5 Delicious Chicken Recipes You Must Try

If you're a fan of chicken dishes or looking to expand your culinary skills, this blog post is for you. Chicken is incredibly versatile, lending itself beautifully to a variety of flavors, cooking techniques, and cuisines. From quick and easy weeknight dinners to impressive dishes perfect for entertaining, here are five delicious chicken recipes you must try:

1. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are a sweet and savory dish that combines the rich flavors of honey, garlic, and soy sauce, making it an irresistible option for dinner.

Ingredients:

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• ¹⁄₃ cup honey
• ¹⁄₄ cup soy sauce
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Sesame seeds and chopped scallions for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.
3. Season Chicken: Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
4. Sear: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin side down, and sear for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Flip and sear the other side for another 3 minutes.
5. Add Sauce: Pour the honey garlic mixture over the chicken. Baste the chicken with the sauce, then transfer the skillet to the oven.
6. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
7. Garnish: Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped scallions before serving.

🌟 Note: Chicken thighs are preferred for their flavor and moisture, but you can use breasts if you prefer, adjusting cooking times accordingly.

2. Coq au Vin

Coq au Vin is a classic French dish where chicken is braised in red wine with mushrooms, bacon, and pearl onions. It’s a sophisticated meal that’s surprisingly easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
• 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 cups red wine (Burgundy or Pinot Noir)
• 1 cup chicken stock
• ¹⁄₄ cup brandy
• 1 pound button mushrooms, quartered
• ¹⁄₂ pound pearl onions, peeled
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• Fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Prep Chicken: Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
2. Cook Bacon: In a Dutch oven or large pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat.
3. Sear Chicken: Brown the chicken in batches in the bacon fat until golden. Set aside.
4. Cook Vegetables: In the same pot, melt butter. Add pearl onions and mushrooms, cooking until browned. Add garlic.
5. Flambé: Pour in brandy and carefully flambé (optional). Once flames subside, stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Add Liquids: Gradually stir in wine, chicken stock, tomato paste, thyme, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer.
7. Braise: Return chicken and bacon to the pot, cover, and simmer gently for 1-1.5 hours or until the chicken is tender.
8. Serve: Remove thyme and bay leaves before serving. Garnish with parsley.

🍷 Note: Use a good quality red wine that you would also drink, as the flavor significantly impacts the dish.

3. Chicken Biryani

Chicken Biryani is an aromatic rice dish from the Indian subcontinent, layered with seasoned chicken, spices, and herbs. It’s a feast for the senses.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
• ¹⁄₂ cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
• 1-2 green chilies, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon each of turmeric, garam masala, and cumin
• Whole spices: 4 cardamom pods, 4 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 star anise
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• ¹⁄₂ cup mint leaves, chopped
• ¹⁄₂ cup cilantro leaves, chopped
• ¹⁄₄ cup fried onions (birista)
• Saffron soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk
• Ghee or oil for cooking

Instructions:

1. Marinate Chicken: Combine chicken with yogurt, half the ginger-garlic paste, chilies, turmeric, and garam masala. Marinate for at least 1 hour.
2. Cook Rice: Parboil the rice with whole spices until 75% cooked. Drain and set aside.
3. Fry Onions: In a pot, fry the onions until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
4. Make Gravy: In the same pot, add the remaining ginger-garlic paste, marinated chicken, and cook until the chicken is seared. Add cumin, chopped mint, and cilantro.
5. Layer: In a heavy-bottomed pot, layer rice, chicken, fried onions, and repeat. Drizzle with saffron milk and ghee.
6. Cook: Seal the pot with dough or foil and cook on low heat for 20-30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
7. Serve: Fluff the Biryani with a fork, serve hot with raita or salan.

👉 Note: Traditional Biryani is slow-cooked, but you can use a pressure cooker or oven for faster preparation.

4. Grilled Chicken Skewers with Satay Peanut Sauce

Grilled Chicken Skewers are perfect for BBQs or an indoor grill pan, served with a rich, creamy peanut sauce for dipping.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into strips or cubes
• ¹⁄₄ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• For the Sauce:
• ¹⁄₂ cup peanut butter
• ¹⁄₄ cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili paste

Instructions:

1. Marinate Chicken: Combine soy sauce, lime juice, curry powder, sugar, and garlic. Marinate chicken for 1-2 hours.
2. Prepare Skewers: Thread chicken onto skewers. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water first to prevent burning.
3. Grill: Grill chicken skewers for about 5-7 minutes per side until fully cooked.
4. Make Sauce: While grilling, combine peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, and sriracha in a saucepan. Heat gently until smooth.
5. Serve: Serve skewers with the peanut sauce on the side.

📌 Note: If you're using a grill pan, make sure to preheat it well to get those grill marks.

5. Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan is an Italian-American favorite, featuring breaded chicken topped with marinara sauce and melted cheese.

Ingredients:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 cup bread crumbs (preferably Italian seasoned)
• ¹⁄₂ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare Chicken: Pound chicken to an even thickness.
2. Bread: Set up a breading station with flour, beaten eggs, and a mixture of bread crumbs and Parmesan. Season each with salt and pepper.
3. Coat: Dredge chicken in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture.
4. Fry: In a skillet with heated oil, cook chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes each.
5. Bake: Place chicken on a baking sheet, top with marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Serve: Garnish with fresh basil and serve with pasta or a salad.

🔍 Note: For a lighter version, you can bake the chicken instead of frying, but the texture won't be as crispy.

To sum up, these five chicken recipes offer a range of flavors, techniques, and cuisines, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer sweet and savory, rich and hearty, or light and aromatic, these dishes will elevate your home cooking game. From the sticky, irresistible Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs to the traditional Indian flair of Chicken Biryani, each recipe is an adventure in itself. Don’t hesitate to experiment with ingredients, and remember that the joy of cooking also lies in making these dishes your own.