15+ Healthy Chicken Recipes For Weight Loss

By - Aneeza Pervez

Filling up on protein can be a great way to lose weight. On the list of protein-rich foods, the chicken comes out on top. Although chicken is tasty, consuming it daily can become boring. Don’t worry if you’re bored with your diet; there are many mouthwatering ways to cook chicken. Here you will find a variety of new and healthy chicken recipes for weight loss. 

Chicken is the most widely and healthy lean meat that almost all non-vegetarians love to eat. It is a healthy food with high nutritional value. Besides relishing your taste buds, the chicken diet plays an important role in maintaining and improving the body’s function. 

Healthy Chicken Recipes For Weight Loss

In everyday life, we consume chicken to meet our protein requirements. Throughout this article, you’ll find over 15+ healthy chicken recipes for weight loss to enhance and improve the taste of meat. These chicken dishes are simple to make with few ingredients and have a dainty taste.  

You can try a new recipe almost every day and love cooking with it. Are you ready to salivate? So, here are quick and easy healthy chicken recipes for weight loss. 

Low-Calorie Healthy Chicken Fajitas

It is a delicious dish that bursts with bold flavors. Nevertheless, some fajitas contain more than 1000 calories. There we can blame hulking condiments, overstuffed tortillas, and fried meat. However, chicken fajitas made with fresh peppers and onions are low in calories and satisfying. You can have it twice a week.

How to Make It?

For making sizzling chicken fajitas, you require the following ingredients. 

Start your 30-minute timer and cut vegetables and chicken. Mix the spices in two separate bowls, one for chicken and the other for veggies. Pan-fry the seasoned ingredients until they are hot and crispy. The vegetables are first sauteed, then the chicken, and finally, they are mixed.

Nutritional Value

Do You Need to Marinate Chicken For Fajitas?

Chicken that has been marinated will have additional flavor and a good texture. Nonetheless, chicken fajitas can also taste great without marinating. But, if you want to marinate, make sure it is marinated for at least 10 minutes.

Chicken Pot Pie

Pot pie is always a favorite of Americans. Chicken pot pie is wholesome food with its creamy filling and surprisingly low-calorie count. It has a flaky buttery crust with various vegetables and chunks of chicken that your family will love. 

How to Make It?

You will require the following ingredients to prepare chicken pot pie:

Preheat the oven to 425 °F. Follow the directions on the box for preparing the pie crust. In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté onions until tender. Then add flour, pepper, and salt while constantly stirring until combined. Add the milk and broth gradually, continually stirring until the mixture thickens.

Spread the prepared mixture on the crust pan. Cover it with a second crust layer and seal the edges. Prick the crust in various places. Finally, bake it for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it is golden brown.

To prevent them from browning too much, you can cover the crust edges with foil strips during the last 20 minutes of baking.

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Crispiest Stuffed Chicken

Crispy-baked stuffed chicken is a popular menu item in restaurants. Indeed, cheese cheese-stuffed chicken makes a hearty and delicious weeknight meal.

The recipe calls for tender chicken breast stuffed with a variety of vegetables, chopped ham, pine nuts, shredded Swiss cheese, ranch dressing, and topped with breadcrumbs. It always tastes like you’re eating at a gourmet restaurant.

How to Make It?

You will need the following ingredients for the crispy stuffed chicken recipe:

Preheat the oven to 375 °F. Take a chicken breast and cut three-inch slits from the center of the thick side. In a small bowl, mix the spinach, cheese, and spices. Fill the chicken evenly with the filling, then secure the opening with toothpicks to prevent spills.

Set the butter aside in a shallow dish and the bread crumbs on a separate large plate. Butter the stuffed chicken, roll it in bread crumbs and coat it completely. Bake the chicken for 28 to 32 minutes, or deep-fry it. Discard the toothpicks when you are ready to serve.

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Baked Salsa Chicken

If you want succulent, juicy chicken, then chicken salsa will be your go-to recipe. You can easily make this healthy chicken salsa at home. Salsa chicken is usually served with black beans, rice, and tacos, enhancing the taste of your dinner. It is an easy and quick recipe!

How to Make It?

You require the following ingredients for a baked salsa chicken recipe. 

Set the oven to 375 °F. Arrange the chicken breast in a lightly greased baking dish. Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly on both sides of the chicken breast. Cover the chicken with salsa. Let this bake for about 25 to 35 minutes at 375 °F.

Afterward, sprinkle cheese evenly over the baked chicken and continue baking for 3 to 5 more minutes. Finish with sour cream for additional flavor.

