What makes chicken breast a healthy choice?
You can make delicious, healthy meals with all parts of a chicken – chicken breasts offer a lean, high-protein option that’s very low in saturated fat. Chicken breasts contain approximately 165kcal, 31g of protein and just 1g of saturated fat per 100g. Due to the low levels of fat in chicken breasts, they’re great marinated or served with a moreish sauce or dressing.
Best healthy chicken breast recipes
Spicy peanut butter chicken breast
Serve up a healthy supper for two in just 30 minutes. This chicken dinner sees roasted chicken paired with vegetable-spiked rice and a crunchy peanut butter and sriracha dressing.
Healthy one-pan chicken and rice
If you’re looking for a healthy midweek dinner that’s packed with ginger, soy, honey, sesame and hoisin flavours, then you'll love this simple one-pan dish.
More like this
Healthy chicken stir-fry
High in protein and low in calories, Nadine Brown’s recipe for shredded chicken and chestnut mushroom stir-fry comes packed with fresh, gingery flavour and red chilli heat, perfect for a healthier spin on a midweek favourite.
Chicken stroganoff
This healthy spin on chicken stroganoff is high-protein, low-salt and low-fat, making it a brilliant option for a nutritious midweek dinner.
Grilled chicken wraps
In this recipe, chicken breast is teamed with cherry tomatoes, rocket leaves and a vibrant mint and nut pesto to make a healthy lunchtime wrap that will keep you full for longer.
Hunter’s chicken
Make this comforting classic by wrapping chicken breast in streaky bacon before smothering it in BBQ sauce and molten cheese – serve with wilted greens for a hearty dinner for two.
Peri-peri chicken mozzarella stacks with ‘macho’ peas
Nando’s fans will love this lighter version of the restaurant classic, which packs 47.7g of protein per serving, alongside nutrient-dense green veggies offering fibre, vitamin c and polyphenol antioxidants.
Cumin-crusted chicken with kale salad and hummus dressing
A clever way to make chicken breast more enticing, here it's rubbed with cumin and paprika before frying. There’s 38.5g of protein per serving, plus plenty of nutrients and fibre.
Healthy chicken tikka masala
Chicken tikka masala is known for being sweet and creamy. Here, in The Curry Guy's lighter recipe, the buttery flavour is achieved by using ground almonds, and just enough sugar makes the masala mildly sweet. Fat-free yogurt helps create an incredibly creamy texture.
Butterflied ras el hanout chicken breast with chopped salad
This North African-inspired recipe is flavoured with ras el hanout, honey and sumac. It's low in calories, gluten-free and offers a variety of nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K and fibre.
Honey sesame chicken with long-stemmed broccoli
Coat tender chicken breast in a sweet, sharp sauce and pair with long-stemmed broccoli for a light, nutritious and protein-rich meal. Green vegetables are packed with iron, folate (folic acid), magnesium and fibre, so including dishes like this in your diet is a great way to reap the benefits.
Chicken quinoa salad
This gluten-free salad is low in calories and a nice way to use up leftover chicken breast. Quinoa is one of the few plant foods to contain all nine amino acids, while also being rich in fibre, magnesium, iron and B vitamins.
Chicken fajitas
These next-level chicken fajitas are flavoured with smoked paprika, cumin and lime, then served with a chunky guacamole and tomato salsa. Our deputy food editor shares his tips and tricks to getting this classic family meal right, every time.
Orange chicken with cumin and paprika
Sabrina Ghayour's Seville-inspired dish calls for smoked sweet paprika, cumin seeds and oranges three ways: juice, zest and wedges. This zingy dish is high in protein and low in saturated fat – serve with one of our best ever side dishes for a balanced and nutritious meal.
Chicken pasta salad
Throw together this simple pasta salad using leftover chicken breast, tomatoes and greens. It's a great choice for a nutritious packed lunch, as once cooled, the starch in the pasta becomes a 'resistant starch', which the body treats more like fibre. This helps to sustain energy levels and supports gut health.
Healthy chicken korma
Fragrant, creamy and gently spiced, korma is super-comforting with its rich, buttery sauce. This version is lighter than the traditional recipe, yet it’s every bit as warming.
Paleo chicken piccata
Whether you're following a paleo diet or not, this quick and easy chicken dinner is one to try. Chicken stock keeps the meat moist without adding fat, then lemon, garlic, parsley and capers fill it with flavour. Serve with one of our best ever sides.
Turmeric chicken
Make chicken breasts that little bit more exciting by chucking turmeric, smoked paprika, crispy chickpeas and baby spinach into the mix. Serve with lemony yogurt and toasted pittas.
Griddled chicken with mustardy lentil salad
This vibrant chicken salad with crunchy green beans, mangetout and lentils is super-simple and quick to make. With just 6.2g of fat and 238 calories per portion, this is a lovely, light midweek meal.
Love healthy salads? Discover even more recipes.
Spicy chicken chow mein
A super-simple chow mein, ready and on the table in 40 minutes. You'll need soy sauce and Shaoxing rice wine to add salt and sweetness to this tasty low-calorie dish.
Chargrilled chicken chimichurri salad
We've added a punchy chimichurri sauce to this quick and easy chicken salad recipe, great for a light lunch or simple midweek meal. Served with fresh rocket, parsley and coriander, it's rich in fibre and loaded with antioxidants.
Chicken saag
Packed with fresh red chillies, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cloves and spinach – this recipe proves you can eat your favourite takeaway without compromising on flavour or nutrition. Low in fat and rich in protein, this comforting dish makes a great Friday night dinner or tasty packed lunch.
Healthy chicken curry
This healthier chicken curry recipe is oil-free and bulks up on vegetables, making it low in calories and fibre-rich. Enjoy straightaway or freeze in portions for quick, midweek meals.
Discover even more healthy curry recipes.
Mojito chicken wild rice salad
Our recipe for mojito chicken with wild rice salad is super-simple – the perfect quick dinner for one. It's also gluten-free, using fibre-rich wild rice combined with fresh mango, mint and coriander for a sweet and refreshing counterpoint to the chicken.
Griddled chicken with rice and mango salad
This easy griddled chicken breast with juicy mango dressing is low in calories, high in protein and ready in just 35 minutes. The sweet mango and fresh vegetables offer fibre and antioxidants. The wild rice keeps you feeling full and energised.
Discover even more chicken salad recipes.
Warm red pepper hummus with coriander chicken breasts
Want an easy midweek dinner that's high in protein and low in salt? Try our pan-fried coriander chicken with vibrant, homemade red pepper hummus. Hummus is a great way of adding some fibre-rich plant protein to a meal, and the roasted red peppers provide vitamin A, potassium, folate and antioxidants.
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Tracey Raye is the health editor for olive and BBC Good Food. Tracey, MSc, is a registered nutritionist, holding a master’s degree in Personalised Nutrition. She is passionate about harnessing the power of all things health and well-being in a way that enhances, rather than limits our lives. She brings you the know-how and inspiration you need to find what health means for you.
