Chicken’s versatility as a main course is beyond any limits or boundaries. We have got plenty of options for your next gathering! So, satisfy any craving you and your family have with our recipes spanning from buttermilk fries, kabobs, fried rice, and more.
Sweet or spicy, grilled or fried, the options are endless.
I prefer to order chicken online so I know where they come from and how they are raised.
Chicken is a unique protein that combines deliciously with many summer flavors. Hence, we have gathered some of the best-selling summer chicken recipes for you and have shared them below.
So, if you are looking for something tasty for your weekend dinners, lunches, picnics, cookouts, or parties, I have curated recipes here that deliver great taste but would not keep you busy in the kitchen for too long.
These dishes go perfectly with any side, from grilled vegetable recipes to our favorite BBQ side dishes for your following summer function.
They are quick and easy but still packed with flavor; these recipes give you a whole new outlook on the classic chicken and give it a perfect ending to a sunny summer day.
So fire up your grill, set out the sides, and get the family together — chicken’s on the menu!
Table of Contents
- Here are my top summer chicken breast recipes
- Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken
- Baked Chicken with Peaches
- Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken
- Stuffed chicken breasts with basil and mozzarella cheese
- Greek Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Wrap
- Chicken Marbella
- Instant Pot Parmesan Garlic Chicken Wings
- Roasted sheet pan chicken, sweet potatoes, with broccoli
- Greek Chicken Kabobs
- Chicken with Pasta and Lemon Cream Sauce
- Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice
- Summer Chicken Breast Recipes – My Opinion
Here are my top summer chicken breast recipes
- Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken
- Baked Chicken with Peaches
- Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken
- Stuffed chicken breasts with basil and mozzarella cheese
- Greek Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Wrap
- Chicken Marbella
- Instant Pot Parmesan Garlic Chicken Wings
- Roasted sheet pan chicken, sweet potatoes, with broccoli
- Greek Chicken Kabobs
- Chicken with Pasta and Lemon Cream Sauce
- Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice
Related read: https://couchpotatodelivery.com/how-much-chicken-in-a-shawarma/
Let’s look at each of the recipes in detail.
Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken
Cooking chicken on the grill is a beautiful way to impart more flavor to the white meat. The quick and easy grilled lemon basil chicken is a crowd-pleaser for summer cookouts and weeknight meals. It gets ready in just thirty minutes. Chicken breasts are all flavored with a quick marinade of garlic, lemon, and basil and then grilled to their juicy perfection.
Ingredients
- Four medium-boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Three tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil
- 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- One tablespoon of olive oil, more for the grill
- Four cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
- Three tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil or fresh parsley for garnish
Method of cooking
- Put the chicken breast in a small plastic food storage bag and gently pound them to a thickness with the smooth side of the meat tenderizer or similar tool. Repeat with all of the chicken breasts.
- Put the basil, olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped garlic in a food storage bag or container; add the chicken breasts and refrigerate them for one to two hours.
- Heat a clean, oiled grill rack over medium-high heat for about 375° F to 425° F, or heat the oiled rack of the broiler pan.
- Put the chicken over direct heat on the hot grill or broiler rack and grill for about ten to twelve minutes, turning frequently.
- The cooking of the chicken should be at the minimum temperature of 165° F / 74° C.
- Serve with fresh basil leaves or parsley (optional).
Baked Chicken with Peaches
The sweetness of peaches gives a special touch to the summer-baked chicken with peaches recipe. It makes a fantastic tasty family meal for dinner. Use chicken breast for this baked chicken and peaches recipe. Tangy, homemade orange and honey sauce and peaches lightly fry the chicken for a delicious and easy preparation.
Method of cooking
- Heat the oven to 350° F.
- Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a wide, shallow bowl. Put the flour mixture in a food storage bag and coat the chicken.
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven or use a deep heavy skillet; to brown the chicken on all sides.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and discard the excess fat in the skillet. If the skillet is oven-safe, put the chicken in it.
- You may place the chicken in a baking dish. If you remove it from the baking dish, pour 1/4 cup of orange juice into the pan and put it on medium-high heat for a few minutes to deglaze. Scrape up all the browned bits. Pour the orange juice over the chicken.
