These Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes Prove White Meat Can Be Craveable

Juicy fresh cherries, cool and crunchy vegetables, salty sunflower seeds—summer tastes like this simple, healthy chicken breast recipe. Coming in at less than 250 calories, this best-served-chilled dish has just enough mayo in the dressing to round out the tart citrus and vinegar elements, and to give a nod to the nostalgic summer break recipe of picnic chicken salad. 

Test Kitchen Tip: Don't want to (or don't have time to) grill chicken yourself? Opt for rotisserie chicken to get a head start.

This grilled chicken recipe goes international thanks to a spice blend of fresh turmeric and ginger—two potent anti-inflammatory ingredients—plus coriander seeds. Gut-friendly (and delicious!) Greek yogurt acts as the marinade base that helps those flavors soak into the meat. Make this protein-packed anti-inflammatory chicken breast recipe a meal by serving over basmati rice.

Go Greek. This healthy chicken breast dinner is topped with a chunky tzatziki-style sauce. All for less than 200 calories! Serve it with a fresh, crisp Romaine salad topped with tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, red onion, and a sprinkle of feta cheese (plus a warm pita if you please; we do!) to complete the Mediterranean diet delight.

Chicken and veggies have never looked or tasted better. Cut chicken breasts into strips, then stir up this vibrant chicken dinner in 30 minutes. Great Northern beans add even more protein so this healthy chicken breast dinner recipe clocks in at 43 grams. That makes it one the strongest dinner dishes we've ever developed.

Related: High-Protein Vegetarian Meals the Entire Family Will Enjoy

We'll never pass up a meal of meat and potatoes—especially one that's ready in 30 minutes and clocks in at just 255 calories. Sprinkle on a little extra thyme before serving this healthy chicken breast recipe. We'd be willing to wager everyone will come back for seconds of this high-protein, low-calorie dinner.

Is it sweet or spicy? Thanks to a mix of brown sugar, Sriracha, and chili powder, this one-dish healthy chicken breast recipe is a delightful blend of both. If you really want this dish to bring the fire, feel free to add an extra dash of Sriracha.

A summer potluck favorite—pasta salad—steps into the main dish spotlight once you add healthy chicken breast to the lineup. Far more flavorful than the standard store-bought salads, this 323-calorie recipe features fresh basil, crunchy walnuts, savory chicken (of course), and a quick DIY dressing. The 30-minute assembly is as easy as boiling pasta, cooking chicken, tossing it all together, and grabbing a fork.

Balsamic vinegar, with its hallmark dark color, syrupy body, and slight sweetness, infuses this healthy boneless skinless chicken breast recipe with loads of flavor without adding any fat and hardly any calories. Your favorite homemade or bottled Italian dressing joins the party with the chicken breast tenderloins, too. And for a side and supper all in one (all for less than 275 calories), we call for tossing in asparagus, carrots, and tomatoes near the end of the prep time.

Buy It: VSOP Barrel-Aged Balsamic Vinegar ($26, Williams Sonoma)

Coat chicken breasts in almonds and panko bread crumbs, and you'll get the crunchiest pan-fried coating ever. (We bet this healthy breaded chicken breast recipe would be a hit cooked in the air fryer too, by the way!) If you stick with the skillet method described, add fresh spinach to the pan once the chicken is done cooking for a quick veggie side.

On those nights when you can't decide between a healthy baked chicken breast entrée or taco night, we say, "Choose both!" Make your own tomatillo salsa for this healthy chicken casserole to control the sodium content and give it a pop of fresh flavor. A dollop of light sour cream is just enough to balance the nice amount of spice.

Test Kitchen Tip: To trim down on day-of prep time, assemble this 8-serving chicken casserole up to 24 hours ahead, then refrigerate until you're ready to bake and dig in.

Summer squash isn't the only vegetable that should be able to take a spin in the spiralizer. Swoodles, or sweet potato noodles, meet piles of fresh spinach and apples in the foundation for this healthy chicken breast recipe. A little sweet, nutty browned butter helps the nutrient-packed skillet dinner taste like a dish ordered off a restaurant menu.

Buy It: OXO Tabletop Spiralizer ($44, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Allow us to introduce one of the best healthy chicken breast recipes for those who like their entrée to pack a pleasant spicy kick. This healthy chicken stir-fry gets its sweet-hot character from Asian chili-garlic sauce and brown sugar. Top it off with an easy tangy pickled vegetable medley for a colorful flavor explosion.

A little feta cheese goes a long way to amp up the flavor and add a lovely salty quality to any dish. (This fact is fantastic for the financial and the fat and calorie budget.) Top fresh vinaigrette-dressed greens with this healthy stuffed chicken breast recipe for a weeknight dinner winner that's just 168 calories, which means it's totally asking for a side of warm sourdough bread, if you ask us.

When you're looking for a foolproof healthy chicken breast dinner idea, put this fan-favorite 30-minute meal at the top of your list. The 258-calorie main has hundreds of five-star reviews for good reason; it takes just 30 minutes, calls for a handful of refrigerator and pantry staple ingredients, and comes together in one skillet. Oh yes, it's delicious, too. Roast fresh asparagus spears or any other seasonal veggie to pair with it.

Buy It: Circulon Skillet ($50, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Score your daily dose of vegetables once you add this healthy chicken breast dinner to the menu. Half of a zucchini per serving adds a load of fiber and potassium with very few calories. "The flavors were well-balanced, chicken was tender, and zucchini had a nice roasted finish," one BH&G fan says in her five-star review.

Related: 10 Creative Ways to Use Up Produce That Go Beyond Salads

Yes, we know it sounds a little wild, but we mean it when we say "pineapple pesto." A half cup of the tropical fruit perks up the flavors in the spinach and Parmesan sauce and echoes the chopped pineapple pieces tucked inside the wrap. The ingredient list for this easy, healthy chicken breast dinner recipe calls for canned pineapple, but if you're able to find fresh, it would be such a treat in this sweet-savory supper.

Related: This 2-Ingredient Pineapple Cake Is Perfect for Summer

This healthy breaded chicken breast keeps fat in check with a light spritz of cooking spray before dredging the chicken in corn bread stuffing mix for a satisfyingly crunchy coating. No deep-fryer required. Plus, you can get your superfood fix with the wilted kale we suggest serving alongside.

This Mediterranean-inspired simple, healthy chicken breast recipe is a touch over 400 calories, but it already includes your veggies and pasta. No additional sides—or effort—needed. Lemon peel and juice punch up flavor without adding sodium or fat.

Related: Full-of-Flavor Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes You Should Make for Dinner

Dish up this easy, healthy baked chicken breast recipe for a complete picky eater-friendly meal that sneaks in nutrient-rich spinach and bell peppers. Shh..we won't tell! What we will happily discuss, though, is the 196 calorie total, which saves plenty of room to end the meal with a healthy dessert.

Test Kitchen Tip: Save a little money by cutting whole chicken breast halves into strips yourself instead of getting a package of chicken breast stir-fry strips.

We can't be the only ones who crave game day snacks all year long. That was the motivation to develop this slow cooker chicken dinner that allows us all to savor the flavors of a MVP wings appetizer in a meal-sized rice bowl. Veggies and brown rice turn a bar-and-grill favorite into a nutrition-packed healthy chicken breast recipe.

Related: 10 Ways to Make Buffalo Chicken Healthier So You Can Keep Noshing on Game Day

A cozy chicken casserole doesn't often pack in this many veggies—and this much protein (29 grams). Enjoy this classic, crowd-pleasing, and healthy chicken breast dinner recipe on its own or with a side salad. For a bonus nutrition boost, spoon the saucy casserole over steamed cauliflower rice or broccoli spears.

This easy, healthy boneless skinless chicken breast recipe can be on the table in just 35 minutes. (Psst… it freezes beautifully, so we recommend making a double batch to thaw and enjoy later—twice the meal for the same amount of effort!) Sautéed bell peppers, which are loaded with vitamin C and fiber, make a colorful contribution to the tomatoey sauce for this protein-rich dish.

Related: 38 Make-Ahead Recipes to Stock Your Freezer with Right Now