The 24 Best 30-Minute Chicken Dinners to Make When You’re Short on Time (2025)

By: Laura Denby

Follow Laura on:

Photo: Tara Donne

1 / 24

Quick Chicken Dinner Recipes

Photo: Matt Armendariz

2 / 24

Pepperoni Chicken

This hearty chicken dish is layered with flavor from marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and packaged pepperoni. It’s savory, spicy and perfectly cheesy. Serve this simple chicken with a side of pasta or a heaping pile of salad.

Photo: Matt Armendariz

3 / 24

Skillet Chicken Tortellini Alfredo

Store-bought tortellini are the star of this quick and creamy weeknight meal. They simmer in their own sauce, making this a one-skillet meal with easy cleanup. Try one-inch pieces of Italian sausage instead of chicken when you need a variation.

Photo: Armando Rafael Moutela ©

4 / 24

Parmesan Chicken

This crispy chicken recipe is simple and super versatile. Whether you serve it with roasted potatoes, a simple salad or a side of sautéed green vegetables it’s a light and crisp dish that can be ready quickly and with minimal effort.

5 / 24

30-Minute Coq au Vin

Classic coq au vin is known for taking days to prepare, but this quick version of the traditional dish can be ready in just 30 minutes. A red wine sauce made with bacon, mushrooms and pearl onions is the base for this hearty dish that gets served with rotisserie chicken pieces for a quick, nourishing meal.

6 / 24

Chicken Tostadas

These chicken tostadas are so crispy and crunchy you’ll want to eat them every night, and since they take just 25 minutes to cook, you actually can! Serve with fresh, homemade tomatillo-avocado salsa and sour cream for serving.

7 / 24

Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry

This simple weeknight stir fry is packed with flavor from scallions, ginger and soy sauce. It’s hearty, healthy and super easy to whip up. Red chili flakes add a bit of heat, while hoisin adds the necessary sweetness to balance it all out.

Photo: Tara Donne

8 / 24

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is an easy crowd favorite; it’s tangy, creamy and packed with vibrant herbs like dill, thyme and parsley. Carrots and celery add extra crunch, while mayonnaise, lemon and Dijon mustard create a creamy dressing. Pile it on a sandwich with bacon, tomato and lettuce for a filling, hearty sandwich.

9 / 24

Quick Bruschetta Chicken

Bruschetta is savory, sweet and juicy, so it makes a great topping for seared chicken. The topping couldn't be easier—tomatoes are tossed simply with salt, pepper and plenty of chopped herbs. Serve with fresh basil and shaved parmesan.

10 / 24

Crisp Chicken Wings with Chili-Lime Butter

Chicken wings are a crowd favorite, and everyone has different ways they like to enjoy them. If you’re tired of the traditional grilled or fried wing recipe, try roasting them instead. In this recipe, the wings get baked with salt and pepper then tossed in a sauce made from butter, red curry paste, honey and soy sauce. They’re hot, sweet, tangy and crunchy.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

11 / 24

Chicken Piccata

Chicken piccata is a fantastic dish for a weeknight dinner party. Ready in just 30 minutes, the simple dish is thin, crispy, and dripping with lemony flavor. Fresh parsley adds even more bright, fresh flavor.

Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher

12 / 24

Quick Chick and Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is hearty and nourishing any time of year. Whether it’s springtime, summer, winter or fall, this easy recipe will warm your heart and taste like it simmered all day long. Serve with fresh parsley and dill and a hunk of crusty bread.

Photo: Matt

13 / 24

Turmeric Chicken Flatbread

Turmeric is widely used throughout South Asia because it adds distinct color, aroma and flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. In this recipe, we've combined the vibrant ingredient with pumpkin pie spice (rich with cinnamon, ginger and cloves) to make a quick seasoning for skinless chicken thighs. We serve it on top of crispy naan and drizzle it with a tangy yogurt sauce for a complete dinner that can be ready in just 20 minutes.

Photo: Matt Armendariz

14 / 24

Chicken Scampi Pasta

This quick, classic pasta recipe sees chicken take the place of shrimp. It’s easy, accessible and totally delicious, which makes it perfect for a weeknight dinner. Serve over angel hair pasta for a dinner that can be ready in under a half hour.

Photo: Armando Rafael

15 / 24

Quick and Healthy Tandoori Chicken

The secret to tender, juicy chicken in this simple recipe is a yogurt and curry marinade. The tangy yogurt gets charred under the broiler until cooked through and perfectly moist. Once cooked, sprinkle with cilantro and serve with rice and roasted cauliflower.

Photo: Scott Gries

16 / 24

Quick Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pies

Chicken pot pies are usually a labor-intensive recipe that can take all day, but this recipe utilizes store bought rotisseries chicken for an easy shortcut. Leeks add savory, earthy flavor, while apples add tart sweetness. It’s a hearty dish that’s nourishing and warm, and it and be on the table in just 30 minutes with a few easy steps.

Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher

17 / 24

Quick Chicken Cacciatore

This quick dinner takes just ten minutes to prepare. Chicken breasts and mushroom caps get seared in a pan before simmering with beef broth, tomatoes and parsley. Once cooked through, the sauce and meat get tossed with ribbons of egg fettuccini and served with crusty bread.

18 / 24

Chicken Piccata with Lemon, Capers and Artichoke Hearts

For this quick chicken piccata recipe, be sure to pound the chicken breasts so they’re extra thin. That way the chicken quicks quickly and evenly in less time than it would normally take. Artichokes, capers and lemon juice add a zesty, tangy element to the dish that helps offset the richness from the chicken.

19 / 24

Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu

20 / 24

Lighter Chicken Parmesan

Looking for a hearty dinner that can be ready in under 20 minutes? Chicken parmesan probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but thanks to this recipe it can be. The secret is quick-cooking chicken tenders that get dredged and fried before getting topped with sauce and cheese.

Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher

21 / 24

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Caramelized Lemon Rinds

If you’ve been tossing your lemon rinds when you’re finished squeezing a lemon, it’s time to put them to better use! This crispy chicken thigh recipe puts the rinds on full display by cooking them down with chicken and maple syrup resulting in sweet and tangy pan drippings designed for drizzling over everything.

Photo: Alice Gao ©

22 / 24

Chicken Stir-Fry

Stir fry is meant to be cooked hot and fast, so it’s an ideal dish to whip up when you’re short on time. In this recipe, boneless skinless chicken breasts cook alongside broccoli, mushrooms, carrots and bok choy to create a hearty dish that can be on the table in just 30 minutes. Sesame oil and jarred teriyaki sauce are the key to extra flavor.

Photo: Yunhee Kim

23 / 24

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

This creamy, crunchy chicken salad is perfect for a weeknight meal or easy brunch. Store bought rotisserie chicken acts as the base for the salad that then gets tossed with diced celery, carrot and red onion. Once tossed in a dressing made from mayonnaise, mustard, celery salt, garlic and a pinch of paprika, the tangy salad gets piled on top of sourdough rolls and layered with lettuce and tomato.

Photo: Armando Rafael Moutela ©

24 / 24

Chicken Salad with Red Chile Peanut Dressing

This fun and flavorful salad relies on store bought rotisserie chicken to make it extra quick and easy. Packed with fully-flavored ingredients like soy sauce, fresh ginger, chipotle pepper puree and fresh, crisp vegetables like carrots, Napa cabbage and romaine lettuce, this bright salad is super refreshing.