25 Light And Easy Chicken Recipes For Dinner

A light dinner recipe can be hard to come by, especially when they all seem to be more of a snack or a lunch. I’ve collected 25 light chicken recipes that are substantial enough to be dinner without turning to a dish that's heavier than you wanted.

Jump to:

• Light and Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes
• 1. Skinny Grilled Buffalo Chicken Salad & Avocado Ranch
• 2. Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
• 3. Chicken Larb
• 4. Baked Chicken Parmesan
• 5. Sweet Chicken Salad Recipe with Pineapple
• 6. Greek Stuffed Chicken
• 7. Pimiento Cheese Chicken
• 8. Garlic and Herb Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
• 9. Cashew Chicken Satay with Carrot and Coriander Salad
• 10. Cranberry Balsamic Chicken
• 11. Flavor Packed Blackened Chicken Breast Recipe
• 12. Sautéed Chicken with Sage Browned Butter
• 13. Greek Chicken Meatballs
• 14. The Easiest BBQ Chicken Breast You'll Ever Make
• 15. Huli-Huli Chicken
• 16. Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
• 17. Braised Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe
• 18. One-Skillet Chicken Tortellini
• 19. Classic Roast Chicken
• 20. Mexican Tinga de Pollo {Authentic Mexican Chicken}
• 21. Maple-Mustard Roasted Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts
• 22. {Skinny} Herbed Pasta Alfredo With Chicken & Broccoli
• 23. 30-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus
• 24. Charred Lemon Chicken Piccata
• 25. Bacon & Spinach Stuffed Chicken
• 📖 Recipe

Light and Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes

Not only is chicken one of the most affordable proteins available, but it is also easy. With low calories and tons of options for adding flavor, it's a natural addition to any diet plan. If you are tired of boring chicken dishes, then the list below is going to add tons of flavor to your meal plan.

If you need even more inspiration, check out this great list of air fryer recipes and some tasty sheet pan chicken dinners. Both lists have healthy and flavorful options.

Every recipe is adaptable, so if you see something you like, but it’s not quite what you wanted then change it!Let me know about your adaptations because some else reading this might be having the same thoughts!

1. Skinny Grilled Buffalo Chicken Salad & Avocado Ranch

Recipe: theskinnyfork

Cook Time	2 Hours 15 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	311.4 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 2

This salad is packed with a flavor that comes from 2 hours of marinating the chicken. But I think the blue cheese sprinkled on top is what really makes the salad pop!

2. Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	5 Hours 5 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	267 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 6

Dumplings might not sound like the light and fluffy dinner you were planning, but trust me on this one.When you plate up this healthy dish, the cream will hug your food in a delicately thin layer and the pillowy dumplings will feel like you’re eating clouds.

I recommend using the Crock Pot 8-Quart Programmable slow cooker and using slow cooker liners to make it easy to have hot and ready with limited cleanup when you get home.

3. Chicken Larb

Recipe: cookinglight

Cook Time	27 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	174 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

A larb is a popular Thai salad. The herbs and spices that are mixed into the ground chicken are a pure vision of the Thai food culture.

4. Baked Chicken Parmesan

Recipe: skinnytaste

Cook Time	40 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	251 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 8

Chicken Parmesan isn’t normally a healthy dish, but this recipe has redesigned the recipe to make it healthier whilst still keeping that classic taste.

5. Sweet Chicken Salad Recipe with Pineapple

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	17 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	597 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 8

I designed this recipe to be a light and tasty lunch, but you can add in some pasta, boiled potatoes, or simply double up the quantities to make this snack into a dinner. This is especially yummy when paired with these crunchy homemade pita chips!

6. Greek Stuffed Chicken

Recipe: delish

Cook Time	45 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	352 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

This recipe stuffs the chicken to the point where you cannot see it! This is great for when you want a light dinner because all those vegetables will stop you from needing pasta to bulk up the meal!

7. Pimiento Cheese Chicken

Recipe: cookinglight

Cook Time	34 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	299 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Create the classic Southern taste of pimiento and mix it up by stuffing it in your chicken breast!

