23 Chicken Recipes With 5 Ingredients or Less

Put some pantry powerhouses to work.

By
Afton Cyrus
Afton Cyrus
Afton Cyrus
Afton Cyrus is a food writer and editor, recipe developer, and culinary instructor based in New England. Her work appears in print and online for America's Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, The Kitchn, King Arthur Baking Company, and cookbooks for Ten Speed Press, in addition to her work for Simply Recipes.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published May 02, 2025
Afton Cyrus
salsa verde chicken in a dutch oven at a table setting with a stack of plates with utensils and a glass of water

Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

I love the strategic deployment of a powerhouse ingredient—one that packs a lot of punch in one simple jar, bottle, or container, with no work needed from me. That's why I love these chicken recipes that use five ingredients or less. They make the most of pantry and fridge staples with tons of flavor—ranch! chili crisp! salsa! tahini!—to give mild chicken lots of wow-factor with minimal prep.

Other smart shortcuts keep these recipes easy-breezy for quick lunches and easy weeknight dinners. Find one to make a quick and easy meal straight from your pantry tonight!

  • 4-Ingredient Ranch Chicken Breasts

    Ranch chicken on a plte with a bowl of ranch mayo sauce

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "You’ll only need four ingredients (beyond the salt, pepper, and oil) to make the recipe, but having some additional mayonnaise allows you to create a delicious sauce for serving." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Maple Glazed Chicken and Squash

    Overhead view of a white platter of maple glazed chicken and squash next to a red cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "If I’m in a hurry, I limit the marinating window to the time it takes for the oven to preheat and the squash slices to par-bake (about 30 minutes). If I have more time (and forethought), I like to marinate the chicken in the maple syrup mixture overnight in the refrigerator so the meat is even more deeply flavored throughout." —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

  • 2-Ingredient Italian Dressing Chicken

    Overhead shot of three marinated and cooked chicken breasts

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "I love this Italian dressing chicken recipe because it’s so easy and gives me all the nostalgic Olive Garden vibes—and it’s only two ingredients! Chicken breasts and a bottle of dressing are all you need." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Egg Roll in a Bowl

    Angled view of a bowl of egg roll in a bowl next to two forks and bowl of sliced green onions

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "I love this recipe because it uses four easy-to-find ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. Ground meat, a bag of coleslaw mix, soy sauce, and ginger are pretty much all you need to make this dish. It’s on repeat in my house because it’s a nutrient-dense meal that tastes like fried food. Win-win!" —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 23 below

  • 5-Ingredient Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

    Overhead view of a bowl of roast chicken and cubed sweet potatoes

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "The marinade—lime juice, maple syrup, garlic powder, salt, and pepper—transforms chicken thighs into juicy, caramelized perfection. Plus, everything (including the sweet potatoes) cooks on one sheet pan. That means you have less cleanup to deal with after dinner." —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

  • 2-Ingredient Green Goddess Chicken Salad

    2-ingredient chicken salad over a bed of microgreens and lettuce

    Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

    "My chicken salad comes together in about five minutes flat, requires zero cooking skills, and tastes much fancier than it is. It's the ultimate lazy lunch hack that doesn't taste lazy at all." —Kris Osbourne, Recipe Developer

  • 3-Ingredient Salsa Verde Chicken

    salsa verde chicken in a dutch oven at a table setting with a stack of plates with utensils and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "Jarred salsa verde is the key ingredient here. It gently cooks the chicken breasts and permeates them with great flavor as they cook. Look for salsa verde that has a thicker texture—some store-bought salsas can be runny." —Julia Levy, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla

    5-ingredient buffalo chicken quesadillas cut into slices and served on a plate with a bowl of sour cream

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    "Serve these quesadillas on game day, for lunch, for dinner, or maybe even for breakfast if you’re feeling adventurous. Just think, you’re only 20 minutes away from total bliss." —Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor

    Continue to 9 of 23 below

  • 3-Ingredient Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

    Chunks of cooked chicken in a skillet with herbs and spices, accompanied by a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "Lots of garlic, a good amount of butter, and some boneless, skinless chicken thighs are all you need to make a delicious main dish for dinner tonight. There are endless possibilities for simple additions, but even stripped down to these essential ingredients, it’s still a slam dunk." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs

