As the days grow longer and the sun grows warmer, we shelve our hearty comfort foods for lighter, more refreshing fare. These summer chicken recipes keep weeknight cooking interesting, satisfying, and flavorful. From bell peppers stuffed with chicken sausage to grilled chicken topped with a garden-fresh sauce, poultry is the MVP in these healthy warm-weather meals.
Herbed Chicken, Orzo, and Zucchini
Orzo adds staying power to this 20-minute Mediterranean recipe. The savory herbs, soft orzo, and crisp zucchini make this summer chicken recipe a delicious blend of textures and flavors that perfectly complement the protein.
Roasted Vegetable and Chicken Sausage Pizza
Yes, you can have a healthy pizza. Compose this chicken sausage pizza with whatever vegetables are in your fridge. And good news, this summer chicken recipe requires just one pan, so cleaning up is (almost) as easy as enjoying a slice.
Rotisserie Chicken Banh Mi
This Vietnamese-inspired chicken sandwich is ready in just 30 minutes thanks to shortcut ingredients like store-bought rotisserie chicken. Light mayonnaise and reduced-sodium soy sauce are simple swaps that keep the fat and salt in check in this summer chicken recipe.
Chicken and Strawberry Panzanella
Fresh strawberries meet poultry in this satisfying salad recipe. Use day-old bakery bread cubes that will soak up the dressing. Each serving has 38 grams of protein and just 5 grams of sugar, so you won't be hungry again an hour later. To speed up the prep, start with grocery-store rotisserie or leftover chicken.
Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder
This light chicken chowder gets its creamy texture from instant mashed potato flakes. Brimming with fresh sweet corn, sweet green pepper, and tender chicken breast, it's equally delicious as a leftover for lunch as it is the night you make it.
Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables
This easy, low-calorie perfect-for-summer chicken recipe comes together in a single skillet. It relies on bottled Italian salad dressing to add flavor, making preparation and cleanup a breeze. It's an especially great recipe to enjoy with fresh, crispy asparagus.
Cilantro-Lime Pasta Salad
Fresh lime juice adds tart citrus flavor to this bright chicken pasta salad. Balance it with spicy jalapeño, sweet peppers, creamy avocado, and fresh-from-the-grill chicken for a 357-calorie lunch or dinner option that you'll want to keep on repeat.
Tortellini and Garden Vegetable Bake
This creamy chicken casserole is loaded with umami-rich mushrooms, sweet peppers, crunchy snap peas, and bright cherry tomatoes—all seasonal vegetables that make this dish perfect for summer potlucks and picnics. Prepare it 24 hours in advance for a speedy weeknight dinner.
Chicken Enchilada Wraps
Kids and adults alike will love this innovative enchilada recipe. By placing the creamy sauce inside the flour tortilla rather than on top, you'll have a delicious handheld meal—no forks required. That's a wrap on a fiesta-worthy summer chicken recipe that's fun and healthy for the whole family.
Chicken with Summer Squash
Transform store-bought roasted rotisserie chicken into a hit that's as simple as it is tasty. This summer chicken recipe blends bright yellow grape tomatoes and tender summer squash for a delicious and easy one-skillet meal that's ready in under 30 minutes. Sprinkle it with arugula for an additional hint of freshness.
Pasta with Chicken, Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese
A light honey-orange vinaigrette is the icing on the cake in this easy whole-grain pasta dish that's bursting with flavor, thanks to sun-ripened cherry tomatoes, crumbly, salty feta, and nutrient-packed baby spinach. With the fiber-rich pasta, protein-packed chicken and fresh vegetables, you'll be hitting nearly all the food groups in this balanced meal.
Air-Fried Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Strips
Craving some fried chicken but not all the grease and fat that comes with it? This low-fat, low-calorie chicken strip recipe will satisfy that craving and make it into your regular dinner rotation. The air fryer helps to crisp up the tenders to perfection, while brown sugar and cayenne pepper come together in a sauce that adds lip-smacking, spicy sweetness.
Spiced Chicken-Lentil Tacos with Quick-Pickled Red Onions
Shake up your routine with this simple and tasty chicken taco recipe that uses lentils instead of the classic beans. Lentils add a healthy boost of zinc and vitamin B1, while the pickled onions bring a tangy, sweet crunch to this nutritious dish.
Honey-Garlic Grilled Chicken with Pickled Chiles and Peaches
Sweet peaches, pickled fresh jalapeño chiles, and crispy red onion work together to make this colorful dish perfect for summer. The honey-garlic marinated chicken breasts pair delightfully with a fresh, vitamin-rich arugula salad to create a delectable salty-sweet crunch with every bite.
Chicken Cashew Nut
Skip the takeout and make this healthy dish instead. Chopped chicken, crisp peppers, and salted cashews blend to create a delectable Asian-fusion flavor that is fresh and slightly nutty. Add an element of sweet heat with a homemade sauce that includes soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sweet chili jam.
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Spring Onions and Baby Bok Choy
Top juicy grilled chicken thighs with a vibrant hard boiled egg sauce that's made with olive oil, shallots, capers, herbs, and mustard. Round out the meal by grilling up baby bok choy and spring onions on the side.
Grilled Chicken and Cherry Salad
When cherry season rolls around, put this easy grilled chicken salad on the menu. It's loaded with crunchy veggies, fresh and dried cherries, grilled chicken, and a creamy mayo-based dressing.
Tamarind BBQ Chicken
For this BBQ chicken recipe, we're making a homemade sauce with tamarind paste, rice vinegar, tomato paste, and sugar. It's the perfect sweet and tangy topping for juicy grilled chicken. A homemade coconut rice makes the perfect side.
Chimichurri Kabobs
Here, we're marinating a combination of steak and chicken in a zesty blend of lime, orange juice, garlic, and olive oil. Skewer the meat with veggies, grill, and serve with an herbacious chimichurri sauce.
Grilled Chicken with Blueberry-Tarragon Sauce
This grilled chicken recipe has earned rave reviews since we first posted it. As one BHG home cook wrote, "Great sauce! The combination of blueberries and tarragon is yummy. My family doesn't eat chicken thighs so we used boneless, skinless breasts. I cooked the sauce and let it cool so I could use it as a marinade. There was plenty to reserve a bit for topping the chicken after grilling. The zucchini noodles were tasty too. I sautéed them in a frying pan for a little bit."
Buffalo-Style Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Meet your new favorite chicken sandwich. The buffalo-sauced chicken is hot and spicy while a homemade celery slaw cools things down. It's the perfect combination of textures and flavors.
Mississippi Chicken
If you're looking for a go-to shredded chicken recipe, you're in luck! Mississippi chicken is flavored with ranch powder, butter, and pepperoncini peppers. It's great piled on rolls, over rice, or all on its own.
Chicken Adobo with Coconut Rice
This summer, try making adobo chicken. The Filipino classic is flavored with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Serve the tender chicken pieces with homemade coconut rice and top with green onion.
Honey-Sriracha Grilled Chicken Thighs
You'll need just 5 ingredients to whip up this easy grilled chicken. The sweet and spicy sauce is made with honey and Sriracha. Finish with a squeeze of lime and fresh cilantro.
Sweet-Spicy Barbecued Chicken Sliders
The secret to these BBQ chicken sandwiches is a combination of pineapple and sliced jalapeno. It's the ideal blend of sweet and spicy flavors. A drizzle of melted butter ensures the buns brown up nicely as they bake.