10 Easy and Delicious Chicken Breast Recipes That Melt Fat Fast!

Chicken breast is a versatile, low-calorie, high-protein food that can be a great addition to a weight loss plan. It's packed with nutrients, affordable, and can be cooked in countless ways. If you're looking for new and exciting ways to incorporate chicken breast into your diet, you've come to the right place. This article provides a variety of easy and healthy chicken breast recipes that are both delicious and effective for weight loss.

Why Chicken Breast is Great for Weight Loss

Chicken is a low-fat, high-protein food, making it a great option for weight loss. Chicken breasts are a go-to health food for a reason. They’re a complete protein source that is low in calories, carbs, and fat. A lean protein, chicken breasts are full of essential amino acids that help with building muscle, repairing tissues, and boosting metabolism.

With 53.4 grams of protein, chicken breasts are an excellent choice for boosting protein intake and promoting fullness.

Tips for Cooking Juicy Chicken Breast

For the longest time, I would cook chicken breast after chicken breast, and they would always turn out dry and tasteless. Sound familiar? It’s funny, because chicken breasts seem like the most basic and common protein to cook, and yet many of us struggle to get it right. Thanks to accidentally becoming a food influencer, I’ve learned a few tricks over the years that have helped me cook the most flavorful and juicy chicken breasts every time.

Brine it: Simply soak the chicken breasts in a mixture of salt and water for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
Marinate it: Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, but ideally, up to 24 hours for maximum taste.
Pound it: If you find that your chicken breasts are always uneven in thickness, try pounding them with a meat mallet or rolling pin before cooking.
Cook it right: Cooking chicken breasts at a high temperature for a short amount of time is key to getting that juicy texture.
Let it rest: This is the most crucial step that many people overlook! Let the breasts rest for at least 5-10 minutes before slicing or serving.
Don't wash your chicken: Washing chicken increases the chance of contamination since water inevitably splatters and can cover your kitchen with raw chicken juices.
Buy frozen chicken breasts.
Look for the freshest chicken. Fresh chicken breasts should be pink or flesh-colored.

Easy Chicken Breast Recipes for Weight Loss

Here are some delicious and easy chicken breast recipes for weight loss:

Read also: Ultimate Meal Guide

Baked Chicken Breast Recipes

Below you’ll find some of the best baked chicken breast recipes that we love. Some are a complete meal, others are a component to a meal.

Baked Chicken Tenders: A classic made healthier. You can make them with cut up chicken breasts.
Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets: So delicious.
Baked Chicken Caprese Recipe: Everyone will love!
Baked Boneless Chicken Breasts: So juicy and delicious and the perfect protein for dinner or meal prep!
Healthy Chicken Parmesan recipe: So easy to make!
Healthy Maple Mustard Chicken: One of my favorite one pan dinners. We eat this almost once a week!
Saucy Honey Chipotle Chicken: An easy baked chicken thighs recipe (easily sub chicken breasts), with a seriously delicious sweet and spicy honey chipotle sauce.
Pecan Crusted Chicken: A yummy, crunchy chicken recipe that we love.

Grilled Chicken Breast Recipes

If you’ve ever made grilled chicken - it might have wound up dry and flavorless.. these grilled chicken recipes are perfectly marinated so that you can avoid that! When the temperatures start climbing, nothing beats a chicken dinner al fresco.

Balsamic Grilled Chicken: Perfect for summer grilling.
BBQ Chicken Breasts: Delicious and simple to make!
Pineapple Grilled Chicken: Delicious and easy to make!
Teriyaki Chicken: Gets grilled to perfection for a healthy, easy dinner!
Greek Chicken Kabobs Recipe: Healthy, paleo, whole30 & delicious!
Spicy Honey Citrus Chicken: The perfect healthy grilling recipe!

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipes

Nothing is more convenient for busy weeknight cooking than your crock pot. Sure, chicken recipes in the slow cooker save you time (and stress).

Greek Shredded Chicken: An easy high protein dinner you can make in one pot!
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Breast Recipe!
Crockpot Shredded Chicken Recipe: Using only 4 ingredients!
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken: Paleo, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, and delicious!
Carolina vinegar chicken: I make my version in the slow cooker. fills the house, your family is sure to be at the dinner table on time!

