20 Five-Ingredient Chicken Recipes For Effortless Dinners

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Published on July 28, 2024

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs on a plate with a salad on the side — Photo:
Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

There's no need for a long grocery list and hours of preparation to put a good meal on the table. Our 5-ingredient chicken recipes allow you to utilize your pantry staples and turn them into a delicious, hearty lunch or dinner that everyone will love. Try our crispy baked chicken thighs when you want a satisfying meal without a time-consuming and expensive checklist of ingredients. These dishes can be served with crusty bread, a fresh salad, or potatoes.

01 of 20

Lemon Roast Chicken With Rainbow Carrots

Southern Living Lemon Roast Chicken With Rainbow Carrots in roasting pan — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

We promise ditching the rotisserie chicken is worth it. This whole roasted chicken is full of vibrant flavor that the pre-cooked chicken lacks. Don't worry, this recipe is still super easy to make and can be thrown together with just a few ingredients.

02 of 20

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs on a plate with a salad on the side — Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

We're not lying when we say you only need 5 additional ingredients for this chicken recipe. You'll likely find most of them in your pantry. Serve these alongside some Brussels sprouts, a fresh salad, or lemony pasta.

03 of 20

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Cutlets With Haricots Verts

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Cutlets With Haricots Verts on a plate with a glass of water — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Grab a few pantry stables and chicken cutlets for a highly impressive meal. You'll wish you had found this recipe before.

04 of 20

Oven-Fried Chicken Thighs

Oven-Fried Chicken Thighs — Photographer: Will Dickey

You won't need a deep fryer for this recipe because oven-fried chicken is just as good. Panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese serve as the crunchy coating on the chicken. Serve with a lemon slice and a fresh salad.

05 of 20

Chicken Under A Brick

Top-Shelf Chicken Under a Brick — Hector Sanchez

This recipe uses the weight of a cast-iron skillet filled with potatoes to push the chicken flat against your hot grill grates. This cuts the cooking time in half and brings out the flavor in the perfectly brown, crispy skin.

06 of 20

Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Chipotle Chicken Tacos - Southern Living — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Swap out your regular ground beef tacos for these Chipotle Chicken Tacos that are even more delicious but just as easy to make.

07 of 20

Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings — Caitlin Bensel

You're going to want to save this recipe for your next tailgate or family party. They are the perfect combination of saucy and crispy. You might need to double the batch because these wings disappear fast.

08 of 20

Lemon-Dill Chicken Skillet

Lemon-Dill Chicken Skillet — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

You'll want to save the extra sauce from the pan to use for mashed potatoes or crusty bread. This is a great recipe to try if it's your first time braising.

09 of 20

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Step aside and allow the slow-cooker to do most of the work. All you need to do is season the chicken and cook the rice.

10 of 20

Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Southern Living Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Chicken thighs require very little effort and make the perfect weeknight dinner when paired with various side dishes. Try them with our roasted fingerling potatoes, coleslaw, or potato salad.

11 of 20

Lemon-Pepper Chicken

Southern Living Lemon-Pepper Roasted Chicken — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

This chicken is delicious when served over couscous or paired with a bright green salad and glass of white wine.

12 of 20

Chicken Parmesan Pizza

Chicken Parmesan Pizza — Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Next time you think about ordering a pizza, try this recipe instead. It only requires 5 ingredients and will be ready faster than most deliveries.

13 of 20

Mama's Fried Chicken

Mama's Fried Chicken — Southern Living

Buttermilk is the secret to achieving the perfect, crispy fried chicken that everyone knows and loves.

14 of 20

Poppy Seed Chicken

Southern Living Poppy Seed Chicken in a bowl to serve — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Here's a warm, comforting casserole that can be thrown together on any day of the week. Finish off this chicken recipe by serving it with rice and a green salad.

15 of 20

Mississippi Chicken

Mississippi Chicken — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Utilize your pantry staples with this chicken and get a little taste of the South. Just pop your ingredients in the slow cooker and serve with mashed potatoes or rice.

16 of 20

White Chicken Chili

White Lightning Chicken Chili — Becky Luigart Stayner

This recipe couldn't be easier and it's guaranteed to warm you up on a chilly night. Garnish with cheese, cilantro, avocado, or sour cream.

17 of 20

Lemon Chicken Soup

Lemon Chicken Soup - Southern Living — Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

With nutritious ingredients like lemon, English peas, chicken, and celery, this soup is a great remedy for when you're feeling under the weather. Serve it with a warm piece of crusty bread for extra comfort.

18 of 20

Grilled BBQ Chicken

Southern Living BBQ Chicken on a platter to serve with additional barbecue sauce — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This might not be the quickest recipe but it sure is simple. Grab your favorite barbecue sauce and a few common spices to make this versatile BBQ chicken. Save this recipe for your next outdoor party or tailgate. The leftovers can be shredded and used in macaroni and cheese or on top of a loaded baked potato.

19 of 20

Cajun Fried Chicken

Southern Living Cajun Fried Chicken on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Your family will thank you after making this recipe. Crunchy and tender with a slight kick, what's not to love?

20 of 20

Curry Chicken Salad

Curry Chicken Salad - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Spice up your chicken salad recipe by adding a touch of curry powder and a sprinkle of cilantro. You won't regret it.

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