8. Garlic and Herb Baked Chicken Breast Recipe

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	55 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	325 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

This rich and buttery chicken recipe is more healthy than the taste suggests. Cook up some baby potatoes in the same seasoning and this chicken meal will have you thinking you’re on a cheat day.

9. Cashew Chicken Satay with Carrot and Coriander Salad

Recipe: fromthelarder

Cook Time	55 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	868 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 2

The classic cashew chicken satay with a deliciously light salad to make you feel both cheeky and healthy at the same time!

10. Cranberry Balsamic Chicken

Recipe: delish

Cook Time	45 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	316 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 6

This chicken recipe gives off a festive vibe. The cranberries and rosemary make this light dinner have a heavy aroma, but this dish is still healthy and light.

11. Flavor Packed Blackened Chicken Breast Recipe

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	1 Hour
Calorie Count Per Serving	648 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 2

Blackened chicken breast has a wonderfully unique flavor that you don’t normally find in chicken!

12. Sautéed Chicken with Sage Browned Butter

Recipe: cookinglight

Cook Time	25 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	326 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Sage is a full-bodied flavor that doesn’t get used enough! Dress up the well classic sauteed chicken recipe with this take instead!

13. Greek Chicken Meatballs

Recipe: foxeslovelemons

Cook Time	30 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	676 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 2

This meal is a refreshing and light dish even with the meatballs! That’s the beauty of chicken and greek yogurt.

14. The Easiest BBQ Chicken Breast You'll Ever Make

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	30 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	571 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Its recipe is so easy and fast that you’ll be confused by just how quickly you can get it on the table! Don’t worry about drying out the chicken, because the barbeque glaze will keep it moist!

15. Huli-Huli Chicken

Recipe: delish

Cook Time	1 Hour 50 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	520 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Pineapple and chicken? Might seem strange but trust me it works!

16. Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

Recipe: cookinglight

Cook Time	35 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	504 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Instant tacos made in your own home, what more do I have to say!

17. Braised Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	1 Hour
Calorie Count Per Serving	1121 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

This recipe is a show-stopper. Great for weeknights and showing off to your friends!

18. One-Skillet Chicken Tortellini

Recipe: lovelylittlekitchen

Cook Time	40 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	727 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

This dish cooks quickly if you use fresh tortellini so keep an eye on your pan!

19. Classic Roast Chicken

Recipe: delish

Cook Time	1 Hour 30 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	982 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 6

Cooking a whole chicken is easier than it might seem, try out this recipe and see for yourself.

20. Mexican Tinga de Pollo {Authentic Mexican Chicken}

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	35 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	273 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 8

This is a simple dish, packed with flavor and super light. It will quickly become a family favorite.

21. Maple-Mustard Roasted Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts

Recipe: cookinglight

Cook Time	1 Hour
Calorie Count Per Serving	376 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 6

The maple mustard roast is a wonderfully thick flavor to accompany your light and healthy dish. The balance that lets your body know that you’ve eaten well.

22. {Skinny} Herbed Pasta Alfredo With Chicken & Broccoli

Recipe: yestoyolks

Cook Time	20 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	584 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Alfredo pasta is normally a bit indulgent, but this recipe cuts down the calories whilst keeping the rich flavors.

23. 30-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	25 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	424 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Garlic butter and chicken is a top-tier combination! This recipe is fast, easy, and hits all the right taste buds for your light and healthy meals!

24. Charred Lemon Chicken Piccata

Recipe: scrambledchefs

Cook Time	37 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	332 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Don’t get put off by the word “charred”, this recipe teaches you how to lightly blacken the chicken to create a smokey flavor.

25. Bacon & Spinach Stuffed Chicken

Recipe: delish

Cook Time	50 Minutes
Calorie Count Per Serving	414 Calories
Serving Size	Serves 4

Hasselback with no hassle! This easy recipe will have your mouth watering just from the smell alone!