One-Pan Chicken Breast Recipes

We love one pan healthy chicken recipes!

One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken: An easy dinner made in under 20 minutes and full of flavor! Chicken and asparagus cooked in in a flavorful garlic butter sauce. This healthy one-pan meal is low carb and Keto-friendly.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Dinner: Another easy one pan meal.
Healthy Lemon Artichoke Chicken: An easy, healthy one pan dinner the whole family will love!
Chicken Fajita Casserole: Made in one pan with only a few ingredients.
Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken: An easy, one-pan dish full of bold flavors. This recipe originally calls for chicken thighs, but it’ll taste just as delicious with chicken breast!

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

When my family and I are on a health kick, the air fryer tends to make a regular appearance. This recipe takes chicken breast and cooks it in 8 minutes, but it tastes like you spent all day working on it. You may also enjoy my air fryer chicken tenderloins or air fryer chicken cutlets.

Read also: Healthy Camping Food

Stuffed Chicken Breast

Tender, juicy chicken breasts stuffed with the most delicious cheese and spinach filling. I make this every time I have guests over, and honestly, it takes no time at all. This spinach-stuffed chicken breast recipe is special to me because it has so much flavor, yet not too many calories. I love Italian food, but most of the time it is too heavy. This is a healthy twist on an Italian dish!

Chicken Soups

There’s nothing better than chicken soup!

Chicken and Stars Soup: A quick and easy meal you can make in under an hour. Loaded with protein & veggies, this is a secretly healthy soup!
Chicken Tortilla Soup: You can make in your crockpot, instant pot or on the stove!
Healthy Chicken Soup: A delicious, Whole30, keto meal.
Chicken Pastina Soup: The ultimate comfort food. Loaded with anti-inflammatory turmeric and tons of veggies!
Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Soup: Total comfort food!
Lemon Chicken Soup: A delicious, healthy Greek dinner. Easy to make in the instant pot or crockpot.
Asian Chicken Soup: A healthy asian soup recipe you’ll love! Loaded with flavors from ginger, garlic, sesame & more!
Chicken Quinoa Soup: A super hearty chicken soup recipe.

Chicken Salad Recipes

You really can’t go wrong with a chicken salad. And these salads are no exception. Chicken salad is super easy to make healthier.

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad: Perfect for a quick lunch or meal prepping for a healthy dinner.
Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad: The perfect healthy meal. Made with no mayo, high in protein, low fat and low carb. Great for weight loss, easy & yummy!
Everything Bagel Chicken Salad: A MUST make.
Taco Chicken Salad: Quick and easy to make.
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad!
Best Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe!
Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe!
Buffalo Chicken Salad with Tahini Ranch Dressing: The perfect combination of spicy buffalo sauce, creamy ranch dressing, and cool crisp veggies.
Larb gai (Thai chicken salad): A dish made with ground chicken, chiles, mint and basil. Serve it as a main dish or as an appetizer in lettuce cups. For a heartier version, serve it with rice.
Chopped Mediterranean Chicken Salad: Loaded with vibrant Mediterranean flavors like black olives, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes. The chicken is seasoned with Italian spices, seared, and chopped with all the other elements in a creamy avocado oil mayo dressing.
Mediterranean-Style High Protein Chicken Salad: This easy dish comes together in only 15 minutes, and you can easily swap in chicken breasts for the leftover rotisserie chicken.