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Chicken and Black Bean Nachos

There is nothing better than a big bowl of nacho diet. But, how can I eat nachos to lose weight? Nachos with chicken and black beans are the perfect weight-loss recipe. Besides being low in calories, this version of chicken nacho is also rich in protein and other nutrients. 

How to Make It?

You will need the following ingredients for healthy chicken and black bean nachos:

Prepare this delicious nacho bean recipe by preheating the oven to 425 °F. Arrange the tortilla chips and beans evenly on a large baking sheet. Add cheese, onion, and chicken on top. Bake it for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

The sour cream, cilantro, and lime juice are simply spooned over the nachos, then topped with jalapenos and salsa. That’s all. So simple and easy.

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Chicken Pizzaiolo Under 500 Calories

The chicken pizzaiolo recipe is an innovative healthy chicken recipe. It tastes like pizza, but it is actually juicy meat simmered in tomato sauce with fresh mozzarella cheese topped on chicken cutlets. This recipe is perfect for those seeking weight loss and junk food enthusiasts. Indeed, this is a classic food recipe that is also healthy.

How to Make It?

You will need the following ingredients to make tasty chicken pizzaiolo:

Preheat the oven to 450 °F. Pour the tomato sauce into the baking dish. Spray the skin with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper. In a shallow dish, combine the Parmesan cheese and chicken, tossing to coat. Arrange the chicken over the tomato sauce. Let it bake for 15 minutes.

After baking, take the dish out of the oven and top it with mozzarella and pepperoni. Again, continue to bake until the chicken is cooked through. Certainly, it will be the family’s favorite ever.

Nutritional Value

Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes For Weight Loss

A popular meal for bodybuilders and dieters is chicken breast. Protein is abundant in this food without adding a lot of calories. In addition to losing weight, chicken breast eaters tend to preserve muscle mass and metabolism.

Cheap, easy to prepare, and nutritious, chicken breast is a tasty choice for a weeknight meal. Including chicken breast in a balanced diet is a healthy idea.

The following is a nutritional analysis of one breast piece (120g).

Healthy Crispy Chicken Breasts

There’s nothing easier than making crispy chicken breasts at home. It’s fast and easy to cook. It is golden and crunchy outsides, yet juicy and tender on the inside, which leaves the eater’s mouth with an amazing taste.

A healthy chicken breast recipe calls for the following ingredients:

For crispy chicken breast, preheat the oven to 425 °F. Next, prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a shallow dish, combine flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon zest. Meanwhile, beat the egg on a separate plate. In a third shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs.

Dip each chicken breast in flour, then in eggs, and then in bread crumbs, pressing lightly to coat. Place the chicken pieces on the baking sheet and spray with olive oil on both sides. Bake pieces for 10 minutes, then turn it over and bake for another 12 minutes. How long to bake the chicken depends on its thickness.

Sliced lemon and chopped parsley may be added to the crisp baked chicken breasts if desired.

Chicken Scaloppine

Chicken scaloppine is an Italian-style chicken recipe. You can cook it with a variety of sauces and in different flavors. Chicken with crispy, juicy skin and rich sauce is a delicious accompaniment to any side dish.

Here is how to make easy chicken scallopini. Obtain the following ingredients:

When making chicken Scallopini, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Spread sage leaves across each breast. Now, wrap each piece with the prosciutto slice, and secure the wrap with toothpicks.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet on medium heat. For the chicken, cook it for four to five minutes per side, or until the prosciutto is crisp, and the chicken feels firm to the touch.

Cook the wine and chicken stock for two to three minutes, or until the wine has been reduced by half. Add the prepared sauce to the chicken and serve. Adding butter and parsley will enhance the flavor.

This healthy chicken scallopini recipe is a delicious option for a romantic candlelit dinner.

Chicken Piccata

Another chicken dinner in the list of healthy chicken recipes for weight loss is chicken piccata. If you are unfamiliar with Italian comfort food, I urge you to try chicken piccata. It is easy and quick to make with Italian seasonings you probably have at home.

If you wish to prepare chicken piccata in 30 minutes, you will need the following ingredients:

Take a chicken breast and pat it dry to make chicken piccata. Make 6 thin cutlets out of the breast using a sharp knife. Season each piece generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Then dip every piece of chicken into the flour and set it aside.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of salted butter in a separate pan on medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces until each is brown on both sides for 4 minutes. Take the chicken out of the pan when done and set it aside.

