The Best Chicken Recipes For Summer

When it comes to summer, one of the best meats you can use is chicken.

In addition to this, there is a whole load of recipes available for you to choose from for your summer meals. 

If you’re unsure what sort of recipes you want to try for your chicken, and you’re looking for some inspiration, then read on!

1. Balsamic Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken can often feel overplayed or too common to be considered an exciting summer recipe, instead, swap out the boring plain grilled chicken, why not try introducing some interesting marinades?

For this, we recommend marinating your chicken in balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and dried thyme, this will provide you with a delicious chicken with tons of flavor!

2. Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken Quesadillas are a classic warm weather recipe, and are incredibly versatile, which is what makes them such a great choice for those who aren’t quite sure on what to make for the summer evening meals!

Another great thing about quesadillas is just how easy they are to make! So even if you’re not the most adept chef, then you should still be able to make excellent quesadillas! 

3. Peach-Glazed Chicken

A great summer dish that utilizes much of the summer produce? Then this peach glazed chicken recipe is sure to be hit for your summer meals. 

This recipe is really easy to make, and only consists of 5 ingredients, which is ideal for the summer, as no one wants to cook anything too complicated on a hot summer’s day! 

4. Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata is a fantastic alternative if you find yourself running out of time to try and conjure up anything too fancy, and to your guests, it will look like you’ve spent hours preparing a meal!

A Picatta includes a gorgeous lemon sauce, with the inclusion of salty capers. This zenty chicken dish will be sure to brighten up any plate on a summer’s evening, so you should certainly give it a try. 

5. Chicken Fajita Marinade

Chicken Fajitas are another classic summer dish that can get anyone excited.

Whether you decide to buy a premade seasoning mix, or decide to create your own, nothing quite beats the explosion of spices you get from a well seasoned piece of fajita chicken.

6. Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Cooking in the summer heat is no one’s favorite thing to do, especially if you’re craving the taste of something like fried chicken, which involves cooking using extremely hot oil.

So, if this is what you’re craving, but can’t bear the thought of having to cook with hot oil, then thankfully there’s a solution. 

Using an air fryer to fry your chicken will prevent your kitchen from getting too warm, and will mean that you can relax as your chicken fries safely inside the air fryer. 

7. Grilled Chicken Greek Salad

Far from your ordinary salad, this dish comes packed with all the essentials to a great summer dish, with tons of salad like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, avocados, olives, as well as thick creamy sauce that stays true to its Greek origins. 

The color this dish brings to your dinner table is sure to impress your guests, leaving them wondering just how you made such a delicious salad!

8. Chicken Pasta Summer Salad

Sometimes it can be difficult to choose what to eat in the summer, as the heat often means that you don’t want to eat anything too heavy, otherwise you might end up feeling uncomfortable. Thankfully, that’s where this pasta salad comes in. 

With chicken, bacon, avocado, bell peppers, carrots, and cheese, this pasta salad is sure to provide you with a wholesome filling meal, without having to worry too much about the feared summer bloat. 

9. Curried Chicken Salad

If you like a bit of spice to match the summer heat, then this chicken salad option might prove interesting to you.

By marinarding the chicken in a range of spices and some curry powder, you’re presented with this magnificent, flavorsome chicken that really packs a punch!

Combined in the salad with some fresh cilantro and cashew nuts, and you have an excellent main dish, or a yummy side salad for your main meal!

10. Pulled Chicken

If you want to spend as little time as possible cooking throughout the day, then the answer is clear: Invest in a slow cooker. With a slow cooker, you can begin cooking your meal in the morning and be done ready for the evening. 

This recipe is for a mouthwatering pulled chicken, which features some brown sugar, Italian dressing, as well as some bourbon too which helps to give it that insanely rich taste.

You can use this chicken with anything, whether it’s in a sandwich, as a side or as part of the main meal. 

11. BBQ Lime Chicken

Sometimes in the summer you just need to get your hands on some of the stickiest BBQ chicken you can find, and with this recipe, you shouldn’t have a problem doing so!

