I'm Nicole. Here you’ll find easy, delicious, low-cost family dinner ideas that you can make with simple ingredients, without having to spend hours in the kitchen!
Chicken is the one thing that’s always in my fridge, and it’s the meat I fall back on when I have no idea what to make for dinner. These are my favourite chicken dinner ideas – all family-tested, most on the table in under 40 minutes, and none of them complicated. You’ll find one-pan bakes for nights when you can’t face the washing up, creamy pastas for when everyone needs a bit of comfort, crispy crumbed chicken that’s baked rather than fried, quick curries and noodles, and a couple of slow cooker recipes for the truly hectic days. I’ve grouped them so you can jump straight to whatever suits your night. If you’re after more than just chicken, you’ll find plenty more in my easy dinner ideas collection.
One-pan Chicken and Garlic Rice is the perfect nourishing, family-friendly meal for stress-free weeknights. It’s quick and easy and made with simple ingredients and the flavour is amazing!
Tender lasagne sheets, shredded chicken, broccoli and a creamy, garlicky cheese sauce, all cooked in the one pan. One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne is freezer-friendly, too!
This Mediterranean Chicken Tray Bake recipe is a stress-free way to cook a whole meal in one pan! Bone-in chicken thigh cutlets bake until golden in a gorgeous sauce flavoured with a handful of pantry staples, such as honey, mustard and lemon. Potatoes cook alongside and melt down into the flavoursome chicken juices.
Golden, juicy chicken thighs with crispy skin, nestled into garlicky, lemony risoni – all cooked in one pan. No boiling pasta, no juggling pans. This One-pan Greek Chicken and Risoni (Orzo) recipe is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner that looks impressive but couldn’t be easier!
Prep this delicious and comforting One-pan Lemon Garlic Chicken and Potatoes recipe in only 15 minutes for an easy, nourishing dinner that the whole family will enjoy!
One-pan Baked Chicken and Gravy is the ultimate fuss-free wholesome family meal. Easy prep, simple, low-cost ingredients and just one pan are all that’s needed to make this crispy-skinned, tender and juicy chicken with a rich gravy.
This Honey Soy Chicken Tray Bake recipe is a true one-pan weeknight dinner made with simple supermarket ingredients. Juicy caramelised chicken, tender vegetables and a sticky honey soy glaze all bake together in the tray (sheet pan) in under 30 minutes. Family-friendly, minimal prep and perfect for leftovers – it’s fakeaway flavour without the fuss.
Made with simple, low-cost ingredients, this deliciously moreish Marry Me Chicken with Risoni (Orzo) recipe is comforting and family-friendly. Taking only 30 minutes, it’s the ideal, stress-free meal for busy weeknights.
A dreamy pot pie with a properly thick, creamy filling, tender chicken and that classic chicken-and-leek flavour everyone loves. No pastry base to fuss with – just top with puff pastry and bake. This Creamy Chicken and Leek Pot Pie recipe is make-ahead friendly and perfect for busy nights when you still want something special.
Juicy chicken meatballs meet creamy, garlicky risoni. Marry Me Chicken Meatballs with Risoni (Orzo) is quick, easy and packed with flavour – perfect for a cosy night in. Serve it with extra parmesan (because more cheese is always a good idea).
This Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Risoni (Orzo) recipe is a fuss-free weeknight dinner, all made in the one pan with a rich, creamy sauce flavoured with smoky chorizo. It is on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Tender, juicy chicken strips are combined with a creamy, parmesan-laden sauce and pasta, then topped with a crispy panko crumb. Taking less than 30 minutes to make, this Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta recipe is the ultimate comfort food for a hearty and family-friendly weeknight.
This quick and easy Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner for when you are wanting to skip the takeaway and eat a comforting meal at home.
Quick and easy Bang Bang Chicken with a luscious, creamy sauce, is the perfect weeknight family dinner! The chicken is oven-baked to perfection and dinner is on the table with minimal fuss in less than 30 minutes!
These Baked Chicken Rissoles are quick to prep, oven-baked (no splatter), and deliver on juicy centres with crispy edges. They’re freezer-friendly, kid-approved, and flexible enough to pair with whatever sides you’ve got on hand – an easy, reliable weeknight dinner.
Freezer-friendly Chicken Schnitzel is the ideal weeknight family meal. This perennial favourite can be served with almost any side of your choice and is on the table in under 30 minutes.
