Top 10 healthy chicken recipes
Discover delicious, nutritious recipes for chicken in roast dinners, stews, curries and pasta. Try our ten healthy ideas, from weeknight meals to Sunday lunch.
Get the most nutrition out of your chicken with our favourite healthy recipes, including lighter sauces, clever crumb coatings and a good-for-you twist on the classic Sunday roast. As well as being lower in fat and calories, these dishes are packed with veg and full of flavour so you won't feel like you are missing out.
For more inspiration, check out our collections of healthy chicken recipes, healthy chicken breast recipes and healthy chicken thigh recipes.
1. Chinese chicken curry
Ditch the takeaway and rustle up this vibrant Chinese-style chicken curry instead. It's low in fat but bursting with fragrant spices such as turmeric, ginger and curry powder. Adding frozen peas is a quick and easy way to boost the veg content, too. Serve with fluffy rice for a wholesome family meal.
We've got plenty more healthy chicken curry recipes to try, including chicken jalfrezi and chicken madras
2. Roast chicken with lemon & rosemary roots
This healthier take on a classic roast incorporates swede, celeriac, carrots and kale to give you a boost of extra goodness. Leave off the traditional calorie-laden trimmings and enjoy extra servings of veggies flavoured with rosemary, lemon and garlic for a lighter Sunday lunch.
Roast chicken with lemon & rosemary roots
3. Creamy chicken & asparagus braise
Bright green, summery and light, this low-fat and low-calorie way of serving chicken breasts is a real winner. Packing in plenty of greens from asparagus, peas and leeks, it also uses tarragon, garlic and bio yoghurt to create a deliciously creamy sauce.
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Creamy chicken & asparagus braise
4. Chicken katsu curry
Katsu needn’t be off the menu if you’re trying to avoid fried foods: you can reproduce that crunchy chicken coating by dipping it in chopped flaked almonds instead and baking until golden in the oven. Pair with a fresh salad of carrot, cucumber, chilli, lime and soft zingy herbs for a beautiful, balanced and satisfying supper.
5. Chicken cacciatore one-pot with orzo
This remake of the classic Italian hunter’s stew is lower in calories and fat than its original and delivers two of your 5-a-day. We've used chicken thighs for flavour, which are cooked in a rich tomato, herb and red wine sauce. Orzo pasta is perfect for soaking up the delicious juices.
Chicken cacciatore one-pot with orzo
6. Chicken arrabbiata
Trade a standard arrabbiata sauce for a protein-rich version in this chicken dish which packs a punch with its fiery chillies and garlic. It’s low in salt and calories, and freezable so you can make it ahead of time. Serve with either mash or pasta for a satisfying supper.
7. Roast chicken thighs with brown rice & salsa verde
This delicious low-calorie take on roast chicken combines lean skin-off chicken thighs with beautiful green spinach and punchy salsa verde. The vitamin C from the lemon-spiked salsa helps iron absorption from the leafy greens, and the wholegrains help keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Roast chicken thighs with brown rice & salsa verde
8. Slow cooker chicken casserole
Let the slow cooker take the strain in this low-fat, low-calorie chicken recipe. It’s packed with all the goodness of new potatoes, celery, carrots and mushrooms, and the wholesome lean chicken is flavoured with bay leaves, porcini mushrooms and Dijon mustard. A healthier comfort food classic.
9. Chicken korma
If you’re a fan of curry but looking to cut back on calorific sauces, you’ll be glad to hear that you can still have your creamy chicken korma and eat it. This lighter, low-calorie sauce is based on fat-free Greek yoghurt instead of cream, and it’s lower in salt than your average takeaway, too.
10. Chicken & lemon skewers
Take chicken wraps to another level with these tasty skewers wrapped in wholemeal tortillas. The chicken is marinaded in a natural yogurt sauce flavoured with fresh herbs, spices and zingy lemon. As well as being low in fat and calories, the lean chicken breasts in these wraps provide over 40g of protein. Serve with crunchy pickled cabbage, onions and lettuce for a satisfying family meal.
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