101 things to do with chicken breast

Because there's only so much grilled chicken a person can eat.

Chicken breast might be the most dependable ingredient in the kitchen.

It's not particularly glamorous. Nobody writes poems about chicken breast. But when it's 5:30, everybody's hungry, and somebody asks what's for supper, a few packs in the freezer can save the day.

Around here, we raise our chickens on pasture and feed them a corn- and soy-free ration. We put a good deal of care into raising them. What you do with them afterward is entirely up to you.

And it turns out, there are quite a few possibilities.

We've rounded up 101 of them. Some are old favorites, some are a little more adventurous, and a few might require asking your grandmother how she used to make it.

The Weeknight Faithful

For those evenings when supper needs to happen, preferably without much discussion.

1. Grilled chicken breast. Salt, pepper, a little oil, and a hot grill. Sometimes simple is best.
2. Chicken tacos. Season, slice, and let everybody build their own.
3. Chicken fajitas. Peppers, onions, chicken, and enough tortillas to go around.
4. Chicken stir-fry. A good way to use whatever vegetables are left in the refrigerator.
5. Chicken Alfredo. Pasta, cream sauce, chicken. Nobody's complaining.
6. Chicken quesadillas. Especially good for using leftover chicken.
7. BBQ chicken sandwiches. Shred the chicken, add barbecue sauce, and pile it onto a bun.
8. Chicken and rice. There are probably as many versions of this as there are households.
9. Baked chicken parmesan. Tomato sauce, mozzarella, and a generous helping of Parmesan.
10. Chicken fried rice. Yesterday's rice is actually preferable.
11. Honey garlic chicken. Sweet, savory, and excellent over rice.
12. Chicken spaghetti. A reliable casserole for feeding a crowd.
13. Chicken Caesar wraps. Lunch is handled.
14. Lemon butter chicken. A little lemon and butter do an impressive amount of work.
15. Sheet-pan chicken and vegetables. One pan, minimal cleanup. A fine invention.

A Few From Grandma's Kitchen

These are the meals that have been feeding Pennsylvania families for generations. Some are Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch favorites; others simply belong in the same well-worn recipe box.

16. Chicken pot pie, Pennsylvania Dutch style. Not a pie at all! Chicken, broth, potatoes, and big squares of homemade dough simmered together.
17. Chicken and waffles. The Pennsylvania Dutch version, naturally: tender chicken and gravy served over waffles. Save the maple syrup for breakfast.
18. Chicken corn soup. Chicken, sweet corn, broth, and rivels—those little homemade dough crumbs that make the soup especially good.
19. Chicken croquettes. Finely chopped cooked chicken, shaped into patties, breaded, and fried until golden.
20. Chicken and dumplings. Soft dumplings simmered in rich chicken broth.
21. Chicken gravy over mashed potatoes. Hard to improve upon.
22. Chicken noodle casserole. Creamy, filling, and perfectly suited to a church potluck.
23. Chicken salad sandwiches on homemade bread. Extra points if the bread is still warm.
24. Chicken and stuffing bake. Thanksgiving flavors without waiting until November.
25. Chicken and biscuit supper. Tender chicken and gravy spooned over split biscuits.
26. Chicken chow mein, church-supper style. Chicken, vegetables, gravy, and crunchy noodles. A familiar fixture in many community cookbooks.
27. Chicken with browned butter noodles. Wide egg noodles tossed in browned butter, topped with seasoned chicken.
28. Chicken vegetable soup. The proper response to a chilly, rainy afternoon.
29. Chicken hash. Chopped chicken and potatoes fried together in a skillet. Particularly good for breakfast the next morning.
30. Chicken and homemade egg noodles. A Sunday dinner worth coming home for.

Around the World Without Leaving the Kitchen

Chicken breast travels remarkably well, even if the cook doesn't.

31. Chicken tikka masala. Tender chicken in a creamy, warmly spiced tomato sauce.
32. Chicken curry. Serve with rice, and make enough for leftovers.
33. Chicken souvlaki. Lemon, garlic, oregano, and a hot grill.
34. Chicken shawarma. Warm spices, flatbread, cucumber, and yogurt sauce.
35. Chicken enchiladas. Roll up shredded chicken with cheese and sauce, then bake.
36. Chicken teriyaki. Sweet-salty glazed chicken over rice.
37. Chicken satay. Skewered chicken served with peanut sauce.
38. Chicken schnitzel. Pound it thin, bread it, and fry until crisp.
39. Chicken piccata. Lemon, butter, and capers. Fancy enough for company, easy enough for Tuesday.
40. Chicken katsu. Japanese-style breaded cutlets with a satisfyingly crunchy coating.
41. Butter chicken. A creamy, gently spiced Indian favorite.
42. Chicken gyros. Warm pita, seasoned chicken, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki.
43. Chicken fajita rice bowls. All the good parts of fajitas, no tortillas required.
44. Chicken fried in a Korean-style sweet and spicy sauce. Sticky fingers are part of the arrangement.
45. Chicken cacciatore. Italian-style chicken simmered with tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.
46. Chicken biryani. Fragrant rice, warming spices, and tender chicken.
47. Chicken banh mi. Vietnamese-inspired sandwiches with pickled vegetables and fresh herbs.
48. Chicken paella. Saffron rice, vegetables, and chicken cooked together in one pan.
49. Chicken coconut soup. Inspired by Thai tom kha, with coconut milk, lime, and ginger.
50. Chicken empanadas. Savory little hand pies. Make extra for tomorrow.

