The 16 Best Fall Chicken Recipes

Get Cozy With These Dishes

Written by
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Cathy Jacobs
Updated 04/04/20
Chicken, Cheese, and Penne Pasta Bake

The Spruce

 

Fall's cooler temperatures bring on cravings for homey, warming dishes that make us feel cozy. These hearty chicken dishes showcase some of our favorite fall ingredients, from mushrooms to root vegetables. With the kids back in school and the holidays up ahead, it's a busy time of year, so we've chosen recipes that will help families get a delicious meal on the table without spending too much time in the kitchen. Whether you're craving the traditional comfort of chicken pot pie, need an easy weeknight dinner, or want to impress guests with little effort, here are a dozen takes on chicken that'll do the trick.

  • 01 of 16

    Easy Chicken Piccata

    Chicken Strips Piccata With Meyer Lemons

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Chicken cutlets in a delectable sauce make a great family dinner, but this dish is also fancy enough to serve to invited guests. Best of all, you can have this chicken piccata on the table in less than 30 minutes.

  • 02 of 16

    Thai Chicken Stir-Fried With Coconut, Chili, and Lime

    Thai Chicken Stir-Fried With Coconut, Chili & Lime

    The Spruce

    Treat your family to the Southeast Asian flavors of a fragrant Thai chicken and vegetable stir-fry, with a foolproof sauce that pleases every palate. Green beans, mushrooms, and bell pepper strips are added to the pan with the coconut milk-based sauce in a one-bowl dish dinner your family will ask you to add to the usual weeknight rotation.

  • 03 of 16

    Chicken Spaghetti

    Chicken Spaghtetti

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Your family will love digging into this popular 30-minute spaghetti casserole. Budget-friendly chicken breast halves, condensed cream of mushroom soup, tomatoes, and pimientos add big flavor to the sauce.

  • 04 of 16

    Chicken, Cheese, and Penne Pasta Bake

    Chicken, Cheese, and Penne Pasta Bake

    The Spruce

    Here's a great autumn dinner for the days you're craving something hearty and filling. This chicken, cheese, and penne pasta bake is a satisfying family meal, with artichokes and mushrooms adding extra nutrition and texture. You can toss in any other favorite vegetables as well or add cheddar cheese in addition to the mozzarella, depending on your family's tastes.

    Continue to 5 of 16 below.
  • 05 of 16

    Blackened Chicken

    Blackened Chicken

    The Spruce Eats / Elaine Lemm

    Add a little spice to a chilly night with this blackened chicken recipe. It coats boneless chicken breasts in a Cajun-inspired spice rub of black onion seed, cayenne, cinnamon, coriander, garlic, paprika, and thyme. Give the chicken a quick sear, then bake it in the oven, and serve over spicy rice for a complete meal.

  • 06 of 16

    Chicken Marbella

    Chicken Marbella

    Elaine Lemm

    This storied dish is adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook, first published in 1982. Although that name might not ring a bell for younger generations, it was a standout cookbook in its time, and Chicken Marbella was its standout dish. This one-pan meal features skin-on chicken marinated in a brine of vinegar, olives, capers, and prunes, and then baked in the same dish—it couldn't be easier. This recipe is a little sweet, a little salty, and perfectly balanced with acidic tang. Perfect with Spanish rice or mashed potatoes.

  • 07 of 16

    Pan-Roasted Chicken

    Simple Pan-Fried Chicken

    The Spruce Eats / Elaine Lemm

    Enjoy roasted chicken in half the time with this simple pan-roasted chicken recipe. Instead of a whole chicken, it uses smaller pieces so it cooks faster. Roasting it with rosemary, shallots, and garlic adds a delicious base flavor. To finish off the dish, you'll make an easy white wine and cream sauce to serve on the side.

  • 08 of 16

    Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

    Instant Pot chicken and dumplings with parsley garnish.
    Diana Rattray

    This Southern classic is a welcome dish on a cool fall day, and the Instant Pot makes it quick and easy to prepare. Onions and garlic are sauteed, chicken broth, seasonings, vegetables, and chicken are added, the homemade dumpling dough is spooned on top, and the stew is pressure cooked for just a few minutes. Peas, parsley, and cream finish it off.

    Continue to 9 of 16 below.
  • 09 of 16

    Chicken Pot Pie

    Chicken pot pie

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    When you think about warming fall meals that make you feel cozy, doesn't this classic American comfort food come to mind? It's the perfect way to use up leftover roast chicken and whatever veggies are still sitting around in the fridge. This traditional recipe delivers fabulous flavor and is such a great one to have in your culinary repertoire.

  • 10 of 16

    Easy Chicken and Mushrooms

    Easy Chicken and Mushrooms

    Philippe Desnerck / Getty Images

     

    There's something so wonderful and comforting about the combination of juicy chicken and earthy, tender mushrooms. This super easy recipe featuring both ingredients takes a shortcut with condensed cream of mushroom soup, so it's ready in just an hour. The chicken and sauce make a wholesome family meal with potatoes or noodles and a salad.

  • 11 of 16

    Lemon and Herb Roasted Chicken

    Lemon and Herb Roasted Chicken

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    It doesn't get more elegant—or easier, in this case—than a roast chicken for dinner. This wonderful recipe for a lemon and herb roasted bird produces one that's tender, juicy, and crispy. Serve it when you're having company over or on fall weekends with the family.

  • 12 of 16

    Sheet Pan Apricot Lime Chicken and Vegetables

    Sheet Pan Apricot Lime Chicken and Vegetables

    The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

     

    Busy weeknights don't have to mean boring dinner—or resorting to take-out! This recipe for apricot lime chicken and vegetables is made on a single sheet pan, proving you can turn out a homecooked meal, even when you're pressed for time. The beauty of the one-and-done dinner is that you don't have to do much besides mix up a quick marinade, arrange the chicken and vegetables on the pan, and slide it into the oven.

    Continue to 13 of 16 below.
  • 13 of 16

    Chicken Meatball Alfredo

    Chicken Meatball Alfredo

    arfo / Getty Images

     

    Rich, decadent chicken meatball alfredo is a fabulous recipe on those cool fall evenings when you want a dinner that will stick to your ribs. The pasta meal is a family favorite that's so easy to prepare, especially using store-bought chicken meatballs and prepared alfredo sauce. Cream cheese is added to the sauce for extra tangy flavor, smoothness, and richness.

  • 14 of 16

    Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup

    Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup

    Diana Rattray

     

    Warm and comforting chicken and mushroom soup is full of flavor and perfect for enjoying on chillier days. Packed with healthful ingredients, including diced chicken breasts, carrots, celery, and fresh sliced mushrooms, the soup gets its creamy, velvety texture thanks to some heavy cream added near the end. It makes a wonderful first course, lunch, or supper soup—just add a sandwich or salad.

  • 15 of 16

    Easy Skillet Chicken With Bacon

    Easy skillet chicken with bacon

    The Spruce

    Chicken and bacon are a flavor combination that's surprisingly delicious and this one-skillet recipe takes just minutes to prepare and cook. Bacon infuses the breasts with plenty of great smoky flavor, while balancing out the sour cream sauce, making it a great choice for everyday fall dinners.

  • 16 of 16

    Chicken and Bacon in Puff Pastry

    Chicken and bacon in puff pastry

    The Spruce

    Want to impress dinner guests, but don't want to blow your budget? This elegant and easy entree for chicken and bacon in puff pastry serves a group of six. The sophisticated combination of bacon, chicken, onion, and cream cheese in flaky frozen puff pastry is perfect for company, yet so easy to make! You can make the filling ahead of time, then assemble the little bundles just before you're ready to eat.