Other Chicken Breast Recipes

Mediterranean Chicken Orzo: An easy and delicious dinner!
Chicken Pesto Pasta: An easy weeknight dinner you’ll love.
Healthy Orange Chicken: Paleo, gluten free + delicious - it’s one of the best healthy chicken recipes!
Healthy Sesame Chicken: A delicious, healthy dinner!
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta: The best healthy dinner!
Instant Pot Orange Chicken: So delicious. Made in the pressure cooker, this healthy dinner is easy and delicious!
Chicken Wild Rice Soup: Simply the best! Loaded with chicken and veggies and done in under an hour!
Chicken Taco Pasta recipe: A flavorful, one pot dish filled with chicken and veggies.
One Pot Chicken Taco Rice: A delicious high protein meal filled with cheesy rice, chicken, and veggies!
Chicken Broccoli and Rice: An easy, one pot skillet meal you’ll love!
One Pot Chicken Enchilada Pasta: An amazing weeknight recipe that your family will love.
Chicken Scarpariello: Easy, hearty, and delicious.
Pesto Chicken Zoodles: A delicious, simple dinner. Paleo and gluten free, this easy dinner comes together in under 30 minutes!
Spaghetti Squash with Garlic Chicken: Made with fresh garlic, cajun seasoning, butter, and lots of fresh herbs!
Creamy Florentine Chicken: A creamy topping and pretty presentation make it elegant enough for company, but it’s also fast to fix on busy weeknights!
Creole Chicken: Food that has a little zip to it, and this Creole chicken recipe hits the spot every time. It’s especially good served over rice.
Chicken Korma: A spiced Indian dish. It's not spicy-hot, but it's very flavorful from ingredients like cloves and ginger. Serve it with rice to soak in all the sauce.
Tropical Chicken with Cauliflower Rice: This tropical favorite is a delicious and healthy dinner with tons of flavor! You can substitute regular rice for the cauliflower rice if desired.
Chicken Pumpkin Pizza: The sweetness of the pumpkin paired with the spice of the chipotle peppers makes for a delicious, balanced sauce. I love that this recipe incorporates healthy ingredients in a fun, family-friendly way.
Chicken Sausage Jambalaya: If you enjoy cooking ethnic foods, this hearty rice dish is wonderful. It's brimming with generous chunks of sausage, shrimp and veggies.
Creamy Chicken Casserole: Every time I serve this creamy chicken casserole, it gets rave reviews. The recipe was passed down to me and is so good! It is really easy to make, freezes well and has just a touch of heat. If your family likes more heat, add some jalapenos!
Chicken Avocado Wrap: A favorite at my house.
Ginger-Curry Chicken Tacos: I wanted to put my own unique twist on them by incorporating some Indian flavors. These ginger-curry versions hit the spot!
Chicken with Mushroom Sauce: It looks impressive, but this mouthwatering chicken and mushroom sauce comes together in no time. I think its flavor rivals that of many full-fat entrees found in fancy restaurants.
Chicken with Asparagus: I invented this chicken and veggie dish to use up extra mushrooms and asparagus.
Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken: Everyone goes for this super moist, garlicky chicken, including my fussy kids. For your holiday buffet or family gathering, serve it with rice or noodles.
Chili-Apricot Chicken: Looking for a new chicken idea? Save yourself a trip to the store and check the fridge first. I found out chili sauce, mustard and apricot preserves create a sweet, hot flavor.
Mustard Chicken: This spicy, saucy chicken is great served with basil-buttered grilled corn on the cob and fresh coleslaw.
Chicken Nuggets: These strips are designed for kids but tasty enough for company. The tender strips are moist and juicy and would also be great on a salad.
Chicken Sausage with Polenta: I get a kick out of serving this chicken sausage dish-everyone's always on time for dinner when they know it's on the menu.
Chicken Chalupas: I wanted an easy alternative to deep-fried chalupas, so I bake them with the filling on top.
Rosemary Chicken with Artichokes: Rosemary, mushrooms and artichokes combine to give chicken a wonderful savory flavor.
Chicken Piccata: While I was visiting my cousin Lilliana in Italy, she made this heavenly chicken for lunch. Now it's a family favorite stateside too.
Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice: The perfect quick, one pot dinner.
Greek Chicken Zucchini Noodles: An easy, healthy weeknight dinner.
Healthy Chicken Pad Thai: A healthier version of a classic takeout dish.
Healthy Sweet & Sour Chicken: Made gluten free and without pineapple!
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry: Healthy and delicious.
Cashew Chicken Recipe: That is so easy to make!
Greek Chicken Spaghetti Squash Bake: An easy, healthy dinner. Dairy free, paleo & made with only a few ingredients.
Whole30 Chicken Fajitas: The perfect healthy, low carb dinner.
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken: Uses only 4 ingredients and is so simple to make!
Healthy Lemon Artichoke Chicken: An easy, healthy one pan dinner the whole family will love!
Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe!
Best Chicken Marsala Recipe!
Easy Greek Chicken Thighs Recipe: The perfect meal!
Lemon Rosemary Chicken Thighs: A perfect quick meal! We sub chicken breasts for thighs all the time.
Chicken and Vegetable Skillet: Combines veggies and pan seared chicken with basil and mozzarella!