- Combine the orange juice, honey, vinegar, and chopped parsley in a bowl. Pour the mixture over the chicken pieces. Cover the pan or baking dish and bake for forty-five minutes.
- Add the drained sliced peaches to the pan and bake for five minutes.
Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is among the true pleasures and signs of summer. This fantastic crispy buttermilk fried chicken recipe would salivate any person irrespective of being a chicken lover. The result is crisp yet moist fried chicken that would inspire your family and friends to ask for second helpings.
Method of cooking
- Cut the chicken breasts in half crosswise with a knife.
- Combine the ingredients for marination in a dish and stir to blend; add the chicken, and coat it. Cover it with plastic and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and air dry it at room temperature for half an hour.
- Combine the seasoned flour ingredients in a pan and stir to blend.
- Add the oil to the pan, no higher than half an inch deep.
- Heat the oil for five to six minutes until it is 350° F.
- Dredge five chicken pieces in the seasoned flour and add them to the oil. Cook for ten minutes, then flip them and cook for another ten more minutes until the juices run clear and the bread is golden brown.
Stuffed chicken breasts with basil and mozzarella cheese
This recipe may look fancy but is pretty easy to make. Dinner parties or weekend family dinners are ideal for serving this dish. Chicken is flattened, filled with basil and cheese, rolled in bread crumbs, and then baked to perfection. You may add an addictively delicious homemade mushroom sauce to finish the dish and provide the perfect, yummy topping.
Method of cooking
- Gather the ingredients.
- Preheat the oven and lightly oil a baking pan.
- Put the chicken in a food storage bag one piece at a time and pound gently with a mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper.
- Saute the garlic in butter for one minute to soften. Combine garlic with basil leaves. Spread basil mixture over chicken breasts; top it with a slice of Mozzarella cheese or a small amount of shredded Mozzarella cheese. Roll the chicken and secure it with toothpicks.
- Beat the egg in a shallow bowl.
- Combine the breadcrumbs and parsley in a bowl.
- Dip the rolled chicken in the egg, coat it well, and then cover it with breadcrumbs. Arrange the chicken rolls on the baking sheet.
- To complete the dish, bake it for thirty to forty minutes.
- Heat three tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender and browned.
- Add garlic, green onions, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a dash of pepper. Stir for one minute longer, add the flour, and stir until well blended. Add the chicken broth and simmer for about 2 minutes. Add cream and heat through. Serve the chicken with the sauce.
Greek Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Wrap
The best option is the Greek chicken souvlaki gyro wrap recipe when craving a lighter meal during summer or looking for a filling lunch box recipe. It is freshly marinated and grilled chicken stuffed in a warm pita, topped with homemade tzatziki, tomato, lettuce, onion, and fresh dill for a delicious taste.
Method of cooking
For the Greek Chicken Tenders
- Gather chicken ingredients.
- Place the chicken tenderloins in an airtight container and add Greek seasoning, lemon juice, and olive oil. Let the chicken marinate for thirty minutes and up to 48 hours.
For the Tzatziki
- Gather the tzatziki ingredients.
- Add greek yogurt, chopped red onion, cucumber, fresh mint, chopped fresh dill, two tablespoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of olive oil, and salt. If the sauce is thick, add 1/2 tablespoon of water until it reaches its desired thinness.
For the Sandwich
- Gather the remaining ingredients and preheat the grill to medium-high.
- Remove chicken from the marinade and grill until the center is no longer pink and the exterior is golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place a piece of tinfoil on the countertop. Add the warmed pita to the middle of the aluminum foil and top with chopped lettuce, tzatziki sauce, chicken tenders, tomato, red onion, and dill. Gently lift the sides of the pita and create a taco-like shape for your chicken gyro and serve.
Chicken Marbella
This storied dish is a standout dish in its time. It is a one-pan meal featuring skin-on chicken marinated in a brine of vinegar, olives, capers, and prunes baked in the same dish; it could not be easier. This recipe is a little sweet, salty, and perfectly balanced with an acidic tang. It goes perfectly well with Spanish rice or mashed potatoes. Pair it with chilled white wine for a perfect summer evening meal.
