20 Easy Chicken Skillet Recipes
Grab your favorite pan and get ready to whip up one of these delicious Chicken Skillet Recipes.
Whether you follow the recipes word for word or use them as inspiration, they will help you get a tasty family dinner on the table with ease.
Are you in a chicken rut? While I love to cook Chicken Eden Isle and make Chicken Tacos, my family is over them. So I gathered up 20 chicken dishes made in a skillet to inspire myself to try some new dishes.
Similar to casseroles (my Manwich Enchilada Casserole is a favorite!), these Chicken skillet recipes won’t dirty every dish in the kitchen.
Why These Recipes Work
Chicken is a go-to ingredient for most families. And this collection of Chicken Skillet Recipes is full of dinner inspiration.
It’s always handy to be able to make an entire meal in one pan and a skillet is a perfect vehicle to make that happen.
NOTE: A few of these recipes use a second pan to make pasta or something to serve the meal with. But you still, hopefully, won’t be doing dishes all night.
Chicken pairs easily with all kinds of things like pasta, rice and vegetables. And they can all share space in a single skillet while cooking.
From cheesy chicken and noodles to chicken in rich and creamy sauces, there’s no shortage of savory flavors that your whole family will enjoy.
And with a little meal prep, you can make sure that these Chicken Skillet Recipes can be made as quickly as possible. Even on busy weeknights.
Need more easy dinner ideas? Check out my list of Sheet Pan Dinners, Healthy Dinner Ideas, and Quick Dinner Ideas That Are Barely Cooking.
Skillet Chicken Recipes
This list of easy Chicken Skillet Recipes will help you get dinner on the table with less stress. And your family will LOVE them!
Pasta and chicken are best friends and here, they're joined by bacon and green peas in this easy skillet meal. But don't use just any pasta; go with orecchiette pasta for something a little different. It's a smaller pasta shape that captures the parmesan and mozzarella cheeses for a flavorful taste in every bite.
This recipe qualifies as a must-make when cooler weather rolls around. It's a comfort food chicken skillet recipe with the wonderful aroma of apples paired with chicken for a sweet and savory weeknight dinner. Caramelized apples and onions along with the apple cider and seasonings keeps the chicken juicy and tender. Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite veggie for a scrumptious meal that will become a fall favorite.
Comfort food is easily made in one skillet with this delicious chicken pot pie recipe. Chicken, along with peas and carrots are seasoned to perfection and simmered in a mushroom sauce. The top crust is made with the help of a puff pastry sheet. Sauté in the skillet to begin with and finish it off in the oven. It's a classic!
Fans of garlic will appreciate this rich and creamy mushroom sauce that's the perfect accompaniment for the juicy chicken thighs that are cooked to tenderness in your favorite skillet. This is a quick meal that tastes like you spent hours on it, so keep this one in rotation for those busy weeknights!
Skillet Garlic Chicken With Sun-dried Tomatoes and Pecorino Cream Sauce
Chicken in a cheesy, creamy and garlic-infused sauce is made only more irresistible with the addition of sun dried tomatoes and spinach. It's a surprisingly quick meal that's perfect to serve over noodles, with rice or mashed potatoes. Delectable!
This deconstructed chicken noodle recipe is reminiscent of a classic best-loved soup. Made in a skillet, chunks of tender chicken join with egg noodles, carrots, celery, and onion to produce this easy dish. All the flavors are there, just minus the broth. And best of all, you're only 20 minutes away from this family favorite!
This Asian-inspired sesame chicken is a skillet meal that will win you rave reviews. The savory flavors of rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, honey and ginger make for a swoon-worthy meal that's enhanced by its side-kicks of carrots, peppers and sugar snap peas. Serve with a side of rice, of course!
Pan sautéed chicken in a creamy and tasty mushroom sauce is perfect to serve with rice, noodles or potatoes. It's also a great meal planning option since it refrigerates beautifully for leftovers or a quick meal later in the week. Win-win!
Make no mistake: adults will gobble this chicken and tater tots skillet meal up just as enthusiastically as the kids! Chicken breasts and BBQ sauce flavor the base of this meal that's topped with shredded cheddar cheese. On top of that, add frozen tater tots and crumbled bacon. Finish it off in the oven for a crispy topping and serve to rave reviews! Of all these Chicken Skillet Recipes, this one might be my favorite.
