21 Great Summer Chicken Recipes

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.
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Cathy Jacobs
Updated 09/17/20
Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice
Joy Atkinson/Getty Images

Chicken is a versatile protein that plays well with so many flavors of summer. That's why we've gathered up some of our favorite summer chicken recipes here. So, whether you are looking for something tasty for weeknight dinners, lunches, picnics, cookouts, or dinner parties, we've provided recipes here that deliver on great taste, but won't keep you cooped up in the kitchen for too long. Especially, when you want to be enjoying all that summer has to offer. From tasty chicken salads, chickens sandwiches and our favorite buttermilk fried chicken, to elegant stuffed chicken entrée, we've got a chicken dish here for every occasion and palate.

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  • 01 of 21

    Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken

    Lemon basil chicken.

     The Spruce

    Cooking chicken on the grill is a wonderful way to impart more flavor to America's favorite white meat. This quick and easy grilled lemon basil chicken for your barbecue is a real crowd-pleaser for summer cook-outs and weeknight meals. Bonus: it's ready in just 30 minutes. Chicken breasts are flavored with a quick marinade of garlic, lemon, and basil and then grilled to juicy perfection.

  • 02 of 21

    Baked Chicken With Peaches

    Baked Chicken With Peaches

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    The sweetness of peaches adds something special to this summer baked chicken with peaches recipe that makes a great tasty family meal for any night of the week. Use chicken breasts or affordable chicken thighs for this baked chicken and peaches recipe. Tangy, homemade orange and honey sauce combines with peaches and lightly fried chicken for a delicious and very easy preparation.

  • 03 of 21

    Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken

    Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken

    Daniel Loiselle / Getty Images

    Fried chicken is one of the true pleasures and signs of summer. What would picnics and cookout parties be without it? This fantastic crispy buttermilk fried chicken recipe includes foolproof instructions for marinating your chicken in buttermilk to add flavor, then dredging the meat in a seasoned flour blend before deep-frying in a skillet. The result is crispy, yet moist, fried chicken that's sure to inspire your family and friends to ask for second helpings.

  • 04 of 21

    Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Basil and Mozzarella Cheese

    Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Basil and Mozzarella Cheese

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Stuffed chicken breasts with basil and mozzarella cheese look super fancy, but are actually pretty straight-forward to make. You could easily serve this flavorful, elegant chicken breast recipe at dinner parties, or for a weekend family dinner. Chicken breasts are flattened, filled with basil and cheese, rolled in bread crumbs, then baked to perfection. Includes instructions for an addictively delicious homemade mushroom sauce to finish the dish and provide the perfect, yummy topping.

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  • 05 of 21

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Wrap

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Wrap

    The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

    When you're craving a lighter meal this summer, or looking for a filling lunchbox recipe, look no further than this Greek chicken souvlaki gyro wrap recipe. Fresh marinated chicken is grilled and stuffed into a warm pita, then topped with homemade tzatziki, tomato, onion, lettuce, and fresh dill, for a delicious taste of the Mediterranean.

  • 06 of 21

    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. Pair with a chilled white wine for the perfect summer evening meal.

  • 07 of 21

    Instant Pot Parmesan Garlic Chicken Wings

    Parmesan garlic chicken wings with dip.

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    You only have to turn on the broiler for a few minutes, so these Parmesan garlic chicken wings won't heat up the kitchen. Most of the cooking takes place in the Instant Pot, which always makes things a little easier. The wings are tossed with garlic butter, then Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley after the broiler gets them perfectly crispy. Serve with ranch dressing or marinara for a delicious little dish.

  • 08 of 21

    Apricot Lime Chicken, Potato, and Broccoli Sheet Pan Dinner

    Apricot Lime Chicken, Potato, and Broccoli Sheet Pan Dinner

    The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

    Here's a perfect summer recipe for those busy weeknights when you don't have too much time to get dinner on the table (or just don't feel like slaving over a hot stove). A single sheet pan proves the ultimate time-saving, cleanup-sparing dinner hack. All there is to do with this easy chicken and vegetables recipe is mix up a quick marinade, arrange the chicken and veggies on the pan, and pop the pan into the oven. You can tweak the timing depending on which vegetables you use, or just follow this easy apricot lime chicken, potato, and broccoli sheet pan dinner recipe for a no-stress dinner.

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  • 09 of 21

    Steamed Lemon Chicken

    Steamed Lemon Chicken

    The Spruce / Brian Yarvin

    Skip the take-out this summer with this simply delicious at-home recipe for Chinese steamed lemon chicken. You can recreate the popular Chinese restaurant entrée easily at home. Steaming the chicken makes for a healthy preparation, and store-bought Chinese sauces deliver authentic flavor in a short period of time.

  • 10 of 21

    Nashville Hot Chicken

    Nashville hot chicken with pickles, bread, and beer.
    Diana Rattray

    Nothing screams summer more than fried chicken, cool coleslaw, and potato salad—and to wash it all down, a big jug of lemonade. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, this Nashville fried chicken recipe is inspired by Prince's Hot Chicken, a now-legendary institution that first served up the deep-fried, spicy bird in the '70s. Nashville hot chicken is characterized by its spicy, deep-red glaze, traditionally made with cayenne pepper. You can substitute paprika, however, to make it less spicy. It's almost always served on top of white bread—plain white bread, the cheaper and sweeter the better—with some pickles on top.

