Our 25 best 5-star chicken recipes

Winner, winner, 5-star chicken dinner.

There's a reason chicken reigns supreme as the ultimate weeknight protein—it's versatile, affordable, and takes on any flavor you throw at it. These are the best five-star chicken recipes our readers can't stop raving about, and it's easy to see why. They're quick to pull together, use simple ingredients, and deliver big on flavor.

Whether you're craving Chicken Caesar Pasta, Vietnamese Chicken Curry, or Mole Poblano Chicken, these top-rated recipes prove that the best chicken dinners don't have to be complicated. So dive in and get ready to find your new go-to weeknight dinner.

01 of 25

Mole Poblano Chicken

Get Recipe: Mole Poblano Chicken

"Mole poblano is chocolate-forward, bold, and utterly swoon-worthy. The sauce gets all the glory, with raisins for sweetness, dried ancho chiles and chipotles in adobo for depth and spice, unsweetened baker's chocolate for that intoxicating richness, and almonds for silky body, all blended into an unforgettable, velvety sauce." —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer

02 of 25

Chicken Piccata Noodle Casserole

Get Recipe: Chicken Piccata Noodle Casserole

"One of my sons favorite dishes is my chicken piccata. So when I saw this recipe it was a must try. Several in the family do not like capers so the juice and capers were left out. Other than that I followed it to the tee. Starting with a rotisserie chicken was my favorite part for ease of making. This has beautiful lemon flavor and saltiness from the Parmesan cheese. If you gather all your ingredients prior this comes together very quickly. Simply delicious, creamy, lemony, rich, and flavorful! Definitely a keeper in our house." —Colleen, Reader

03 of 25

Mahogany Chicken

Get Recipe: Mahogany Chicken

"I made this exactly as instructed and it was delicious! The initial browning of the skin, starting from a cold pan, renders most of the fat, which is discarded, leaving a delicious crispy coating. The glaze is so tasty I plan to use it in other recipes, and it blended deliciously with the brown rice I served along with the chicken. I might add toasted sesame seeds next time. Thank you for an outstanding recipe! I will be making this weekly!" —Sara, Reader

04 of 25

Chicken Saltimbocca

Get Recipe: Chicken Saltimbocca

"Followed the recipe exactly, and it is excellent!! I used white wine instead of chicken broth. This is an absolute keeper!!" —Jeanne, Reader

05 of 25

Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs

Get Recipe: Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs

"You had me at olives and tomatoes. I am just learning how to cook so I had to try this. I don't own a Dutch oven so I attempted it in a nonstick electric skillet. I definitely overcooked it and did not have any juices, but the flavor was pure heaven. I am ordering a Dutch oven right now so I can get the full benefit of this recipe. I don't know where the flavor came from, but it was amazing." —Candace, Reader

06 of 25

Air Fryer Potato Chip Chicken Tenders

Get Recipe: Air Fryer Potato Chip Chicken Tenders

"If you're craving crunchy, craggy, salty fried chicken but don't want to deal with deep frying, swing through the snack aisle instead. With a bag of kettle-cooked potato chips and your trusty air fryer at your side, you're just half an hour away from super crispy, deeply seasoned 'fried' chicken strips!" —Afton Cyrus, Senior Editor

07 of 25

Pesto Chicken

Get Recipe: Pesto Chicken

"Tried this and it turned out amazing, the pesto cream sauce is seriously next level and full of flavor. Super quick too, definitely going into my regular dinner rotation." —Zarynthiqo, Reader

08 of 25

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Get Recipe: Easy Chicken and Dumplings

"When I married into a Southern family and learned all about chicken and dumplings, I was determined to find a shortcut version that we would still love for cold rainy days as well as celebrations. Luckily, I found a way to make a very good and super easy version of chicken and dumplings with just a handful of staple ingredients and a few shortcuts." —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

09 of 25

Arroz Caldo With Chicken

Get Recipe: Arroz Caldo With Chicken

"Delicious! Easy to follow directions that were spot on! I'm glad I didn't skip the boiled egg slices and fried garlic—the combo was fantastic! Added chili crisp to the toppings. Bet it would also be good with some kimchi. Take all the stars, you deserve them!" —Spicygirl2413, Reader

10 of 25

Alice Springs Chicken

Get Recipe: Alice Springs Chicken

"I came across this recipe and made it the same day because it sounded so good and simple. We loved this dish in the restaurant, but this recipe is even better and was too easy to make. I will make again it was wonderfully flavorful, and we enjoyed it very much." —Christi, Reader