Up-level a basic chicken and rice dish with the addition of tomato sauce, green olives and cilantro. Long grain rice simmers in a chicken stock and tomato sauce broth along with juicy chicken thighs. For a final flavor punch, add chopped cilantro before serving.
Try this skillet pizza that's quicker than take-out or delivery! There's no dough to worry about with this creative recipe. Chicken breasts are topped with pizza sauce, sliced peppers, onions, pepperoni, mushrooms and parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes as it infuses all those savory flavors throughout the chicken. Missing the dough? Serve with some crusty garlic bread!
Use your abundance of fresh fall veggies and fruit with this chicken skillet meal that's guaranteed to be a family favorite. Sautéed apple and sweet potato chunks add a cozy flavor to the Brussels sprouts and cubed chicken. A little garlic and onion give it depth and a dash of cinnamon keeps it on point for fall. Delicious!
This skillet meal combines chicken with a southwest flair to produce a quick dish that you can have on the table in 30 minutes. Black beans, corn, bell peppers and onion get a Mexican-inspired spicy accent, along with the chicken. It's packed with flavor for a weeknight fiesta meal that's perfect to serve with chips and salsa.
Chicken, rice, corn and baked beans make this skillet dinner a certified winner. Cook chicken that's been brushed with BBQ sauce. Add in baked beans, corn rice and broth. When tender, add cheese to the top and give it a short session in the oven to melt before serving. So good!
Whether you make this for breakfast, brunch or dinner, this egg and chicken skillet is always a hit. Sauté chicken and aromatics before adding broccoli. Finally, add in the egg mixture and bake until set. Add cheese and bake a smidge longer, until melted, and serve up this 30 minute skillet meal.
Mediterranean-inspired cuisine gives a simple skillet meal an upgrade with artichokes, white beans and olives for a protein-packed meal full of savory flavor. A little rice vinegar gives it a tasty tang and an unexpected spice, cinnamon, gives it a sensational flavor that's irresistible.
Turn that rotisserie chicken into a 10 minute one-pot meal by simmering it in enchilada sauce and salsa. No need to wrap this filling in enchiladas; instead, just stir in sliced tortillas to the chicken mixture until they soften. Top with shredded cheese and serve with sour cream, guacamole, and diced tomatoes. Simple and tasty!
If cilantro is an ingredient that you like, then this chicken skillet dish is just for you! Chicken breast is cooked, along with garlic, spicy chiles, lime and cilantro to make this into a savory creamed sauce that is perfect to serve over rice or noodles. So tasty!
Your skillet will help you make a quick stir-fry of chicken, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and chili paste for an outrageous flavor profile. Add in sliced bell peppers and snow peas. For a super-quick shortcut to get it on the table, use pre-packaged rice to serve with this tasty meal.
Chicken and rice get a flavor punch in this Mexican-inspired skillet meal thanks to the marinade for the chicken thighs. The chicken will remain juicy, even when cooked with the rice in the skillet. A simple tomato-based broth infuses even more flavor in the rice and chicken. Finish it off in the oven and before serving, garnish with cilantro and fresh lime juice. Delightful!
Equipment
Top tips
- These Chicken Skillet Recipes can be delicious inspiration to help you come up with your own recipes. Look at how what they include in their recipes along with the chicken (like veggies, starch, etc) to see how they built their meal.
- Dredging chicken pieces lightly in flour can really help create a delicious crust when sauteeing.
- Some of these recipes are served over something else, like pasta or mashed potatoes. This is when I look for a short-cut like store-bought mashed potatoes or frozen rice to save some time and ensure this is a skillet meal.
- Some of these recipes start on the stove and move to the oven so make sure whatever skillet you are using is oven-safe (if needed).
When making any new recipe for the first time, it can often take a little longer than it should. These Chicken Skillet Recipes have a variety of cook times so make sure to browse through and pick one you know you have time for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftover skillet meal in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. With the size of my family, leftovers are usually gone for lunch the next day but they will last up to 3 days.
Each Chicken Skillet Recipe may call out a skillet size that they used. If not, I would use a 12″ skillet.
Yes. You can choose a different cut of chicken for these recipes. Many call for chicken thighs which tend to be moister. But you can use a chicken breast if you prefer. Just try to monitor cooking so you don’t overcook them.
