Need to spice up your diet? Try these healthy chicken recipes

For many, 2020 was a great year for home cooking. As the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly became the unavoidable topic of everyday conversation, people were forced to get creative in the kitchen once lockdown ordinances came into place in most of the world last March.

In the early days of quarantine, many were understandably skeeved out by the idea of take-out, but wanted all the comfort food they so desperately needed as a distraction. This, of course, led to the trending fad of baking bread at home, as Instagram filled to the brim with posts of couples showing off their first rye loaves and stories asking folks where to get your hands on the best sourdough starter. 

Unfortunately, lockdown lasted a bit longer than we all expected (sob) and it wasn’t long before we all became entirely burnt out in the kitchen. What’s worse is many had to switch gears entirely, moving from their first lasagna & risotto to meh salads, soul crushing quinoa bowls, and the dreadfully plain chicken breast & broccoli. 

Don’t let unsavory memories of mom’s bland chicken bakes deter you though; there are plenty of healthy chicken recipes that are way tastier than your go-to guilt-free meals. We dug up some of the best healthy chicken recipes to share with you below.

Healthy orange chicken

Chinese food is the ultimate comfort food for many, but it certainly doesn’t feel like there are many healthy chicken recipes at the local take-out spot. 

Moreover, inexperienced cooks may feel like cooking Chinese can be pretty intimidating. These recipes are easier than you might think, and there’s plenty of ways to make healthy versions of your favorites. The Clean Eating Couple has a great gluten-free orange chicken recipe any amateur cook can whip up.

Ingredients

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 4 cups steamed broccoli or green beans, 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil.

Sauce:

2 cups orange juice, 1/4 cup coconut aminos, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, 1/2 tablespoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

Directions

1. Cut & cook chicken in a large frying pan with sesame oil for about fifteen minutes on medium-high heat, or until cooked through.
2. While chicken is cooking, mix sauce ingredients.
3. Remove chicken into a separate bowl and pour sauce into the pan.
4. Boil sauce for about fifteen minutes or until thick.
5. Combine chicken & sauce in the pan.
6. Serve over veggies & enjoy.

Honey lemon chicken skillet

This recipe from A Mindful Mom gives us one of the greatest healthy chicken recipes to spice up the mundane chicken breast meal. Lemony & a tad sweet, this meal hits the spot.

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, ½ cup chicken stock, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 lemon sliced.

Directions

1. Season chicken with salt & pepper and cook over medium-high heat in a large skillet for just about three minutes to sear and get some color.
2. Remove chicken to a separate plate.
3. Whisk together the honey, lemon juice, chicken stock, and Dijon in the skillet and bring to boil.
4. Reduce heat to low, add the chicken back in the pan, and lay lemon slices over the chicken. Then cover the skillet and cook for ten to fifteen minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
5. Serve with veggies & enjoy.

Skinny Buffalo Chicken

Buffalo chicken is one of the most widely enjoyed chicken recipes, and now you can enjoy a guilt-free version of the classic football munchie. Skinny Guide gives us a recipe packed with flavor at a fraction of the calories of the average wing plate.

Ingredients

8 strips chicken tenderloin, 12.5 oz, 1/4 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce, 4 celery stalks (trimmed to 4 inch strips), 1/2 tbsp oil. 

Spice mix:

1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/8 tsp black pepper.

Directions

1. Combine dry spices in a large bowl.
2. Toss chicken in the spice bowl.
3. Heat half of the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat
4. When hot, add half of the chicken and cook until golden, about five minutes, turn chicken and heat until cooked through.
5. Set aside, repeat with remaining oil & chicken.
6. Toss cooked chicken in a large bowl with hot sauce.
7. Serve with celery sticks & skinny blue cheese dressing (optional).

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These fun healthy chicken recipes are sure to make your work week fly by. Try these killer plates, and you’ll be the iron chef of healthy chicken recipes in no time.