When you get home after a long day, spending an hour preparing dinner is probably the last thing you want to do.
That is why chicken is such a useful midweek ingredient.
It cooks quickly, works with almost any flavour and can be turned into dozens of easy meals.
Here are some quick chicken dinner ideas for busy weeknights.
Peri-peri chicken and rice
This is one of the easiest dinners you can make.
Season chicken breast or thighs with peri-peri seasoning and cook until completely cooked through.
Serve with rice and vegetables.
If you want to make it even easier, use microwave rice and a simple side salad.
Jerk chicken rice bowl
Season chicken with jerk-style seasoning, cook it and slice it over rice.
Add sweetcorn, peppers, salad or whatever vegetables you already have in the fridge.
It is quick, filling and packed with flavour.
Lemon and herb chicken with potatoes
Lemon and herb chicken works well with baby potatoes and vegetables.
For an easy meal, roast everything together on one tray.
It keeps preparation simple and reduces the amount of washing up afterwards.
Chicken wraps
Chicken wraps are perfect when you want something quick.
Cook seasoned chicken strips and add them to wraps with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and your favourite sauce.
Try peri-peri, Cajun or garlic-seasoned chicken for different flavours.
Chicken rice bowls
Rice bowls are an easy way to use whatever ingredients you have available.
Start with rice, add seasoned chicken and finish with vegetables, salad or a sauce.
You can change the seasoning each time so the meal never feels exactly the same.
Cajun chicken pasta
Season chicken strips with Cajun spices and cook them in a frying pan.
Add them to cooked pasta with vegetables and a simple sauce.
You can use a tomato-based sauce, a creamy sauce or something lighter depending on what you fancy.
BBQ chicken and wedges
Season chicken with BBQ seasoning and cook it while potato wedges are in the oven.
Serve with coleslaw, salad or vegetables.
It is an easy comfort-food dinner without much preparation.
Mediterranean chicken traybake
Place chicken in a roasting tray with peppers, onions, tomatoes and courgettes.
Season with garlic, oregano and herbs.
Roast everything together until the chicken is completely cooked.
This is a good option when you want something simple but still colourful and filling.
Chicken salad
Salad does not need to mean boring.
Cook well-seasoned chicken, slice it and add it to lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers and whatever else you like.
Peri-peri and Cajun chicken both work particularly well in salads.
Chicken and couscous
Couscous is useful for busy evenings because it takes very little time to prepare.
Serve it with lemon and herb chicken and vegetables for a quick, lighter dinner.
How can you make chicken dinners quicker?
The biggest time savers are keeping the ingredients simple and choosing a seasoning that does not require preparation.
Ready-made seasoning blends can save time compared with measuring individual spices.
Flavour Sheets can make the process even simpler.
The seasoning is already on the sheet, so there is no measuring and no marinade to prepare.
Place your chicken onto the sheet, wrap it and cook according to the instructions.
What can you cook with chicken in 30 minutes?
Chicken strips, chicken breast and smaller pieces of chicken can work particularly well for quick dinners because they cook relatively quickly.
Rice bowls, wraps, salads, pasta dishes and couscous are all good options when time is limited.
Always make sure the chicken is completely cooked before serving.
How do you stop eating the same chicken dinner every week?
Change the flavour rather than changing the entire meal.
You can still cook chicken with rice or vegetables, but use peri-peri one night, jerk another night and lemon and herb the next.
That small change can make familiar meals feel completely different.
Make midweek cooking easier
Quick food does not have to mean boring food.
A piece of chicken, a good seasoning and a simple side can make a great dinner without turning your evening into a cooking session.
That is exactly why Flavour Sheets were created.
Less preparation. Less mess. More flavour.
Wrap. Cook. Enjoy.