Top 10 family chicken recipes
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Searching for a dish that the whole family will tuck into? Look no further than these popular and easy ways with poultry.
Chicken consistently comes up tops in our recipe searches but we know finding a meal that'll please everyone is a tall order. We've put together 10 stand-out recipes to please even the tiniest of palates – dishes that are sophisticated enough for grown-up tastes while expanding the repertoire of young ones.
To keep it practical, each of these recipes has at least one of the following family-friendly features – short prep time, freezable, batch or slow cooking, light on washing-up, or kids can get involved.
1. Chinese chicken curry
This Chinese chicken curry has earned our healthy badge, meaning it's low in salt, sugar and saturated fat. Plus, it's big on flavour and has a five-star rating. With chunks of tender chicken breast and frozen peas, this dish feels familiar, but the soy and spices give it a new dimension of flavour. If your family don't like spicy food, choose a mild curry powder to give you all of the taste without the heat.Discover more healthy family curry recipes.
2. Lighter chicken tacos
If the kids want Tex-Mex but you'd prefer a healthy option, there's no need to compromise with our lighter chicken tacos. Angela Nilsen's recipe has half the fat of the average taco, and comes with tomato & pepper salsa and guacamole so you know your family are upping their veg intake. The fun of assembling the tacos at the table can help to coax relunctant veg-eaters into trying something new. Put out an extra plate of thinly sliced pepper, cucumber and halved cherry tomatoes and you're really covered.Ensure they get their greens with more hidden veg recipes.
3. Roast chicken & roots
Keep the Sunday roast tradition alive without a sink full of washing-up. This one-tray oven-cooked chicken with roasted vegetables combines everything you need for a tasty weekend spread. A combination of roasted butternut squash, parsnips and carrots adds a touch of sweetness while the classic trio of garlic, thyme and lemon lift your bird above and beyond.Love roasts but hate washing-up? Try more one-pan family roasts.
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4. Chicken & leek filo pie
Set aside 300g of roast chicken from the previous recipe to rustle up this easy-prep version of chicken & mushroom pie. All you need is 15 minutes and the oven will do the rest. Layering up the filo is fun to do with kids – just brush each layer with oil and fan out the sheets before folding over to enclose the filling. The crisp finish makes a lighter topping than traditional puff or shortcrust pastry. For variety, check out our chicken pie recipe collection.
5. Teriyaki chicken meatballs with rice & greens
Mirin, lemon, sugar and soy sauce combine to create a teriyaki sauce for these moreish chicken meatballs. Your kids will never guess there's carrot hidden in the mixture. Serve on top of basmati with greens, or swap for broccoli and increase the cooking time to 8 minutes. The sauce makes a scrumptious coating for noodles, too.Make this recipe in 25 minutes or try one of our other quick family recipes.
6. Big-batch chicken soup
Chicken, peas, sweetcorn and pasta – put these staple ingredients together for a simple and comforting soup. Preparation takes just 10 minutes, then you can leave the broth to bubble away. The recipe serves four with leftovers and can be frozen, meaning you can portion it up for a quick after-school meal for the kids. It's also suitable for the slow cooker – tasty and practical!Treat the family to fabulous family soup recipes.
7. Jerk chicken & pineapple traybake
Sweet potato and pineapple add a natural sweetness to this jerk chicken traybake. Jerk spices infuse the oven-baked dish with a warming blend of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cayenne. A colourful combo that you can serve with rice and beans, bringing a little sunshine to your table whatever the weather.Tuck into more chicken traybake recipes.
8. Slow cooker honey mustard chicken thighs
Heading out for the afternoon? Pop your honey mustard chicken thighs in the slow cooker and have dinner ready when you get in. This two-step recipe couldn't be easier, and with an impressive five-minute prep time, you can throw it together even when you're rushing to get out the door. To save even more time, simply toss everything straight in the slow cooker – it won't look as pretty but it'll still taste marvellous.Try these slow cooker recipes.
9. Thai chicken noodles
A milder version of Thai chicken curry will introduce little ones to a broader range of flavours and give you a new dish the whole family can enjoy. Ginger, garlic and spring onions form the base, then add a small amount of curry paste and you've got all the elements without the heat. If there's a chilli lover in your household, drizzle their portion with a little sriracha sauce.Find out the health benefits of Thai curry.
10. Chicken gyros
Challenge teens with this chicken gyros recipe. Get them marinating meat, neatly chopping cucumber, crushing garlic, making and kneading fresh dough, then cook and serve. The results will be well worth their efforts. Spiced grilled chicken with creamy tzatziki on top of homemade pitta bread – delicious!
Take a look at our kids' cookery collection for ways to get children of all ages in the kitchen.
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What are your favourite family chicken recipes? Leave a comment below...