Piccata sauce is next. Stir in 1 tablespoon salted butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil, and sauté the garlic until it begins to brown. Pour in the chicken stock, the wine, lemon juice, lemon slices, and garlic granules. Mix well, simmer, and adjust with salt and pepper, if needed. When the sauce starts to bubble, add in the capers.

Pour the chicken into the pan with the sauce and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in more butter if you want the sauce to be thicker.

What’s the Difference Between Chicken Piccata and Chicken Scaloppine?

Generally, piccata refers to a method of cooking in which a piece of meat (mostly chicken or fish) is sliced and sauteed in lemon juice. The dish is tart. On the other hand, scaloppine is a thinly sliced meat dish (generally pork, beef, or chicken) that has been pounded flat and is slowly fried or sautéed.

In a nutshell, the sauce of chicken scallopini is piccata (a delightful lemony sauce made from broth, wine, and lemon juice). However, besides scallopini, piccata is further combined with cream and capers.

Margarita Chicken

It is not surprising that chicken and steak trays are available at nearly every chain restaurant, indicating their enduring popularity. The love for chicken and steak platters is understandable. While they’re hard to resist, these skillets rarely have fewer than 1,000 calories.

I’ve created a recipe for 20-minute margarita chicken that still tastes great but is low in calories. You require the following ingredients to make healthy margarita chicken under 500 calories:

To prepare low-calorie margarita chicken, preheat the oven to 450 °F. Cook the black beans and cumin in a saucepan until piping hot. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper and squeeze the lemon over it. Then remove it from the heat. You can reheat it before serving.

Next, place the oil in a large skillet and heat it over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts in a hot pan for 3 to 4 minutes with salt and pepper. Flip the chicken breasts over once the crust has formed. When the chicken is cooked, spoon over the salsa, top it with cheese, then place in the oven.

To melt the cheese, bake for 3 to 5 minutes. Finally, put the beans on plates, top them with chicken, and garnish them with chopped fresh cilantro.

Grilled Chicken For Weight Loss

People love to grill and eat chicken, not only because of its palatable taste but also because of its nutritional qualities. A large number of health-conscious people enjoy grilled chicken as their main course. In comparison with other tasty chicken meals, grilled chicken contains much less fat and calories. 

Indeed, a grilled chicken is far more healthful than one that has been deep-fried and smeared with grease.

You can include grilled chicken in your diet plan if you love or crave it. However, if you plan to have grilled chicken in your weight-loss diet, use skinless chicken and avoid breaded ones. Moreover, you should limit its consumption to 2 to 3 times per week.

Alternatively, if your goal is to gain weight through eating grilled chicken, use the skin as the main ingredient. However, avoid consuming too much of it as it can raise your cholesterol level.

How to Make Healthy Grilled Chicken for Weight Loss?

Making weight watcher grilled chicken is easy and quick. Indeed, marinating chicken with few ingredients can turn it into an extraordinary dinner. To make the healthy grilled lemon chicken for weight loss, you need the following ingredients: 

Marinate the chicken in a gallon-size sealable plastic bag with wine, lemon juice, tarragon, garlic, and lemon zest. Put the chicken in the bag and seal it, squeezing out the air. Then turn it, so the chicken is coated. Put it in the fridge for at least two hours or overnight (be sure to turn it occasionally).

When grilling, spray the grill rack with non-stick cooking spray. Pour off the marinade from the chicken. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the chicken and grill it for about 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. That’s it, happy grilling!

Nutritional Value

Quick and Easy Chicken Recipes for Weight-Loss

There’s no doubt that grilling chicken and making it with different sauces and marinades are exciting, nutritious, and delicious. But they are really time-consuming and require a lot of effort, not to mention a messy kitchen!

Simple Chicken Greek Salad

The chicken Greek salad makes a healthy lunch that you can eat any time of the day, as there’s no cooking involved.

Combine the boiled chicken, bell pepper, cucumber, onions, tomatoes, feta, and beans in a large bowl to make the salad. Add a generous pinch of salt and pepper, along with some vinegar and oregano. Gently drizzle in olive oil. Stir the salad thoroughly. Serve it right away, or let it stand for a few minutes.

Crunchy Keto Popcorn Chicken

Crunch keto popcorn chicken is a low-carb chicken snack that is sure to satisfy your hunger. Chicken popcorn is delicious and crispy on the outside, while tender and flavorful on the inside. Some people believe chicken popcorn is made of popcorn, but it is not. The name popcorn comes from its small size. 

To make the crunchy keto popcorn, dice the boneless, skinless chicken and marinate it with simple spices. Dip each piece of chicken in coconut flour, followed by an egg wash, and then dip in bread made of pork rind.