Method of cooking
- Gather the ingredients.
- Sprinkle Kosher salt and a few good grinds of black pepper on the chopping board and spread. Press the chicken thighs, skin-side surface down in the salt and pepper, and roll each thigh tightly, and place in a bowl.
- Mix garlic, vinegar, brine, wine, and sugar, and lightly whisk in another small bowl. Add the prunes, olives, and capers, stir, and pour everything over the chicken. Cover the dish tightly with a plastic or wax wrap and place it in a fridge to marinate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. When it is ready for cooking, lift the chicken from the dish and pat it dry with the help of kitchen paper. Heat oil in a frying pan.
- Add the thighs and sear until the thighs are golden brown and slightly crisp on the skin-side surface.
- Pack the browned thighs into shallow ovenproof baking, then pour some of the marinades of prunes, olives, and capers. Bake it in the center of a preheated oven for forty-five minutes, basting the chicken with the marinade from time to time. The marinade will reduce, and the chicken will slightly turn dark golden and caramelize.
- Serve while piping hot with extra olives and capers on the side and rice. The Chicken Marbella works well with creamy mashed potatoes.
Instant Pot Parmesan Garlic Chicken Wings
This recipe is easy to make as it only needs to turn on the broiler for a few minutes, so the Parmesan garlic chicken wings would not heat the kitchen. The primary portion of the cooking takes place in the Instant Pot, making things a little easier. The wings need a toss in the garlic butter, then Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley after the broiler get them perfectly crispy. Serve it with ranch dressing or marinara for a delicious little dish.
Method of cooking
- Gather the ingredients.
- Put a steaming basket or trivet in the inner pot and add a cup of water.
- Pat the chicken wings on paper towels to dry. Toss them with garlic powder, one teaspoon of kosher salt, and black pepper. Arrange the branches in the pot.
- Secure the lid in the pot and turn the steam to release the knob to the sealing position. Select the pressure cook and keep it at high pressure. Set the timer for seven minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.
- When the time is over, the pressure has to come down naturally for ten minutes.
- Arrange the wings on lightly greased rimmed baking sheets. Combine the pressed garlic, butter, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Toss the wings with the butter mixture.
- Broil the wings for ten minutes or until browned, turning after they have turned brown on both sides.
- Transfer the wings, toss them with grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley in a bowl. Serve them with marinara sauce, creamy garlic, or ranch-style dressing.
Roasted sheet pan chicken, sweet potatoes, with broccoli
It is a perfect summer recipe for busy weekend nights when there is less time for making dinner, or you do not feel like toiling over a hot stove. Then this easy chicken and vegetable recipe is the best option. You only have to mix up a quick marinade, arrange the chicken and veggies on the pan, and put it in the oven. Then, depending on which vegetables you use, you can tweak the timing or follow the easy sheet pan chicken with sweet potatoes and broccoli recipe for a no-stress dinner.
Method of cooking
- Gather the ingredients.
- Add a sheet pan to the oven and preheat it to 425° F.
- Drizzle the chicken and sweet potatoes with only 2/3 of the oil and rub to coat evenly—season them with salt and pepper.
- Remove the hot pan from the oven. Add the chicken on the skin-side down, and scatter the sweet potatoes around the chicken. Put the pan in the oven and roast it for twenty minutes.
- Take a small bowl for the sauce, add the soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper, and whisk together.
- Cut the head of broccoli into florets. Peel the stalk and cut them into 1/2-inch slices. Drizzle the broccoli with remaining oil and rub to coat evenly—season with salt and pepper.
- Remove the pan and brush the chicken and potatoes with the sauce. Flip the chicken and potatoes in the pan and brush on the other side. Add the broccoli as a single layer. Brush the remaining sauce and return to the oven.
- Roast for fifteen more minutes or until the chicken registers 165° F and the thickest parts and the vegetables are tender.
Greek Chicken Kabobs
This Mediterranean-inspired grilled chicken is a perfect summer meal. Cubes of boneless chicken marinated in a mixture of garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano and skewered with bell pepper and red onion. The tzatziki sauce comes from Greek yogurt, cucumber, and dill on the side, for the dip is the ideal accompaniment to the grilled kabobs.
