As the days grow longer and the sun grows warmer, we shelve our hearty comfort foods for lighter, more refreshing fare. These summer chicken recipes keep weeknight cooking interesting, satisfying, and flavorful. From bell peppers stuffed with chicken sausage to grilled chicken topped with a garden-fresh sauce, poultry is the MVP in these healthy warm-weather meals.
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Chicken Andouille-Stuffed Peppers with Roasted Green Beans
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Peak green bean season runs from May to September, so there's no summer day when you can't whip up this flavorful sheet-pan supper. Stuffed with lean chicken sausage and hearty brown rice, each 300-calorie pepper half is overflowing with nutrition—and Cajun spice. Since the green beans and stuffed peppers cook together in the same pan, this summer chicken recipe will be ready in no time.
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Peachy Chicken Pasta Salad
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Instead of peaches and cream, try peaches and chicken with pasta. The natural sweetness of juicy, in-season peaches perks up this nutritionally balanced summer salad. If you have an herb garden, garnish with fresh basil leaves.
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Herbed Chicken, Orzo, and Zucchini
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Orzo adds staying power to this 20-minute Mediterranean recipe. The savory herbs, soft orzo, and crisp zucchini make this summer chicken recipe a delicious blend of textures and flavors that perfectly complement the protein.
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Roasted Vegetable and Chicken Sausage Pizza
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Yes, you can have a healthy pizza. Compose this chicken sausage pizza with whatever vegetables are in your fridge. And good news, this summer chicken recipe requires just one pan, so cleaning up is (almost) as easy as enjoying a slice.
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Rotisserie Chicken Banh Mi
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This Vietnamese-inspired chicken sandwich is ready in just 30 minutes thanks to shortcut ingredients like store-bought rotisserie chicken. Light mayonnaise and reduced-sodium soy sauce are simple swaps that keep the fat and salt in check in this summer chicken recipe.
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Chicken with Minted Yogurt Sauce
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Put a refreshing spin on seasoned grilled chicken with the help of cool cucumber, red sweet pepper, and a creamy Greek yogurt sauce flavored with fresh mint. This protein-packed summer chicken recipe will taste delicious served atop leafy greens or tucked inside a pita.
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Chicken and Strawberry Panzanella
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Fresh strawberries meet poultry in this satisfying salad recipe. Use day-old bakery bread cubes that will soak up the dressing. Each serving has 38 grams of protein and just 5 grams of sugar, so you won't be hungry again an hour later. To speed up the prep, start with grocery-store rotisserie or leftover chicken.
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Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder
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This light chicken chowder gets its creamy texture from instant mashed potato flakes. Brimming with fresh sweet corn, sweet green pepper, and tender chicken breast, it's equally delicious as a leftover for lunch as it is the night you make it.
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Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables
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This easy, low-calorie perfect-for-summer chicken recipe comes together in a single skillet. It relies on bottled Italian salad dressing to add flavor, making preparation and cleanup a breeze. It's an especially great recipe to enjoy with fresh, crispy asparagus.
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Cilantro-Lime Pasta Salad
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Fresh lime juice adds tart citrus flavor to this bright chicken pasta salad. Balance it with spicy jalapeño, sweet peppers, creamy avocado, and fresh-from-the-grill chicken for a 357-calorie lunch or dinner option that you'll want to keep on repeat.
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Tortellini and Garden Vegetable Bake
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This creamy chicken casserole is loaded with umami-rich mushrooms, sweet peppers, crunchy snap peas, and bright cherry tomatoes—all seasonal vegetables that make this dish perfect for summer potlucks and picnics. Prepare it 24 hours in advance for a speedy weeknight dinner.
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Chicken Enchilada Wraps
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Kids and adults alike will love this innovative enchilada recipe. By placing the creamy sauce inside the flour tortilla rather than on top, you'll have a delicious handheld meal—no forks required. That's a wrap on a fiesta-worthy summer chicken recipe that's fun and healthy for the whole family.
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Chicken with Summer Squash
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Transform store-bought roasted rotisserie chicken into a hit that's as simple as it is tasty. This summer chicken recipe blends bright yellow grape tomatoes and tender summer squash for a delicious and easy one-skillet meal that's ready in under 30 minutes. Sprinkle it with arugula for an additional hint of freshness.
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Pasta with Chicken, Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese
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A light honey-orange vinaigrette is the icing on the cake in this easy whole-grain pasta dish that's bursting with flavor, thanks to sun-ripened cherry tomatoes, crumbly, salty feta, and nutrient-packed baby spinach. With the fiber-rich pasta, protein-packed chicken and fresh vegetables, you'll be hitting nearly all the food groups in this balanced meal.
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Almond-Crusted Chicken
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Rosemary-laced panko and chopped almonds create a satisfying crunch around a perfectly tender chicken breast. Boost the vitamin content in this healthy comfort food recipe by serving it on a bed of wilted cabbage, then sprinkle with black pepper and fresh mint.
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Air-Fried Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Strips
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Craving some fried chicken but not all the grease and fat that comes with it? This low-fat, low-calorie chicken strip recipe will satisfy that craving and make it into your regular dinner rotation. The air fryer helps to crisp up the tenders to perfection, while brown sugar and cayenne pepper come together in a sauce that adds lip-smacking, spicy sweetness.
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Spiced Chicken-Lentil Tacos with Quick-Pickled Red Onions
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Shake up your Taco Tuesday routine with this simple and tasty chicken taco recipe that uses lentils instead of the classic beans. Lentils add a healthy boost of zinc and vitamin B1, while the pickled onions bring a tangy, sweet crunch to this nutritious dish.
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Chicken Sausage and Peppers
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Needing only 15 minutes of prep time, this sheet pan meal is an easy and healthy summer chicken recipe you can whip up on a busy weeknight. Since it cooks all in one pan, the juicy chicken sausage, fresh vegetables, and savory herbs, including oregano, blend to create a delicious harmony of flavors.
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Honey-Garlic Grilled Chicken with Pickled Chiles and Peaches
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Sweet peaches, pickled fresh jalapeño chiles, and crispy red onion work together to make this colorful dish perfect for summer. The honey-garlic marinated chicken breasts pair delightfully with a fresh, vitamin-rich arugula salad to create a delectable salty-sweet crunch with every bite.
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Chicken Cashew Nut
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Skip the takeout and make this healthy dish instead. Chopped chicken, crisp peppers, and salted cashews blend to create a delectable Asian-fusion flavor that is fresh and slightly nutty. Add an element of sweet heat with a homemade sauce that includes soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sweet chili jam.