Once you’ve made and tried this dish once, there’s no going back, and it will soon become one of your summer staples, so be sure to give it a try! 

12. Coca-Cola Chicken

Only one thing in the summer is as versatile as chicken is, and that’s Coca-Cola! Not only is it an extremely refreshing and thirst quenching drink, but it also acts as a key ingredient for this dish!

You might wince at the thought of marinating chicken in a soft drink at first, however, once you’ve added the other ingredients and cooked it, your chicken is given a smoky and sweet flavor that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

13. Stuffed Primavera Chicken

To some, chicken comes across as this dry, flavorless meat that is honestly pretty dull. However, with the right know-how, you can change their minds completely with this immense Primavera stuffed chicken recipe. 

With bell peppers, onion, seasoned tomatoes, and an added layer of mozzarella cheese on top before it gets baked, this chicken is moist and tender and is sure to be a revelation to anyone who hasn’t enjoyed chicken in the past. 

14. Stuffed Peppers

From the heading, it might initially seem like we’ve forgotten the chicken. Fear not, however, as this recipe includes a delicious combination of vegetables and meat, which provides you with an interesting dish too. 

For this dish, you’ll want to hollow out the insides of a whole bell pepper before stuffing it with a delicious and spicy fajita chicken mix.

Then, cover with grated cheese and cook in the oven until fully cooked. Not only does this ensure you’re eating healthy, but it also helps to diversify the look of your food too! 

15. Chicken Caesar Salad

Chances are if you’re a fan of chicken then you’ve probably enjoyed a chicken caesar salad at a restaurant at some point.

However, nothing quite tastes like home cooking, so why bother going to all the effort of eating out, when you can create your very own caesar salad at home?

With a nicely roasted chicken thigh, crunchy salad leaves, croutons, and a shedding of grated parmesan, there’s nothing better on a summer’s evening than a caesar salad, which is why you should consider adding it to your summer meals!

16. Honey Lime Chicken

Not a fan of the BBQ flavor on your chicken, but still like the tang of the lime, then this sweet recipe is one to try out instead!

This simple sauce only consists of honey, lime juice, and soy sauce, and yet it can absolutely change the way you view chicken, with its unique texture and taste, you won’t be forgetting about this dish for a long time.

Plus, because it features few ingredients, and all of them are healthy, it even works as a great dish if you’re watching your weight this summer too! 

17. Salsa Verde Chicken

This incredibly simple chicken bake produces absolutely immense results, providing you with an evening dinner that certainly has that wow factor about it, with minimum effort required!

This dump and bake style recipe is excellent for those who tend to find themselves rather busy on a summer’s day, or quite the opposite, and like to spend their day soaking in the sun as opposed to stressing about cooking all day.

Either way, this meal is easy and practical, and can be paired with any number of sides for all the family to share! 

18. Pineapple Chicken

When you think of summer fruits, one fruit that will often spring to mind is the pineapple, so what better way to enjoy both pineapple and chicken together than this pineapple chicken stir fry! 

With the inclusion of some cashew nuts and some hot jalapenos, this dish is everything you could want from your ideal summer meal.

You can pair this chicken with a nice cool salad, or just some plain white rice. This dish is extremely versatile, which is part of what makes it so great. 

19. Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls

If you have guests over and want to really blow them away not just with the amazing taste of your cooking, but also with your insane presentation, then here is just the thing: Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls. 

Not only does the pineapple immensely improve the flavor of the teriyaki sauce that is slathered over the succulent chicken, but the empty pineapple also doubles as a serving bowl for your guests to eat out of!

Truly bringing that summer feeling to your dinner table. 

20. Chicken Pizza

Sure, pizza is a great takeout option, but, the feeling of making your own pizza at home is unparalleled, and you’ll often find that it actually tastes much nicer than any pizza you can order in!

This recipe makes use of plenty of mozzarella, red onions, and fresh herbs, including cilantro, to ensure that your pizza is tasting as fresh as possible. And whilst you could buy a pre-made pizza base, it’s always best to make your own dough! 

21. Chicken Lettuce Wrap

If you’re looking for a healthy lunchtime snack, then this recipe here is going to change the way you view lunchtime in the summer!

At first, this Chinese recipe might seem a bit too complicated, but thanks to the super simple recipe, you should have no issue when it comes to making it work! 

Succulent chicken coated in a gorgeous smoky, sweet sauce wrapped in fresh crunchy lettuce? Who could possibly refuse? 

22. Pina Colada Chicken

No, this dish doesn’t quite involve dipping your chicken into a cocktail, but it does help to provide that summery vibe at the dinner table, and makes for a refreshing meal!

These succulent chicken tenders are cooked in coconut, macadamia nuts, pineapple, and a pina colada dressing. If you think this sounds good, wait until you taste it!

Serve alongside a refreshing salad and you’ll have your hands on a wholesome summer dish!

23. Grilled Chicken Kebabs

Chicken kebab skewers cooked over the barbeque are arguably one of the most popular options for your chicken when it comes to summer meals. 

However, whilst many people opt to use chicken breast for their summer skewers, we recommend using chicken thighs instead, this is because they tend to be more tender, and therefore a bit more forgiving when it comes to cooking them on the grill! 

Whilst you can season your kebabs however you’d like, this recipe makes use of fresh and wonderful bok choy and scallions all glazed in a thick hoisin barbeque sauce, which will certainly prove popular with both your family and your guests! 

24. Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

If you’re on something of a health kick and want to try and avoid using any oil, yet you’re still craving the texture of that wonderful fried chicken, then this recipe will surely help.

To avoid the oil, the secret is to use an air fryer! It tastes exactly like it would if you had deep fried it, except now you don’t have to worry about all the grease, or spilling oil over your stovetop!

Plus, it’s much less effort than having to fry it in a saucepan. 

25. Cobb Salad

The cobb salad is a summertime classic, and consists of a medley of bacon, eggs, chicken, blue cheese, tomatoes, chives, and other yummy ingredients! 

One of the best things about this dish is the amazing red wine vinegar dressing that accompanies it, not only does it increase the color of this wonderful dish further, but it also helps to ensure that the salad ticks all of the right boxes. 

Overall, this salad has everything you could want from a salad and is certainly one for you to try. 

26. Jerk Chicken

This Caribbean classic recipe is the epitome of a perfect summer cuisine for your chicken, and will certainly make you feel like you’re on vacation!

With the sweetness that stems from the cinnamon and the allspice, in conjunction with the kick provided by the jalapenos and green onion, then this recipe certainly isn’t for those who don’t like a bit of spice to their chicken. 

The secret to great jerk chicken is to ensure that you let it marinate long enough! So leave your chicken to really absorb those spices for around 2 to 3 hours before you plan on cooking it! 

27. Piri Piri Chicken

This African recipe is one that will blow your mind if you haven’t had the experience of trying it before. Piri Piri is the Swahili word for chile and is the name of the specific birdseye chile used.

This specific chile is hard to find in the U.S, however, the more common Fresno chiles are a more than suitable replacement for them, and will provide you with all of the kick you need from this dish. 

Best served alongside some savory rice and coleslaw, this dish is sure to bring a bit of Africa to your table! 

28. Chicken Buffalo Wraps

If you find that your lunchtime menu is lacking a bit, then this is certainly an excellent choice to help upgrade your mid-day meals!

Each chicken fillet finds itself coated in a lively buffalo sauce, and you can garnish it with whatever you like, but we recommend tomatoes and bacon!

Use a nice floury tortilla wrap that’s been warmed up and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Question

How Do I Know If My Chicken Is Cooked?

To check if your chicken is cooked, you should cut a small slit into the fillet, and check that the meat is white the entire way through, there should be no pink at all. 

Conclusion

We hope you enjoy some of the recipes we have featured, and that they are able to brighten up your summertime meals!