meal! Made with golden curry powder, this Slow Cooker Chicken Rice Curry is worth the wait.
If your family loves Mexican food, make a big batch of Slow Cookers Fiesta Chicken to enjoy all week. Use the flavorful chicken and beans as a base for tacos, burritos, rice bowls, and more.
When you want to make a hearty, satisfying dinner for your family, Creamy Country Chicken with Vegetables hits the spot. Just take 10 minutes in the morning to prep, then let it cook on low for eight hours as the flavors melt together.
Air Fry
Last but not least, you can always pull out your trusty air fryer to make these kid-friendly chicken nuggets. The air fryer cooks small pieces of the chicken breast until they are perfectly crispy, making a healthier, homemade version of your kids’ favorite fast food. Serve with their favorite dunkers and a veggie side for a complete meal.