    Overhead view of a blue dutch oven of tuscan-style chicken thighs recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "The recipe leans on pre-chopped mirepoix, which I highly recommend because it’s worth paying a little extra for the convenience and it really cuts down on prep time." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Wine Chicken

    Overhead view of a white platter of six wine roasted chicken thighs topped with onions and bay leaves along with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Look for a dry white wine for this recipe. Red wine is too intense and will make your chicken a weird grey color. My favorite is a dry riesling, often from Germany. They frequently have $10 or less bottles at Trader Joe’s. A dry sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio is also a good choice." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 5-Ingredient Garlic-Tahini Chicken

    Overhead view of Garlic-Tahini chicken breast cutlets cooking in a white skillet

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "The great thing about this dish is that there are plenty of ways to serve it! My client’s boys loved the chicken served with French fries, but I’ve also sliced it and used it as a topper for big summer salads." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 23 below

  • 4-Ingredient Gochujang Chicken Salad

    Overhead shot of a plate with gochujang chicken salad topped with chopped scallion

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "My favorite way to enjoy this chicken salad is on crackers and cucumber rounds for a snacky lunch. Water crackers, rice crackers, or shrimp chips are all tasty pairings. You can also make a chicken salad sandwich, layered with tomato and lettuce." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Spiced Chicken Drumsticks

    Spiced Chicken Drumsticks on a platter

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "The mostly hands-off technique gives me tons of flexibility on busy nights. You can literally shake it, bake it, and forget it—freeing me up to prepare a side dish like scalloped potatoes, a chopped salad, or quinoa while the chicken roasts." —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Goldfish Chicken Tenders

    Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "All the other things you need for this recipe are basic pantry staples—flour, eggs, and of course, chicken tenders. While you could fry these, I prefer to bake them. The crackers get really crispy and form a satisfying crust, and cleanup is much easier if you bake them." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • 3-Ingredient Honey Mustard Chicken

    Chicken dinner on a plate with a side salad at a table setting

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "I like to prep the dish during lunch and let it marinate in the fridge until dinner, but a short 30 minutes also works. During this time, I can make any side dishes and then cook the chicken." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 23 below

  • 4-Ingredient Chili Crisp Chicken Salad

    Chili crisp chicken salad in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Sheela Prakash

    "There are so many different jars out there, these days but my favorite is the Sichuan Chili Crisp from Fly By Jing. Alternatively, it’s pretty easy and fun to make your own." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • 2-Ingredient Honey Mustard Chicken Wings

    Overhead view of a gray plate of chicken wings with a small bowl of honey mustard for dipping

    Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

    "Turns out you don’t need to do that much to make wings delicious. If you have a flavorful sauce that pairs nicely with chicken, you can make chicken wings in about 30 minutes flat." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 3-Ingredient Lemon Chicken

    Overhead closeup view of a white serving platter of lemon chicken thighs and lemon slices

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "When eating the lemon rind, as in this recipe, I recommend washing the lemons really well with warm water before cooking to remove any wax that might be coating them. If you have a mandoline, use it to slice the lemons so they’re very thin and even." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • 3-Ingredient Baked BBQ Chicken

    Overhead view of a baking sheet of four bbq baked chicken breasts topped with cheese and green onions on parchment paper

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "It’s important to use only the most delicious barbecue sauce and cheese. They’ll be adding the flavor to your dish, so go for the good stuff." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 21 of 23 below

  • 4-Ingredient Hot Honey Chicken

    hot honey tenders on a platter with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas 

    "My preference is to serve the tenders with white rice, but brown rice or another whole grain would also be delicious. I also love to serve them over cold soba noodles or even cooked ramen noodles." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • 3-Ingredient Stuffing Mix Chicken Meatballs

    Closeup view of a bowl of 3-ingredient chicken meatballs with a fork on a white tabletop

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "The combination of tender ground chicken, a generous amount of butter, and the secret ingredient: a box of stuffing mix, results in soft, flavorful, and moist meatballs. For very little effort, you get a meaty main dish and a starchy side all in one!" —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts

    Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "This recipe is super simple to make and only requires five ingredients (aside from the oil, salt, and pepper) to pull it all together. If you have a lemon on hand, I suggest adding a squeeze at the end to help cut through the richness of the chicken." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

Explore More: