101 Ways To Make Chicken | The Gracious Pantry

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This list of 101 ways to make chicken will keep boredom at bay.

We all know that eating healthy often includes chicken. It’s a lean source of protein and can be made an endless number of different ways.

A bunch of different types of food with Chicken, in a collage.

I’ve been blogging for 11 years now, and it’s hard to believe that I have come up with so many ways to make chicken. But I have! So I put all those recipes together in a list for you as an easy reference. This list of 101 ways to cook chicken will help you build your chicken recipe arsenal so that chicken night is never boring or unhealthy again!

What Is The Proper Way To Cook Chicken?

While there are always more than 101 ways to cook chicken, there are many different approaches, depending on your cut and recipe. But there are a few tips you can use to help your chicken turn out great each and every time, no matter how you cook it.

Pat your chicken dry before adding anything to it. I use a paper towel for and easy discard of all those surface contaminating juices.
All chicken needs to be cooked to at least 165 F. in order to be safe to eat. The cut doesn’t matter. Take the temperature at the thickest part of the meat.

How To Cook Chicken

While there may be 101 ways to cook chicken, the methods we use to do that are not quite so varied. But there are still quite a few options.

Baked Chicken

You can bake (or roast for a whole chicken) any cut of chicken. See notes below on each individual cut for how to keep your chicken from drying out during baking.

Rotisserie Chicken

If you are fortunate enough to have a rotisserie (or an oven that offers that function), cooking an entire chicken this way is amazing.

If your whole chicken comes packed with gizzards and such, remove those from the inside of the chicken. Put the rotisserie stick through the chicken and set the stick inside the rotisserie oven. Cooking times vary by the size of your chicken. But a 5 lb. chicken will take, on average, about an hour to cook fully.

Tuscan Chicken Thighs just out of the air fryers, piled up on the air fryer tray.

Air Fried Chicken

Air fryer chicken is a thing of beauty. Different cuts require different cooking times. But cuts that are well suited for an air fryer are chicken breasts and chicken thighs, and for air fryers that are big enough, even a whole chicken can be cooked in an air fryer with delicious success.

Pan Fried Chicken

The best cuts of chicken for cooking in a pan are chicken breasts and chicken thighs. You can season them any way you want prior to cooking.

Deep Fried Chicken

The best cuts of chicken for a deep fryer are legs, thighs, and breasts. The best option is to bread them first. While not the healthiest option, it’s a delicious way to prepare chicken.

Smoked Chicken

You can cook pretty much any cut of chicken in a smoker. On average, it will take approximately 3 to 5 hours to smoke a whole chicken. Or 45 minutes per pound for different cuts.

Slow Cooker Chicken

Slow cooker chicken turns out similarly to rotisserie chicken but without a crisp exterior. A whole chicken (as long as it fits) is pretty much mistake-proof when cooked in a slow cooker. You can season your chicken just like you would if you were baking it.

For different cuts of chicken, the slow cooker will give you very shreddable pieces that pretty much fall apart just with stirring. The result is a very moist bowl of shredded chicken that works great for tacos, burritos, and salads. Even soups!

Instant Pot Chicken

If you have a large enough Instant Pot and a small enough chicken, you can cook a whole chicken in an Instant Pot. But I have found that a better option is to use cuts of chicken. Chicken breasts and thighs do particularly well in an Instant Pot. And like a slow cooker, the meat will be moist, and it will shred easily.

A plate of food, with this sheet pan Mexican chicken dinner on it.

Sheet Pan Chicken

The best cuts of chicken for sheet pan dinners are chicken breasts, thighs, and legs. Pair them with some roastable veggies, add some seasoning, and bake for approximately 40-60 minutes, depending on what you’re roasting and how thick your cuts of chicken are.

How Do You Bake Chicken Without Drying It Out?

The easiest way to keep your chicken from drying out during the baking process is to either rub the raw chicken with a bit of oil before seasoning it or make sure it’s cooking in a good, thick sauce that has a little added fat.

Is It Better To Bake Chicken Covered Or Uncovered?

Here again, it will depend on your cut of chicken. If you are baking/roasting a whole chicken, it’s best to cook it with a cover on it for about 1 hour, and then remove the lid to crisp up the outside for about 10-15 minutes.

For cuts of chicken, a lid will work well to keep things moist, but it isn’t always necessary. You can use a lid to cook things faster and then remove the lid in the last few minutes of cooking. But again, a lid is not always necessary for different cuts. Lids are great for chicken breasts in particular since they tend to dry out the most due to being so lean. Thighs and legs tend to do better without a lid. This is not a hard and fast rule, however. More of a general guideline.

How Do You Season Chicken Before Cooking?

That all depends on the cut of chicken you want to cook.

Whole Chicken – Run a spoon or your hand between the flesh and the skin to separate the skin from the meat without removing it. You want to create a “pocket” to hold your seasonings. Once done, mix some oil with your chosen spices and roast the chicken.
Chicken Breast – Oil the entire outside of the cut of meat with a layer of oil and then sprinkle on your seasoning. You can also marinate the breasts in an oil rub or marinade.
Chicken Thighs – Similar to a chicken breast, you’ll want to oil and season or marinate your chicken thighs.
Chicken Legs – Also called drumsticks, they can be seasoned the same way as thighs or breasts.

101 Ways To Cook Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

Asian Chicken Recipes

Easy Teriyaki Chicken
Easy Orange Chicken
Sesame Chicken
Chicken Stir Fry
Chinese Chicken Salad
Crazy Good Stir Fry
Kung Pao Chicken
Wok Style Garlic Chicken And Carrots

Chicken Salad Recipes

Chicken Dinner Ideas

Peanut Butter Chicken
Chicken And Cabbage
Dutch Oven Chicken
Chicken Kebabs
Chicken Asparagus Skillet
Bacon Stuffed Chicken Thighs
Chicken Enchiladas
Lemon Caper Chicken
Baked Chicken Wings
Easy Chicken Casserole
Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken Vegetable Curry Rollups
Catalina Cranberry Chicken
Stupid Simple Rotisserie Chicken
Italian Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Mushroom Quinoa With Chicken
Taco Chicken Zucchini Pasta
Roasted Balsamic Chicken And Tomatoes
Southwestern Barbecue Chicken And Shrimp Skillet
Baked Chicken Marinara
Baked Pesto Chicken
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Citrus Grilled Chicken
Chicken Alfredo Pasta (Tex Mex Style)
Chicken Korma
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Soft Tacos
Grilled Moroccan Chicken Tenders
Grilled Tandoori Chicken
Grilled Chicken Souvlaki
Coconut Almond Cranberry Chicken
Chicken Fajitas
Sun Dried Tomato and Olive Chicken
Chicken Gnocci
Chicken Nuggets
Tarragon Chicken
Chicken Taquitos
Chicken Bok Choy
Healthy “Fried” Chicken
Chicken And Brussels Sprouts
Chicken Sushi
Whole Roasted Chicken
Chicken Kebabs
Nut Crusted Chicken
White Chicken Chili
Mango Chicken Wraps
Wok-Style Chicken And Carrots

Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

Sheet Pan Chicken Dinners

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