15 easy chicken recipes

Keep it simple with these fuss-free chicken dishes

There’s a lot you can do with chicken, from roasting it whole to shredding it in a salad. These easy recipes draw on ideas from around the world to bring fresh flavours into your kitchen. Here are 15 ways to wake up your taste buds.

1. Buffalo chicken wings

Originating from Buffalo, New York, this fiery recipe is hard to beat. Balance the heat with a tangy blue cheese dip and crisp celery sticks. If you’ve bought chicken whole and aren’t sure about portioning it, this helpful video shows how to do it correctly.

Good Mood Food

2. Chicken fajitas with pineapple salsa and guacamole

Combining sweet and savoury flavours, this comfort-food classic is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. The pineapple salsa with mint, jalapeño and lime zest really brings it to life.

Dhruv Baker/Waitrose

3. Sichuan 'Bang Bang' chicken with spicy peanut sauce

Ready in 40 minutes, Lorraine Pascale's chicken, vegetable and noodle dish makes a filling yet simple dinner. Don't have soba noodles or coriander to hand? Try wholewheat noodles and basil instead. 

Eating Well Made Easy

4. Peach and chicken tagine

This South African-inspired recipe is all about bold, sweet flavours. It's also incredibly easy to make: all you have to do is chop, fry, stir and simmer for 15 minutes.

Reuben Riffel

5. Korean fried chicken with pickled radish

This crispy chicken with a spicy sauce to drizzle over really is finger-licking good. Chef’s tip: cook different cuts, such as drumsticks, thighs and wings, in separate batches as the cooking times vary due to their size.

Judy Joo

6. Mary Berry's tandoori chicken

Serve this British take on an Indian classic with fragrant rice or warm naan bread and a quick relish of red onion, coriander and tomato. Although this recipe does require at least eight hours marinating time, it can be cooked in 30 minutes. Trust us, it will be worth it.

Mary Berry's Cookery Course

7. Venezuelan chocolate and chilli chicken

Chocolate and… chicken? Master Chocolatier Paul A Young says yes to this pairing, and so will you after you’ve had a try of this rich glossy chilli. Be sure to cook with good dark chocolate as it will give the dish better depth of flavour.

Adventures with Chocolate

8. Italian roast chicken with rosemary potatoes

Easy enough to make as a mid-week meal but impressive enough to offer at a dinner party, this Italian-inspired chicken can be stuffed and wrapped in ham ahead of cooking. 

Jo Pratt

9. Chicken peri peri

Serve this spicy recipe with a bowl of rice and lemon butter on the side. You can also make a bigger batch of the marinade and store it for later; it will taste great with most meats. You could also try to spatchcock the chicken to mix things up.

Grant Hawthorne

10. Chicken skewers with pinchito spices

These tapas skewers are the perfect party snack as they’re filling without being too stodgy. If you’re having trouble finding the xamfaina chutney, worry not, it can be easily substituted with any other chutney or salsa that you prefer.

The Foodies Larder

11. Thai green chicken curry

This classic Thai recipe packs a spicy punch, but you can always adjust the heat to your own preference. Serve with fragrant Thai sticky rice.

Curries of the World

12. Chicken souvlaki with Israeli tabbouleh

Dip into the flavours of Middle East with these juicy chicken skewers. Packed with flavour and ready in 20 minutes, this dish requires minimal effort.

L'atelier des Chefs

13. Moroccan chicken salad

A zingy north African dish that you could serve with charred aubergines or this roasted aubergine salad with spiced yoghurt dressing.

Mighty Spice Cookbook

14. Chicken and egg rice bowl

Oyakodon, a donburi-style Japanese dish, serves as the perfect mid-week pick me up. This version will be ready in just 20 minutes.

The Japan Centre

15. Sunday roast chicken

When it comes to a classic Sunday roast, it has to be a whole chicken. This recipe from Mary Berry also includes the perfect gravy and stuffing, while you can check out some top tips for carving in this video.

Mary Berry Winter Cookbook

Cooking with chicken safely

Unlike red meats, chicken has to be cooked through and the juices have to run clear before it’s safe to consume. To find out how to handle raw chicken correctly to avoid food poisoning have a look at this article on kitchen safety.