11 of 25

Chicken Diane

Get Recipe: Chicken Diane

"Turns out Diane sauce is just as delicious on chicken as it is on steak! Makes you want to lick the plate." —Laurel, Reader

12 of 25

Lemon-Artichoke Chicken Piccata

Get Recipe: Lemon-Artichoke Chicken Piccata

"This was so good! I loved the contrast of the super crispy cutlets and the creamy, lemony sauce. Don't be afraid to add lots of salt and pepper to the sauce to get it properly seasoned up." —Coco, Reader

13 of 25

Thai-Style Chicken Fried Rice

Get Recipe: Thai-Style Chicken Fried Rice

"It was spicy but at an OK level for me. Very tasty. I use microwaveable bagged rice as a quick shortcut for the rice in all my fried rice recipes. You can get it in long grain, short, jasmine, etc. All you need to do is open the bag, crumble it up, and add it straight to the pan. Comes out perfect every time." —Bonnie, Reader

14 of 25

Chicken Francese

Get Recipe: Chicken Francese

"Bright and refreshing! The perfect summer or spring supper." —Lisa, Reader

15 of 25

Pretzel Chicken

Get Recipe: Pretzel Chicken

"Turns out, pretzels are an awesome way to add tantalizing crunch to chicken. Bonus: using them as breading is a great way to use up a languishing open bag of pretzels." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

16 of 25

Chicken Caesar Pasta

Get Recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta

"I've never thought of doing this, but it was savory, creamy, and just the right amount of punchy. This is almost like an Alfredo sauce, but with anchovy and Dijon. So yummy!" —Julia, Reader

17 of 25

Cà Ri Gà (Vietnamese Chicken Curry)

Get Recipe: Cà Ri Gà (Vietnamese Chicken Curry)

"This was SO SO good. My kids, who are relatively picky, said this was the best thing I've EVER made for them. Considering I cook a lot and make everything from scratch, that's a pretty strong endorsement. We will definitely be making this again!" —Jessica, Reader

18 of 25

Million Dollar Chicken

Get Recipe: Million Dollar Chicken

"I used thighs and it turned out delicious. This will definitely go into hit list for my family. I broiled for a minute or two at the end and it gave a beautiful color. My 13 year old went back for thirds." —Wendi, Reader

19 of 25

Easy Green Chicken Chili

Get Recipe: Easy Green Chicken Chili

"This was quick, easy and so flavorful! Used a rotisserie chicken and canned hatch green chilies. I also only blended half of the can of beans with the cilantro and placed the other half into the soup for some extra texture. Definitely saving this recipe and will make it again!" —Jane, Reader

20 of 25

Dakgangjeong (Sweet and Spicy Korean Fried Chicken)

Get Recipe: Dakgangjeong (Sweet and Spicy Korean Fried Chicken)

"Dakgangjoeng is a great game day appetizer accompanied with an ice-cold beer. The recipe is not difficult, but because it involves a few different steps, I recommend saving it for when you have a little more time. Once you get the hang of the process, you will find yourself craving and making it for a weeknight dinner, too. It's just that good!" —Joy Cho, Recipe Developer

21 of 25

Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo

Get Recipe: Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo

"I have never made alfredo from scratch before, but I tried this one for our Father's Day dinner and everyone loved it! It was easy and absolutely delicious. I don't think anyone in my family is going to look at jarred alfredo sauce the same way again!" —Cezanne, Reader

22 of 25

Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Get Recipe: Skillet Chicken Parmesan

"I don't usually leave reviews but this meal was just so good. I've never made Chicken Parm on my own but have eaten it from many different places. This was very flavorful." —Emily, Reader

23 of 25

Easy Weeknight Chicken Ramen

Get Recipe: Easy Weeknight Chicken Ramen

"This is definitely a keeper! It was easy and very tasty for supper, and leftovers worked well for lunch too. I used spinach and canned mushrooms (what I had) but look forward to the Napa cabbage version. I used the steam-cook method for the eggs that you posted recently and, as advertised, the eggs were perfectly done and EASY TO PEEL! Thanks for two great recipes." —Wanda, Reader

24 of 25

Marry Me Chicken Chili

Get Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Chili

"Very yummy and pretty easy to prepared. I used canned fire roasted tomatoes and added some jalapeños and habaneros (fresh from the garden) along with the poblano to make it pretty spicy. Will definitely be making this again!" —Emmy, Reader

25 of 25

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Get Recipe: King Ranch Chicken Casserole

"Made this exactly as the recipe instructed. Absolutely delicious! I was afraid it would be too spicy with the chopped jalapeño, but it was just right! Will be making this again!" —Betty, Reader

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