Finally, arrange the chicken dice in a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes until brown and crispy. Serve with mayonnaise.

Rotisserie Chicken, Kale, and White Bean Salad

Rotisserie chicken, kale, and white beans make up the simplest salad recipe. This salad is packed with nutrients. To make the rotisserie chicken: Combine the chicken, kale, and beans in a large bowl. In a frying pan, lightly toast the walnuts and allow them to cool. To make the mixture, put them in a salad bowl.

Next, make the vinaigrette. Stir the lemon juice, lemon zest, brown sugar, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Drizzle the oil slowly while stirring the mixture.

Mix the vinaigrette thoroughly with the ingredients in the salad bowl. All in all, it is the simplest, tastiest, and healthiest meal plan.

Healthy Chicken and Rice Recipes for Weight Loss

For many years, chicken and rice diets have been hailed as an effective fat-burner. There are a significant number of macronutrients in this diet, so it could potentially be perfect for fueling and sustaining your body. Rice and chicken can make a balanced meal for your whole family.

Chicken provides significant amounts of protein, while rice provides significant amounts of carbohydrates. The combination of these two makes for a healthy meal that you can use to lose weight. When combined with an appropriate exercise regimen, you can achieve weight loss. 

Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken fried rice is a versatile and healthy dish that you can prepare in 30 minutes. Some people think that fried rice is not good for their weight-loss journey. But it can be very helpful for weight loss. In particular, if you load on veggies. Moreover, use brown rice instead of white rice and limit the amount of oil and sugar. 

How to Cook?

Cook the rice as directed on the packet. Add crushed black pepper, salt, and red pepper to it. Now, set it aside. After that, cook the chicken breast from both sides. Slice the carrots, and cauliflower into thin slices, then microwave or saute all vegetables for 3 to 5 minutes.

Put all the ingredients in a pan and mix well. Mix in a scrambled egg and cook until set. Serve it hot!

Baked Chicken and Brown Rice Vegetable Casserole

Another interesting weight-loss recipe is baked chicken and brown rice vegetable casserole, with 550 calories and 82 g of carbs. It would be better to cook this with brown rice instead of white rice. Fortunately, the recipe is relatively easy to prepare. 

How to cook?

Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Combine the chicken soup, rice, water, Italian seasoning, spices, lemon juice, carrot, and broccoli in a baking dish. Spread the chicken over the rice mixture. Season the chicken with paprika and black pepper. Then, wrap this baking dish.

Bake the chicken and rice for 50 minutes, or until they are tender. Add cheese on top. Continue baking until the cheese is melted. Stir the rice mixture before serving.

Final Recommendation!

Throughout this article, I’ve discussed various healthy chicken recipes for weight loss. You may want to make a diet chart to help you keep up the variety of foods and tastes, so you won’t get bored with your diet plan.

The bottom line is that eating a chicken diet can help you lose weight. It’s good not just for you, but for your entire family. The chicken diet helps you lose some extra pounds and gives you a muscular body and strong muscles.

FAQs

What is the healthiest part of the chicken to eat?

From all the chicken parts available at grocery stores, chicken breast is the healthiest cut. As opposed to red chicken meat such as thighs and wings, breast contains fewer calories and cholesterol. Also, the saturated fat content is significantly lower in the breast.

What to add to chicken to make it tasty?

You can add flavor to the chicken by salting, peppering, and adding lemon to it. You may also use your favorite seasoning to create your desired taste. Moreover, if you rub the chicken with 1/3 salt and 1/3 brown sugar mixture before cooking it, you’ll enjoy an extraordinary taste of chicken.

Does chicken help lose belly fat?

Chicken is lean meat that has long been touted as a fat-burner. Weight-loss diets should include chicken since it is low in calories, saturated fats, and cholesterol. Besides this, it provides you with 25 grams of protein, which keeps you full.

Moreover, chicken is also rich in other nutrients, such as phosphorus and calcium, which help maintain a healthy body. Dieters and bodybuilders use chicken as a major part of their diet to get a lean, muscular body.

How much chicken should I eat to lose weight?

Your body weight determines how much chicken you can eat per day. Nutrition guidelines recommend taking 1.6 to 2.2 g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight if you’re trying to lose weight.

Why shouldn’t you wash raw chicken?

Raw chicken contains food poisoning bacteria (campylobacter). The bacteria from raw chicken can spread to your hands, kitchen utensils, clothes, or even into cooked food, increasing your chances of contracting food poisoning.