Creamy pasta topped with chicken schnitzel is the ultimate pairing in this Crispy Chicken Schnitzel Alfredo recipe. It’s the ideal comforting family weeknight meal, but elegant enough to serve to guests.
Chicken Meatball Parmigiana has all the flavours of a classic chicken parmigiana, but in a simple, oven-baked meatball dish! Juicy chicken meatballs are baked in a rich tomato sauce, covered with melty cheese and a crispy breadcrumb topping. It’s a crowd-pleasing, comforting dinner that’s perfect with crusty bread or a green salad.
This Quick Coconut Chicken Curry recipe is comforting and flavourful, perfect for cosy family dinners any night of the week. Tender chicken pieces are simmered in a rich, coconut-based curry sauce, before being topped with yoghurt and mango chutney. It is freezer-friendly and is delicious served with basmati rice and naan bread.
This Speedy Satay Chicken recipe is a quick, minced (ground) chicken dinner ready in under 20 minutes. Juicy chicken is simmered in a creamy coconut peanut sauce that coats every piece, perfect served over rice with fresh toppings. An easy weeknight, family-friendly dinner that delivers takeaway-style flavour with minimal effort.
This One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Ramen Noodles recipe is the ultimate quick and easy dinner – ready in just 20 minutes with minimal prep and even less cleanup. The noodles cook right in the pan with the chicken and broccoli, soaking up a simple, flavour-packed sauce for a budget-friendly meal the whole family will love. It’s flexible, fuss-free and perfect for busy weeknights.
With the same delicious flavours as the classic Indian curry, this amazing Easy Butter Chicken recipe is made in just 20 minutes. Tender chicken is cooked in a creamy, tomatoey sauce brimming with aromatic spices, yet it's mild enough to be family-friendly. Rice, yoghurt and cucumber make the perfect accompaniments.
This Crispy Honey Soy Chicken is a quick alternative to takeout, featuring tender chicken pieces in a delicious honey soy sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, it’s a one-panfamily favourite that’s ready in under 30 minutes!
Slow-cooker Chicken Satay is an incredibly delicious and satisfying family meal where tender chicken and vegetables are cooked in a rich and creamy peanut and coconut sauce, then served over fragrant jasmine rice. It’s high on flavour but low on stress, as the slow-cooker does almost all the work!
This amazing, restaurant-quality Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken recipe is made with just a few simple, low-cost ingredients. After just 10 minutes of prep, it all goes in the slow-cooker to “set and forget”. After a few hours, you are left with the most satisfying family meal that is great for leftovers and also freezer-friendly.
These Juicy Oven-baked Chicken Kebabs are packed with flavour, beautifully caramelised around the edges and incredibly easy to make. Served with creamy yoghurt garlic sauce, fresh tomato and onion salad and all your favourite toppings, they’re a family-friendlyfakeaway dinner that everyone can customise to their liking.
These Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos are everything you love about caesar salad – creamy dressing, crispy bacon, salty parmesan – wrapped up in a golden, cheesy tortilla. They’re fun to eat, super family-friendly, and a brilliant way to turn a weeknight into something that feels a little special.
This Everyday Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs recipe is one I come back to again and again. The simple homemade marinade takes just minutes to make, uses everyday supermarket ingredients and creates juicy, flavour-packed chicken that tastes so much better than the pre-marinated supermarket versions. Whether you cook it in the oven, air fryer, pan or on the barbecue, this is an easy, versatile dinner that works just as well on a busy weeknight as it does when you’re entertaining friends and family.
These Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos are an easy chicken dinner made with juicy seasoned chicken, sweet corn and melted cheese, all baked inside soft tortillas until the tops are golden and crispy. This family-friendly taco recipe is easy to customise with your favourite toppings, making these baked chicken tacos perfect for busy weeknights, feeding a crowd or a fun Mexican-inspired dinner.
Yes, in almost every recipe here. Thighs are more forgiving and stay juicy, so they suit slow cooker recipes and curries. Chicken breast cooks faster and works best crumbed, sliced through a stir-fry, or in creamy pastas – just take it off the heat as soon as it’s cooked through so it doesn’t dry out.
What are some easy chicken dinners with only a few ingredients?
For recipes labelled ‘gluten-free’ or ‘dairy-free’, the ingredients included in the recipe are typically gluten- or dairy-free. However, it is the user’s responsibility to carefully check the ingredient panels on the specific brands of products purchased and used. Simple Home Edit cannot be held responsible for any adverse reactions.
