29 Easy Chicken Breast Recipes for Fall

Like saucy chicken stroganoff, miso chicken soup with squash, cranberry chicken stir-fry, and more cooler-weather recipes for bone-in and boneless chicken breast.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua, Food Styling by Kaitlin WayneIn fall, chicken breasts are an easy starting point for all kinds of dinners: crispy cutlets, quick weeknight skillet meals, cozy soups, saucy chicken Parm—and on warm early-fall evenings, there’s still time for one last round of grilled chicken.Learning how to cook chicken breasts so that they stay moist and tender doesn’t take much practice, just a little technique. Start by buying the best chicken breast you can find. Then follow our tips for frying the crispiest chicken cutlets, learn the key to the juiciest grilled chicken, or check out almost every other way to cook chicken breast.Because they’re leaner than thighs, chicken breasts can easily overcook. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness (chicken breasts are safely cooked when the thickest part reaches 165°F), and let the meat rest before slicing so the juices redistribute. Sauces and marinades can also help keep chicken breasts flavorful and juicy.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonVinegar Chicken With FigsDried figs, balsamic and red wine vinegars, shallots, thyme, and butter simmer into a rich, sticky sauce, perfect for mashed potatoes or crusty bread, in this quick chicken breast dinner made for fall.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Beth PakradooniWarm Chicken Piccata SaladThe minute the weather turns chilly, toss seared chicken cutlets with bitter radicchio and a warm, punchy vinaigrette for a quick weeknight dinner that still feels substantial.Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Drew Aichele, and Prop Styling by Adrian AbabovićSpeedy Chicken StroganoffLike beef stroganoff, this weeknight dinner comes cloaked in a tangy-creamy mushroom sauce. Thin-cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts keep the whole thing speedy.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Rosanna Anil, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea15-Minute Teriyaki ChickenThis quick chicken dinner gets its glossy sauce from soy sauce, dark brown sugar, ginger, garlic, vinegar, and a little cornstarch. Faster than takeout, and probably already halfway stocked in your pantry.Photo by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop Styling by Stephanie De LucaMiso Chicken Soup With Squash and Tiny PastaGently poaching boneless chicken breast in broth keeps it tender and moist, while kabocha squash and ditalini release just enough starch to give this cozy soup silky body. Kale and red miso round things out with greens and savory depth.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonCrispy Chicken QuesadillasPaprika, coriander, and cumin give these chicken cutlets plenty of flavor before they’re tucked into tortillas with an unapologetic amount of cheese.Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina AllenSmoky Chicken and Avocado Kale SaladMarinate boneless chicken breasts in chipotles in adobo sauce, lime juice, and honey. Just 10 minutes does the trick—roasting in the oven further concentrates the sauce’s smoky flavor.Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Yekaterina BoystovaChicken Cordon BleuFor the ultimate stuffed chicken breast recipe, pound boneless, skinless breasts thin, fill them with slices of ham and cheese, and fold them over. Dredge them in breadcrumbs before frying, and ask someone else to toss together a mixed greens salad while you tend the stove.Photography by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina AllenGolden Chicken With Mustard and ShallotsA quick flour-and-turmeric dredge gives boneless chicken breasts a light golden crust—and leaves behind just enough fond to build a vibrant mustard-shallot sauce.Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie StrangioZa’atar Chicken Cutlets With Cabbage SaladNo za’atar? No problem. This recipe makes a quick version with oregano, sesame seeds, and tangy sumac, then puts it to work on crispy chicken cutlets with crunchy cabbage salad.Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl JonesPan-Seared Chicken Breasts With Crunchy Radish SaladFor super-juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts with a deeply browned crust, cook them mostly on one side over moderately high heat, then pair with a crisp radish salad and zingy dressing.Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Sue LiFresh Pepper Kung Pao ChickenThe best thing about a stir-fry is that it all goes down in one skillet on the stovetop. Here, that means chopped chicken breast, marinated in rice wine and soy sauce while you gather the rest of your ingredients, plus a trio of peppers: sweet, hot, and dried.Photograph by Scott Semler, food styling by Mieko Takahashi, prop styling by Emma RingnessSprite-Grilled Chicken SkewersInspired by Filipino chicken inasal, cubes of boneless, skinless breasts soak in a marinade of Sprite, fish sauce, garlic, and Thai chili sauce. The resulting skewers are packed with punchy, charred flavor, while the soda’s acidity helps the meat stay tender.Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Kat BoytsovaGarlic-Ginger Chicken With Cilantro and MintAn Indian-inspired marinade of garlic, ginger, mint, cilantro, and amchur plus a sear-then-steam cooking method delivers charred, spicy, juicy, big-flavored chicken breast.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole LouieSoy-Garlic Popcorn Chicken and Rice CakesSkewer bouncy Korean rice cakes with crispy chicken bites, then lacquer the whole thing in a sticky soy-garlic glaze. Snacky dinner, party starter—either way, they disappear fast.Photo by Chelsie CraigCurry Leaf Popcorn ChickenWe’ll let one of our readers take this: “This is so phenomenally good! It’s well worth the work, and yes, it’s messy. Who cares? It’s hard to stop eating these tasty little pieces of popcorn chicken once you start.”Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Yekatarina BoytsovaChicken Tinga Tostadas With Bacony Black BeansBone-in chicken breasts braise in smoky tomato salsa until tender enough to shred, then get piled onto crisp tostadas with bacon-laced refried beans, cilantro, and cheese.Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Jennifer OphirChicken Schnitzel With Crunchy SaladPound chicken breasts thin, bread them, and shallow-fry until deeply golden outside and juicy within. A large Dutch oven helps keep the inevitable oil splatter under control.Photograph by Jenny Huang, food styling by Tyna Hoang, prop styling by Sophie StrangioChicken With Schmaltzy Red Pepper VinaigretteThis one-pan dinner is a win on busy days any day. Rendered schmaltz from bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts adds savory depth to the sweet-pepper vinaigrette spooned over the whole thing.Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta FlorczykGrilled Chicken Breasts With Tadka-ish SauceMultiple sauces provide these grilled chicken breasts with insurance against dryness: buttermilk dressing for the greens and a sizzling nigella seed tadka for, well, everything.Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Sophie StrangioChicken With Mushroom Purée and Swiss ChardPlate crispy, golden-skinned chicken breasts on a bed of silky mushroom purée. Yes, it tastes like fine dining; no, you didn’t leave your house.Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, and Prop Styling by Emma RingnessSpicy Ranch ChickenHomemade yogurt dressing works double time as a tangy marinade and a saucy bed for grilled chicken breasts. No outdoor grill? A grill pan or cast-iron skillet works too.Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, and Prop Styling by Christina AllenBuldak Chicken ParmPhotograph by Aaron Barton, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Alexandra MassillonBack-Pocket Caper-Butter ChickenLooking for a date-night dish? Enter this elegant chicken breast dinner with capers, garlic, and red wine vinegar. The punchy brine transforms into a velvety pan sauce with the help of butter and honey.More of our favorite chicken recipesGrilled Chicken Thighs With Sweet-and-Spicy MarinadeView RecipeGrilled Butterflied Chicken With Lemongrass SauceView RecipeDevra Ferst is a freelance food and travel writer based in Brooklyn. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Bon Appetit, NPR, and numerous other publications. You can often find her at the farmers market, snacking on cheese, or planning her next trip. ... Read More