19 Easy Chicken Dinners Ready in Under 30 Minutes!

Dinner doesn’t have to take long to be delicious. These chicken recipes are packed with bold flavors and simple steps, all ready in 30 minutes or less. Whether you’re in the mood for something creamy, crispy, or saucy, you’ll find a dish here that delivers big taste in no time. Perfect for nights when you want a homemade meal without the wait.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Tortilla soup in a white bowl on a cutting board. — Chicken Tortilla Soup. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

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A bowl of this soup brings bold flavors with tender chicken, spices, and crunchy tortilla strips on top. It’s quick to make, filling, and reheats well for easy lunches during the week.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Easy Chicken Taco Skillet

A skillet filled with cooked chicken, diced tomatoes, melted cheese, avocado chunks, and chopped herbs. — xr:d:DAF2fn_XCr8:2,j:260494637990776143,t:23120914

Seasoned chicken cooks in a skillet until tender, then gets coated in tangy barbecue sauce. It’s fast, flavorful, and ready for taco night in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Taco Skillet

Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Eggplant

Eggplant halves are filled with chicken and cheddar before baking into a bubbly, cheesy dish. It’s hearty, simple, and ready in half an hour.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Eggplant

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Chicken thighs cook quickly in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. The Instant Pot locks in flavor, giving you a hot meal in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Curry Chicken

Four seasoned, cooked chicken thighs garnished with chopped parsley on a white plate. — Curry Chicken. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

This chicken curry is rich, aromatic, and full of spice. It comes together fast and makes a flavorful dinner that can even be frozen for later.
Get the Recipe: Curry Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Close-up of a stack of seasoned, grilled chicken drumsticks, with one drumstick partially eaten, revealing moist, cooked meat inside. A lemon wedge and herbs are visible in the background. — Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

These drumsticks come out crispy and golden without the mess of frying. They cook in just 30 minutes for an easy dinner any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Wraps

Closeup of a chicken shawarma wrap. — Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Wraps. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Spiced chicken cooks in the air fryer for juicy, flavorful shawarma wraps. Serve with lemon tahini sauce for a quick, bold meal in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Wraps

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Chopped sausage, diced tomatoes, vegetables, and rice cooking together in a pot with a wooden spoon stirring the mixture. — Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Chicken, rice, and Cajun seasoning cook together in the Instant Pot. It’s a one-pot meal with bold flavor that’s ready fast.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken

A close-up of two pulled pork sandwiches stacked on top of each other, with shredded pork and barbecue sauce on buns. — Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

This recipe makes tender, juicy shredded chicken with smoky barbecue flavor. Perfect for sandwiches, sliders, or piling on top of salads, all in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken

Chicken Fajita Casserole

A white plate with sliced chicken topped with melted cheddar cheese, garnished with cilantro, served with avocado slices. — Chicken Fajita Casserole. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska.

Peppers, onions, and chicken bake together with cheese for a simple casserole. It’s quick, cheesy, and ready in just half an hour.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajita Casserole

Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Creamy chicken and artichoke dish garnished with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes, served in a white bowl with a spoon. — Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Chicken thighs simmer in a creamy sauce with artichokes and a touch of lemon. It’s flavorful, rich, and on the table in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Salsa Chicken

Baked chicken breasts in a tomato-based sauce with corn, chopped vegetables, and herbs in a white dish. — Salsa Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Chicken breasts bake with salsa, corn, and cheddar until bubbling and tender. It’s a quick, family-friendly dinner that’s done in half an hour.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken

Chicken Fried Rice

A white bowl filled with fried rice containing diced chicken, carrots, peas, and scrambled egg, with a wooden spoon resting inside. — Chicken Fried Rice. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

A classic favorite, this fried rice is packed with chicken, vegetables, and flavor. It’s easy, fast, and always satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice

Easy Broiled Chicken Leg Quarters

A plate with a roasted chicken leg quarter and a side of romaine lettuce salad with grape tomatoes, served with a fork. — Easy Broiled Chicken Leg Quarters. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Broiled with garlic and lemon, these chicken leg quarters are simple but full of flavor. They cook quickly and make an easy dinner with almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Easy Broiled Chicken Leg Quarters

Gluten Free Honey Baked Chicken Thighs

Sliced sausage, diced tomatoes, rice, and chopped vegetables being stirred with a wooden spoon inside an electric pressure cooker. — Gluten Free Honey Baked Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

These juicy chicken thighs bake with honey for a sweet, savory glaze. They’re naturally gluten-free and ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Honey Baked Chicken Thighs

Cast Iron Chicken Thighs

Three pieces of crispy chicken with golden skin cooking in a black cast iron skillet on a white surface. — Cast Iron Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Chicken thighs sear in a hot skillet until the skin is crispy and golden. The inside stays juicy, making this a reliable 30-minute dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Chicken Thighs

Creamy Garlic Chicken

Chicken breasts covered in a creamy sauce, garnished with chopped parsley and black pepper, served in a white dish. — Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Chicken breasts simmer in a garlicky cream sauce with parmesan. It’s rich, quick to make, and great for pasta or rice.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken

A bowl of white rice topped with brown gravy, chicken pieces, mushrooms, and garnished with chopped green onions. — Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

This sweet and savory chicken cooks in a bourbon barbecue glaze. The Instant Pot does the work, giving you tender chicken and a sticky sauce in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken

Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs

A bowl of shredded cooked chicken garnished with fresh herbs. — Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Juicy chicken thighs cook fast in the Instant Pot and shred easily for meal prep. They’re tender, versatile, and ready in less than half an hour.
Get the Recipe: Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs