The 5 Chicken Dinner Recipes I’m Making on Repeat This Winter

You may be thinking to yourself, “Why is this minimalist sharing chicken recipes?”  Has she lost her mind? Have no fear. I’m not becoming a food blogger. Trust me, that would be very bad for the internet. This is a one-time deal, and sometimes, you’ve just got to mix things up a bit.

Besides, I’m the kind of gal who can’t help but share the things that have revolutionized my life. Hence my spontaneously starting a blog about minimalism four years ago, after only 30 days as a minimalist. Shhhh, it’s fine. While these dishes may not have “revolutionized my entire life,” they have made for some pretty delightful winter meals.

Living as a minimalist is about more than just the elimination of the excess stuff. It’s also a mindset that trains us to always be on the lookout for the areas of our lives we can simplify. Not only to do less of the mundane, but rather to create more time, space and capacity for the things we love to do. For me, meal planning is not one of those things I love to do, therefore, I’ve simplified it. 

Don’t miss:

The Simplify Your Life Meal Rotation: for Those of Us Who are Over It.

simplify your life meal plan

In summary, I choose a handful of dishes and then repeat them over and over and over in rotation until we’re all ready to move on.

These five chicken dishes have stood the test of time which has compelled me to share them here with you. So, if you’re looking for a few new recipes to add to your repertoire, or simply curious about what we’re eating over here, check it out.

The 5 Best Chicken Recipes on the Internet

1. The Perfect Roast Chicken by Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa

I first encountered this recipe from the comfort of my couch watching Ina Garten, in The Barefoot Contessa, on the Food Network many years ago. She made it looks so easy- she always did- but this one really is.

It’s a ridiculously easy, one pan meal that we all look forward to. (Well, I guess I can’t say all of us look forward to any of these dishes. The only dishes my youngest genuinely “look forward to” is spaghetti, pizza and Kraft mac n cheese).

This meal is an excellent dish to drop off to a neighbor or family member who could use a meal. Lately, I’ve been buying a pack of two whole chickens from Costco, making one for our family and preparing the other for my Grandmother.

P.S. I don’t tie my chicken’s legs together and I’ve started subbing fresh thyme for about eight shakes of dry thyme. (See. I told you I’m not a food blogger). Don’t hesitate to mix up the veggies you cook in the pan too. I roast potatoes, carrots and broccoli with my chicken.

2. Light Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup by Sally McKenney, Sally’s Baking Addiction

This is the best chicken noodle soup recipe I’ve ever made. 

I typically make this soup the day after making Ina Garten’s perfect roast chicken. I use the left-over carcass to make homemade broth and the left over chicken for the soup.

3. Change Your Life Chicken by Kendra Adasi, The Lazy Genius

A chicken dish? Change your life? I’ve got to say, while I assumed it was a bit of an exaggeration, I have to agree with Kendra, this dish is pretty life changing. It’s another easy, delicious, one-pan meal you can customize with the vegetables your family prefers.

4. Epic Dry Rub Party Wings  by The Chunky Chef

I’ve never made party wings in my life until 2020. In early 2020, when the world appeared to be running out of everything from toilet paper to poultry, the only chicken available to us at our grocery store for quite a few weeks on end was an extra-large pack of party wings.

Naturally, I googled “dry rub party wings” and selected the first recipe to pop up. I guess sometimes Google does get it right because these are amazing. Thank you 2020, for forcing me to try a new dish because it’s now a permanent part of my meal rotation.

You’ll notice the ingredient list is a bit lengthy. In keeping a minimalist kitchen, I intentionally steer clear of recipes that require an excessive number of spices that won’t get much use outside that one recipe. However, we make this dish so often that I have even added a couple to our pantry. (That’s how you know it’s good). But know this, this recipe is still amazing if you leave out a few spices. I don’t use the smoked paprika or dry mustard.

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5. Instant Shredded Chicken Tacos

I don’t have a link for this one, but you practically just have to shout  across the room at  your Instant Pot, “Instant Pot, make shredded chicken tacos,” and it does the rest  of the work for you.

This is how I make shredded chicken tacos,

  • Raw chicken (obviously) We prefer chicken thighs.
  • Salt
  • Cover generously in Wildtree taco seasoning
  • Cover that with about 3/4 of the tub of Garden Fresh Salsa, Jacks Special, mild (because we are wimps).
  • Cook in your Instant Pot (or slow cooker if that’s more your style) until the chicken can be easily shredded with a couple of forks. I set mine for about 40 minutes.

I’d love to hear if you find any of these recipes to be a good fit for your family.


Safety disclaimer: If you somehow manage to eat raw chicken after following any of these recipes, that’s not on me.  Make sure your chicken is thoroughly cooked.


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