Low-Carb Chicken Breast Recipes

Marry Me Chicken Pasta: A low-carb take on the classic, this Marry Me Chicken Pasta uses my Kaizen ziti pasta made from lupini beans. It’s a keto-friendly, high-protein pasta packed with fiber to give this dish a nutritional boost. The creamy sun-dried-tomato sauce and tender chicken breast make this dish a winner.
Pistachio Crusted Chicken: Roasted pistachios are tossed in a blender with ingredients like artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic to create a nutrient-packed crust baked to a gorgeous golden brown. I used chicken thighs originally in this recipe, but chicken breast works great too!
Keto Thai Curry Recipe: Takes all your favorite elements of a traditional Thai curry and turns it into a convenient weeknight dinner that checks all the boxes of a low-carb lifestyle. Great for using up leftover chicken, this one-pot wonder also features veggies like bell peppers, eggplant, and snap peas.
Mediterranean Buddha Bowl: The chicken is marinated in a mix of Greek yogurt, olive oil, fresh herbs, spices, and aromatics to create a juicy and flavorful protein. Layer it on top of my Kaizen low-carb rice for a low-carb option, or try it on a bed of quinoa or mixed greens.
Joojeh Kabab Recipe: The saffron-marinated chicken is delightful and uses onion juice for an extra tenderizing effect. You’ll then fire up the grill and thread the chicken onto skewers for that authentic char and smoky flavor.

Cooking Methods

Instant Pot Instructions

Set Instant Pot to regular sauté function. Add olive oil to the pot. Lightly sear the chicken breasts on each side about 2 minutes. Remove the breasts to a plate and set aside. The chicken will not be cooked through, but this is ok.
Add in the celery, carrot, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley and basil. Sauté for 2 minutes or until slightly translucent. Add in small cut potatoes + stir.
Lay the chicken breasts on top of the vegetable/small potato mixture. Add large potato quarters on top of chicken. Pour in broth.
Turn the Instant Pot to High Pressure (manual on older models), sealing and cook for 9 minutes. Allow it to natural release for 5 minutes. Manually release the rest of the pressure after 5 minutes.
Remove the large potato pieces + chicken breasts.
Place large potato quarters, almond milk + 1/2 cup of broth from the pot (a few ladels full!) into a blender until smooth. Add back into the pot
Place chicken breasts on a cutting board and shred. Put the chicken back into the pot. Stir together until combined and smooth. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Crockpot Instructions

Heat olive oil in a pan on the stove. Add in the celery, carrot, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley and basil. Sauté for 2 minutes or until slightly translucent. (This step is optional, but recommended!)
Layer raw chicken, cooked vegetables, and potatoes in the crockpot. Add broth.
Cover + set to low for 6 hours.
Once cooked, remove the large potato pieces + chicken breasts.
Place large potato quarters, almond milk + 1/2 cup of broth from the pot (a few ladels full!) into a blender until smooth. Add back into the pot.
Place chicken breasts on a cutting board and shred. Put the chicken back into the pot. Stir everything together until combined and smooth. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Stovetop Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large pot on the stove. Add in the celery, carrot, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley and basil. Sauté for 2 minutes or until slightly translucent.
Add raw chicken, potatoes and broth in the pot. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower heat to a simmer and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes
Once cooked, remove the large potato pieces + chicken breasts.
Place large potato quarters, almond milk + 1/2 cup of broth from the pot (a few ladels full!) into a blender until smooth. Add back into the pot.
Place chicken breasts on a cutting board and shred. Put the chicken back into the pot. Stir everything together until combined and smooth.

Additional Tips

Season your chicken breast fillets with the salt, pepper and smoked paprika. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.Transfer everything into a ziplock bag and use your hands to mix the chicken into the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Brush the grills with some oil. Once hot, remove the chicken breast fillets from the ziplock bag and place them on the grill. Cook the chicken for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Read also: Delicious Keto Vegetarian Meals

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