Things to Put Between Bread

If there's one thing chicken breast does particularly well, it's becoming lunch.

51. Classic chicken salad. Mayonnaise, celery, salt, pepper. No need to complicate things.
52. Cranberry walnut chicken salad. A little sweetness and crunch.
53. Buffalo chicken wrap. Spicy chicken, lettuce, and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
54. Chicken club sandwich. Chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and toasted bread.
55. Chicken pesto panini. Pesto, mozzarella, and chicken pressed between two slices of bread.
56. Crispy chicken sandwich. Breaded, fried, and served with pickles.
57. Chicken cheesesteak. Thinly sliced chicken with onions, peppers, and melted provolone.
58. Chicken salad on a croissant. For when ordinary bread seems insufficiently festive.
59. Pulled chicken sliders. Small sandwiches that disappear faster than you'd expect.
60. Chicken BLT. Because the original BLT wasn't quite filling enough.
61. Chicken pita pockets. Stuff with lettuce, tomatoes, and dressing.
62. Chicken melt. Chicken, cheese, and toasted sourdough.
63. Chicken ranch wraps. A dependable packed lunch.
64. Chicken Parmesan sub. Marinara, melted cheese, and a good crusty roll.
65. Chicken and apple salad sandwich. Diced apples add just the right crunch.

Salads That Count as Supper

Not the kind of salad that leaves everybody looking for a sandwich afterward.

66. Grilled chicken Caesar salad. A classic for good reason.
67. Cobb salad. Chicken, bacon, eggs, avocado, and plenty of vegetables.
68. Buffalo chicken salad. All the flavor of wings, considerably less mess.
69. Chicken taco salad. Add black beans, salsa, cheese, and crunchy tortilla strips.
70. Greek chicken salad. Cucumber, olives, feta, tomatoes, and lemon dressing.
71. Harvest chicken salad. Apples, dried cranberries, walnuts, and a maple vinaigrette.
72. Chicken pasta salad. Especially useful for picnics and potlucks.
73. Asian-inspired chicken slaw. Shredded cabbage, carrots, sesame dressing, and sliced chicken.
74. Warm chicken and roasted sweet potato salad. With greens and a mustard dressing.
75. Chicken salad lettuce boats. For when you'd rather save the bread for something else.

When You Have a Little More Time

Some suppers are worth spending an extra hour in the kitchen.

76. Chicken cordon bleu. Chicken stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, breaded and baked.
77. Stuffed chicken breast with spinach and cheese. Looks impressive. Surprisingly manageable.
78. Chicken Wellington. Chicken breast wrapped in puff pastry with mushrooms.
79. Chicken pot pie with a flaky crust. The other kind of chicken pot pie.
80. Chicken lasagna. Layers of noodles, chicken, cheese, and white sauce.
81. Chicken and mushroom risotto. Stirring required, but worth it.
82. Chicken roulade. Rolled chicken breast stuffed with herbs, cheese, or vegetables.
83. Chicken and wild rice casserole. Hearty enough for a cold winter night.
84. Chicken tetrazzini. Pasta baked with chicken, mushrooms, and a creamy sauce.
85. Chicken enchilada casserole. All the flavor of enchiladas, without the rolling.
86. Chicken and leek pie. Savory, creamy filling under a golden pastry crust.
87. Chicken Marsala. Mushrooms and a rich pan sauce.
88. Chicken stuffed peppers. Rice, chicken, tomatoes, and cheese baked in bell peppers.
89. Chicken and broccoli braid. Chicken filling wrapped in braided pastry dough.
90. Homemade chicken ravioli. A project for a rainy Saturday.

And Eleven More, Because We Said 101

91. Chicken breakfast burritos. Scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, and leftover chicken.
92. Chicken pizza. BBQ, buffalo, or pesto chicken. Take your pick.
93. Chicken nachos. A sheet pan, shredded chicken, cheese, and whatever toppings you like.
94. Chicken stuffed baked potatoes. A fine use for leftovers.
95. Chicken macaroni and cheese. Two good things made better together.
96. Chicken lettuce wraps. Seasoned ground or finely chopped chicken with a crunchy vegetable filling.
97. Chicken kabobs. Chicken, peppers, onions, mushrooms. Very grill-friendly.
98. Chicken breakfast hash. Potatoes, onions, chicken, and a fried egg on top.
99. Chicken and gravy over toast. A thrifty, filling supper from the old school.
100. Chicken tortilla soup. Chicken, tomatoes, beans, and plenty of toppings.
101. Whatever's-in-the-fridge chicken skillet. Chicken breast, a few vegetables, some potatoes or rice, and whichever seasonings you reach for first. No recipe required.

One More Thing About the Chicken

We've had a little fun with this list, but we're serious about the chicken itself.

At Hobby Ag, our chickens are raised outdoors on pasture, where they can move around and forage. We also feed them a corn- and soy-free ration.

We believe how food is raised matters, even when it's headed for something as ordinary as chicken noodle soup or a Tuesday night casserole.

So whether you're an adventurous cook working your way through all 101 ideas, or you're perfectly happy making the same five family favorites, we'd be glad to supply the chicken.

Shop Corn- & Soy-Free Pastured Chicken

From our farm in Lykens Valley to your family's table.