60 Best Summer Chicken Recipes for Easy Cooking All Season
Step aside, hamburgers and hot dogs.
When it's time to mix up your summer recipes (after all, even hamburgers and hot dogs get old after a while), why not get creative with chicken? These laid-back summer chicken recipes serve up fun ideas — like a 5-ingredient chicken caprese and a showstopping grilled chicken marinated with vibrant herbs and chiles — that will impress your family and friends.
Whether you're throwing a backyard bash or trying to get a quick weeknight dinner on the table, chicken is a trusty option, and many of our picks are weeknight-friendly, healthy chicken recipes. It comes in various cuts, like thighs, legs and breast (plus party-ready wings!) and serves up a solid amount of protein. Plus chicken cooks quickly, no matter whether you're grilling or air frying for an easy feast, no oven required.
Heading to a barbecue or the beach? We included plenty of versatility, perfect for packing into a cooler. Plus, these recipes are largely kid-friendly, but can also be whipped up and enjoyed alongside a glass of crisp white wine if you need a dinner idea for two. Looking for something quick and easy? Some of these recipes come together with the help of a store-bought rotisserie chicken or even leftover chicken, so you can have food on the table quickly and get back to relaxing.
Balsamic Chicken Caprese
The freshest summer tomatoes shine in this five-ingredient supper.
Get the Balsamic Chicken Caprese recipe.
Chicken, Pepper and Pineapple Skewers
Pick from chicken breast or thighs to build these smoky skewers. Who doesn't love dinner on a stick?!
Get the Chicken, Pepper and Pineapple Skewers recipe.
RELATED: Pair This With Our Best BBQ Sides
Creamy Chicken and Zoodle Spaghetti
Put your bumper crop to good use by mixing spiralized zucchini with spaghetti. Sauteed chicken ups the protein.
Green Curry–Cilantro Spatchcock Chicken
A vibrant herby sauce does double duty as a marinade and a drizzle on top of this fresh summer chicken dinner.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
This one-pan meal combines chicken thighs, shiitake mushrooms and water chestnuts in a delicious hoisin-based sauce.
Get the Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe.
Roasted Chickpea, Tomato and Chicken Bowls
Toss protein-packed ingredients on a sheet pan to roast together, then add to a filling veggie bowl. Your stomach will thank you!
Get the Roasted Chickpea, Tomato and Chicken Bowls recipe.
RELATED: 30 Best Sheet Pan Dinners That Make Cleanup a Breeze
Smoky Chicken Thighs on Baby Romaine
Twenty minutes is all you need to whip up this feast. Smoked paprika adds richness while tomato and crisp lettuce boost freshness.
Lemon Tahini–Marinated Chicken
Homemade tahini plays up the earthy, toasty notes in the sumac-spiked marinade that serves as both a flavor-booster for the chicken and a delicious dressing to drizzle over cucumber-tomato salad.
Moroccan-Spiced Skillet Chicken and Couscous
Ras El Hanout gives this chicken recipe its floral brightness.
Get the Moroccan-Spiced Skillet Chicken and Couscous recipe.
Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken
For a beautifully golden exterior, we sear the chicken before nestling it on the sheet pan with the vegetables to finish roasting in the oven.
Get the Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
The air fryer does it all: from crisping up the breaded chicken cutlets to heating the sauce and cheese to bubbling perfection.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe.
RELATED: 78 Essential Air Fryer Recipes
Za’atar Chicken with Whipped Feta
Creamy herby feta is the perfect sauce to pair with spiced chicken.
Air Fryer Chicken Strips
Your air fryer is the perfect appliance to use on the hottest summer days. It won't heat up your kitchen like the oven and it produces crisp golden-brown chicken tenders.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Strips recipe.
Enchilada Pie
Bookmark this recipe for when you want to make the most of your rotisserie chicken. It's simple and comforting, bringing together chicken, beans, tortillas and sauce.
Get the Enchilada Pie recipe.
RELATED: 75 Comfort Food Dishes That Are Perfect for Any Time of Year
Chicken Caesar Baguettes
These veggie-packed sandwiches are a must-have for any summer picnic. They bring together grilled chicken and creamy Caesar dressing, all enclosed in a perfectly crusty baguette.
Get the Chicken Caesar Baguettes recipe.
Snap Pea and Chicken Salad
For nights when it's just too hot to cook, or even grill, turn to this light and satisfying recipe. In addition to shredded rotisserie chicken and snap peas, it brings together onion, mint, parsley and Parmesan.
Get the Snap Pea and Chicken Salad recipe.
Skillet Lemony Chicken and Artichokes
This elegant meal is sure to impress anyone, whether you're having a dinner party with friends or whipping up something new for date night.
Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice with Feta and Mint
This is another recipe that's perfect for when it's just too hot to turn on the oven. It all comes together in the rice cooker — yes, chicken included.
Get the Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice with Feta and Mint recipe.
RELATED: 20 Rice Bowl Recipes That Make Any Weeknight Meal a Breeze
Tandoori-Spiced Cauliflower Chicken Flatbreads
This spice rub inspired by tandoori masala adds something special to chicken and cauliflower. Creamy, cooling Greek yogurt and warmed naan take things to the next level.
Get the Tandoori-Spiced Cauliflower Chicken Flatbreads recipe.
Italian-Marinated Chicken
A homemade Italian dressing infuses both the chicken and fresh veggies with bold flavor. It's a perfect lunch for those hot summer days.
Get the Italian-Marinated Chicken recipe.
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Becca Miller (she/her) has been working in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen since 2018, where she researches and writes about tasty recipes, food trends and top cooking tools. She graduated from NYU with a liberal arts degree focusing on creative writing. She makes killer scrambled eggs, enjoys a glass of un-oaked chardonnay and takes pride in her love of reality television.
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