Life gets busy, and sometimes the idea of cooking a healthy, delicious dinner for the family feels like a monumental task.
But what if you could whip up a high-protein, satisfying meal that everyone loves without spending hours in the kitchen? This collection of healthy chicken dinners is designed for exactly that – busy weeknights when you want to nourish your family with minimal fuss.
These recipes focus on simple ingredients, straightforward steps, and flavors that appeal to a wide range of palates. From quick skillet meals to easy oven bakes, you’ll find options that fit perfectly into your routine, ensuring healthy eating remains a priority even on the most hectic days.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Quick and Easy Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Skillet
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This recipe is a true weeknight hero, perfect for anyone juggling work, school, and family commitments. It’s designed for busy parents, individuals looking for quick meal prep options, or even beginner cooks who want to build confidence in the kitchen. What makes it so appealing is its incredible simplicity combined with a high-protein punch, ensuring everyone at the table feels satisfied and energized.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. 1. Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. This helps them brown better. Cut the chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
2. 2. Sear the Chicken: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides and mostly cooked through. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this stage, as it will continue to cook in the sauce.
3. 3. Build the Sauce Base: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and the undrained diced tomatoes. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – these bits add a lot of flavor! Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
4. 4. Add Vegetables and Simmer: Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is fully cooked through. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 F (74 C).
5. 5. Stir in Cream Cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the softened light cream cheese to the mixture. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated, creating a creamy, smooth sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a splash more chicken broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
6. 6. Final Touches and Serve: Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings if needed. If desired, garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving. Serve immediately and enjoy your healthy, flavorful meal!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: skillet
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: chicken, skillet, creamy, vegetables, quick, easy, weeknight, healthy, high protein, family friendly
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true weeknight hero, perfect for anyone juggling work, school, and family commitments. It’s designed for busy parents, individuals looking for quick meal prep options, or even beginner cooks who want to build confidence in the kitchen. What makes it so appealing is its incredible simplicity combined with a high-protein punch, ensuring everyone at the table feels satisfied and energized. You can serve this as a standalone meal, or pair it with a simple side salad or some steamed vegetables for a complete and balanced dinner. It’s also fantastic for meal prepping lunches for the week, as it reheats beautifully without losing its flavor or texture.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients ahead of time makes the cooking process much smoother. This recipe uses common pantry staples and fresh chicken, making it easy to shop for and prepare. You won’t need any exotic spices or specialty items, just good, wholesome food that comes together effortlessly.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
- 1/2 cup light cream cheese, softened
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
For the chicken, you can use either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Thighs tend to stay a bit more moist, but breasts are leaner. Feel free to use what you prefer or have on hand. If you don’t have mixed vegetables, any single frozen vegetable like broccoli florets or green beans will work just as well. For the cream cheese, light cream cheese is recommended for a healthier profile, but full-fat can be used for a richer flavor. If you’re out of dried oregano and basil, an Italian seasoning blend makes a great substitute.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is genuinely quick, making it ideal for those evenings when time is of the essence.
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 20-25 minutes
- Total time: 30-35 minutes
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Follow these simple steps to create a delicious and healthy chicken dinner that will become a regular in your weeknight rotation. The key is to have all your ingredients ready before you start cooking.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. This helps them brown better. Cut the chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides and mostly cooked through. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this stage, as it will continue to cook in the sauce.
- Build the Sauce Base: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and the undrained diced tomatoes. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – these bits add a lot of flavor! Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Add Vegetables and Simmer: Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is fully cooked through. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C).
- Stir in Cream Cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the softened light cream cheese to the mixture. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated, creating a creamy, smooth sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a splash more chicken broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
- Final Touches and Serve: Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings if needed. If desired, garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving. Serve immediately and enjoy your healthy, flavorful meal!
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This versatile chicken dinner can be adapted to suit different tastes and dietary needs, making it a true family-friendly option.
For a kid-friendly twist, you can serve this over a bed of pasta or rice, which helps soak up the delicious creamy sauce. You can also swap the mixed vegetables for just peas or corn if your children have specific preferences. If you’re looking to add more greens, stir in a handful of fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of simmering; it will wilt beautifully into the sauce.
For a heartier meal, consider serving this chicken over quinoa, brown rice, or even mashed potatoes. A side of crusty whole-grain bread is also great for soaking up the creamy goodness. If you enjoy a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added with the other seasonings. For a Mediterranean flair, stir in some chopped sun-dried tomatoes or a sprinkle of feta cheese at the end. This dish also works wonderfully as a filling for wraps or quesadillas the next day!
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have small pitfalls. Being aware of these common mistakes can help you achieve perfect results every time.
One frequent mistake is overcrowding the pan when searing the chicken. If you add too much chicken at once, it will steam instead of brown, preventing that delicious caramelized flavor. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary, ensuring there’s enough space between pieces.
Another common issue is overcooking the chicken. Chicken breasts, especially, can become dry and tough if cooked for too long. Keep an eye on the cooking time and use a meat thermometer if you’re unsure; chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Finally, make sure your cream cheese is softened before adding it to the hot mixture. If it’s cold and straight from the fridge, it will be harder to incorporate smoothly and might leave small lumps in your sauce. Letting it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, or even microwaving it for 10-15 seconds, will make a big difference.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This healthy chicken dinner is excellent for meal prep and stores wonderfully, making your future weeknights even easier.
To store leftovers, allow the dish to cool completely to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. The flavors often meld and deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day.
For reheating, you can warm individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through. Alternatively, reheat it gently on the stovetop in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much. Stir occasionally until it’s hot and bubbly.
This recipe is also a great candidate for making ahead. You can fully prepare the dish, cool it, and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat, simply reheat as described above. The texture holds up very well, and the chicken remains tender.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Here are some common questions that often come up when preparing this healthy chicken dinner:
Can I use fresh vegetables instead of frozen? Absolutely! If using fresh vegetables, you might need to cook them a bit longer to ensure they are tender. Add them to the skillet after the chicken is seared, and sauté for a few minutes before adding the broth and tomatoes.
Is this recipe spicy? No, this recipe is very mild. The seasonings are aromatic rather than spicy. If you prefer a little heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the other spices.
Can I make this dairy-free? You can try substituting the light cream cheese with a dairy-free cream cheese alternative. The texture and flavor might vary slightly, but it should still be delicious.
What if I don’t have chicken broth? Water can be used in a pinch, but chicken
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