Method of cooking
- Make the Chicken Marinade
- Gather the ingredients.
- Make the chicken marinade. Olive oil, dried oregano, salt, and ground black pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the chicken pieces and toss them to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for thirty minutes or up to three hours.
Make the Chicken
- Gather the ingredients.
- You can cook the chicken on an outdoor grill, an indoor grill pan, or in the oven under the broiler—Preheat whichever method you will be using.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and thread the pieces onto four skewers, alternating with the red bell pepper chunks and the red onion chunks.
- While grilling, place the chicken on the grill and cook for 5 minutes, turn and cook for additional five minutes or till the chicken is fully cooked through. If you are broiling, cook for about 10 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Serve hot.
Chicken with Pasta and Lemon Cream Sauce
The creamy chicken with pasta and lemon cream sauce is a delicious and super dish that is easy to prepare, making it a perfect summer dinner when you do not feel like working hard in the kitchen. In addition, the lemon cream sauce is addictive; you may want to use it in other recipes.
Method of cooking
- Gather the ingredients.
- Boil a large pot of salted water. Add pasta to the water and cook it according to the package directions.
- When pasta is complete, drain well and keep warm.
- Combine oil, butter, and garlic over medium-high heat in a large saucepan.
- When the garlic begins to sizzle, add chicken cubes and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
- Stir on medium heat till the chicken is complete, after about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Stir in the cream and bring it to a simmer. Reduce heat to low.
- Add three tablespoons of the pesto. Next, add three tablespoons of lemon juice plus the lemon zest and Parmesan cheese.
- Toss over medium heat until the chicken is complete and the mixture is hot. Add the peas and cook for two to three minutes until just warmed.
- Put the warm pasta in a serving bowl and top it with the chicken mixture.
- Combine the remaining three tablespoons of pesto in a small bowl with the remaining lemon juice.
- Drizzle the lemon pesto over pasta and chicken. Serve and serve. Enjoy it while it is still piping hot.
Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice
Pineapple has a tropical and sweet flavor that combines amazingly well with chicken. This delicious, Thai-inspired recipe for chicken fried rice studded with pineapple chunks, nuts, and raisins, makes a wonderfully flavorful everyday dinner during summer. In addition, you can use the pineapple chicken fried rice recipe to create a show-stopping buffet dish at summer parties, serving it in a hollowed-out pineapple half.
Method of cooking
- Gather the ingredients.
- Put the chicken in a bowl along with the soy sauce. Stir to combine, cover, and set for marination.
- Combine the stir-fry and the sauce’s ingredients in a small bowl, stirring to dissolve the sugar. While using fresh pineapple, press some of the fruit down to get the juice. Set aside.
- Place a wok or a deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle oil, and add the onion, garlic, chili, whole cumin, and carrot—Stir-fry for 1 minute.
- Add the marinated chicken and juices and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes till it turns white on the outside.
- Crack in the egg and continue to stir-fry, breaking it into small pieces.
- Combine all the ingredients well and add the prepared stir-fry sauce.
- Add cooked rice, pineapple chunks, raisins, and peas. Fry together by gently stirring all ingredients.
- Break the clumps of rice and keep stirring and let the mixture cook for three to five minutes, or until the rice is of a uniform golden color. Then, add the cashews and mix them.
- Remove the rice from heat and add more fish sauce for saltier and more flavorful rice or a more fresh or dried chili for a spicier version.
- Transfer rice to the serving bowl and add chopped fresh cilantro.
Summer Chicken Breast Recipes – My Opinion
Chicken is the all-around mealtime hero, but the summertime recipes let one of our favorite proteins shine with fresh ingredients and flavorful variations. The easy summer chicken recipes — featuring chicken breasts—have so many things we love about the warm weather. You may pair any cut of poultry with fresh summer fruits, even with new fruit desserts! And veggies, and you have got a stunning summer dinner idea that the whole family will love.
Although some people don’t agree with me and think beef is more winter dish I also have some great summer beef recipes for you.
I hope you have got many dishes to make during the summer and savor them with your friends and family. Do share your comments and views below, and also let us know the recipes on which you want us to enlighten you.