  • 11 of 21

    Greek Chicken Kabobs

    Greek Chicken Kabobs

     Anita Schecter

    This Mediterranean-inspired grilled chicken dish is the perfect summertime meal. Cubes of boneless chicken are marinated in a mixture of garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano and skewered along with bell pepper and red onion. The tzatziki sauce (Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill) on the side for dipping is the ideal accompaniment to these grilled kabobs.

  • 12 of 21

    Herbed Dill Pickle Chicken Burgers With Tarragon Mayonnaise

    Herbed Dill Pickle Chicken Burgers With Tarragon Mayonnaise

    The Spruce / Gareth Morgans

    Look no further for your favorite chicken burger of the summer. These herbed dill pickle chicken burgers with tarragon mayonnaise are super tasty and make for a refreshing meal on a warm day. Quick enough for a weeknight dinner and delicious enough for grilling parties, with a mouth-watering tarragon mayonnaise sauce on top, you'll want to add this chicken recipe to your repertoire.

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  • 13 of 21

    Chicken With Pasta and Lemon Cream Sauce

    Chicken With Pasta and Lemon Cream Sauce

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    This creamy, chicken with pasta and lemon cream sauce recipe is delicious and super easy to prepare, making it the perfect summer dinner when you don't feel like working too hard in the kitchen. The lemon cream sauce is so addictive, you'll want to use it in other recipes, too.

  • 14 of 21

    Oven-Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings

    Oven-Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings

    Brian Hagiwara / Getty Images

    Having guests to your place for a game day party? Skip the microwave Buffalo chicken wings and make your own healthier, tastier oven-fried Buffalo chicken wings. Making crispy, delicious oven-baked Buffalo chicken wings at home is a snap when you follow this easy recipe. You don't have to tell anyone these wings aren't "really" fried.

  • 15 of 21

    Chicken Corn Potato Soup

    Chicken Corn Potato Soup

    The Spruce / Molly Watson

    When you're craving a quick and comforting meal, this chicken corn potato soup is just the thing to satisfy your dinner cravings. With shredded chicken, fresh sweet corn, and potatoes, plus all the optional garnishes you choose to add, this healthy chicken soup is a great addition to your recipe box. Makes a great thermos lunch for taking to work, too.

  • 16 of 21

    Tropical Coconut Fried Chicken Sandwich

    Tropical Coconut Fried Chicken Sandwich

    The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

    Here's a tropical twist on the traditional fried chicken sandwich that will transport you to the Caribbean—no plane tickets required. Chicken meat is rolled in a crusty coating of sweet shredded coconut and panko bread crumbs and then fried, to create the filling for a sweet, salty, crispy, and totally irresistible summer sandwich. You'll love this tropical coconut fried chicken sandwich.

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  • 17 of 21

    Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice

    Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice

    Joy Atkinson / Getty Images

    Pineapple has a sweet and tropical flavor that combines surprisingly well with chicken. This scrumptious, Thai-inspired recipe for chicken fried rice studded with pineapple chunks, nuts, and raisins, makes a wonderfully flavorful everyday dinner during summertime. You can also use this pineapple chicken fried rice recipe to create a show-stopping buffet dish at summer parties, serving it in a hollowed-out pineapple half.

  • 18 of 21

    Mango Stuffed Chicken Breasts

    Grilled chicken

    Moncherie / E+ / Getty Images

    Chicken rolls stuffed with sweet mango filling and brushed with a delicious mango-sriracha glaze are a wonderful dish for summer entertaining. Prepare this elegant dinner of mango stuffed chicken breasts on the grill for extra flavor.

  • 19 of 21

    Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    The Spruce / Darlene Schmidt

    Based on the traditional dish, these flavorful Thai basil chicken lettuce wraps are super tasty and fun to eat, too. Makes a surprisingly satisfying, crunchy, and delicious dinner for weeknights in summer. It's great as a party appetizer too, with lettuce and the filling set out separately so guests can make their own wraps.

  • 20 of 21

    Crock Pot Apricot Chicken

    Crock Pot Apricot Chicken

    Eising / Photodisc / Getty Images

    This super simple, four-ingredient crock pot apricot chicken recipe is warming, comforting, and delicious. You'll love the flavor combination of mild chicken, onion, spicy salad dressing, and sweet apricot preserves. Serve this crock pot apricot chicken dish over hot cooked rice, pasta, or couscous with a tossed green salad on the side, for a complete, easy weeknight dinner this summer.

    Continue to 21 of 21 below.
  • 21 of 21

    Classic Chicken Salad Sandwiches

    Chicken salad sandwich

    The Spruce

    Whether for lunch or dinner this summer, flavorful classic chicken salad sandwiches are always a hit. Serve them with french fries or coleslaw on the side, or with a simple tossed salad for a healthier meal.