Here Are 13 Dietitian-Approved Dishes That'll Get You Excited About Chicken Again

"My favourite dish is a healthy chicken salad," Emily Wetzel, RD, LDN, told POPSUGAR. She swaps in Greek yoghurt instead of mayo to cut down on calories and fat, then adds fresh-squeezed lemon juice, dill, and everything-but-bagel seasoning for flavour. "Pair it with some crackers or wheat bread for a perfect healthy summer dish," she said.

Brittany Poulson, RD, of Your Choice Nutrition, likes to mix things up with her chicken salads. Starting with a base of grilled chicken and leafy greens, "I'll add in hard-boiled eggs, black beans, sunflower seeds, or various chopped veggies, such as onions, bell peppers, or carrots." If she's craving something sweet, she'll opt for fresh fruit like berries, sliced grapes, or dried cranberries, and top everything with a complementary dressing. "With all the different topping options and combinations, I don't get bored with my salads," she said.

Shana Spence, MS, RDN, of The Nutrition Tea, uses a rotisserie chicken for her salads. To the base of leafy greens, she adds oranges, dried, cranberries and apples, then tops it with chicken for protein, "to keep you full and satisfied."

Jodi Greebel, MS, RDN, told POPSUGAR that she loves to make a healthy version of chicken parmesan by baking it instead of frying. "There's less mess, it's lower in calories and fat, and I get no complaints from my kids when they know this is for dinner," she said. Her tip: broil the breaded chicken breasts for a few minutes to give them a nice brown colour, then serve with penne and roasted broccoli. Grab our baked chicken parmesan recipe to try it out.

Grilled chicken and veggie skewers (or kabobs) are a favourite of dietitian Emily Wetzel who recommended them with a Thai peanut sauce, a low-salt marinade, or (her personal favourite) a Greek goddess dressing. "This dish is perfect for the summer and it's already a complete meal," she said. "Add a corn cob on the side and you have a wonderful balance of starchy veggies and lean protein."

Pittsburgh-based dietitian Laura Yautz, owner of Being Nutritious, also loves chicken and veggie kabobs. "I like to use vegetables like red onions, courgette or yellow squash, grape tomatoes, asparagus, and other seasonal vegetables," she told POPSUGAR, alternating one piece of chicken with two veggies. She serves them plain or with a light Italian or Greek sauce. On the side, she likes a tomato or cucumber salad with quinoa or whole grain couscous pilaf for some healthy carbs.

Get started with these spicy honey-chipotle chicken skewers that are perfect for summer.

Rachel Fine, a New York-based registered dietitian at To the Pointe Nutrition, loves to make baked chicken tenders using a crust of crushed, bean-based chips. "They provide an extra boost of fibre, which pairs well with the chicken to create a balanced meal," she told POPSUGAR. Here's how to make her dish:

1. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
2. Lightly coat a sheet pan with avocado oil.
3. Create three dipping stations: a lightly beaten egg in a bowl; flour on a plate; and crushed chips with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a separate bowl.
4. Dredge each tender lightly in flour, then egg. Shake off the excess, then dip it in the chip mixture.
5. Place tenders on the sheet pan and drizzle them with avocado oil.
6. Bake them for eight to 10 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

"If I'm busy and stop to pick up a rotisserie chicken for dinner, I know I always have frozen veggies in the freezer I can pair with it, whether in my casserole, soup or stir-fry," said Brittany Poulson. She chops or shreds the chicken then combines it with veggies and a grain. From there, you can eat the dish on its own, or throw it in a casserole, soup, stir-fry, power bowl, or sandwich.

Grill or bake your chicken with your favourite seasoning, said Jennifer Smith, RD. Her favourite: homemade Cajun seasoning mix. Serve the chicken with sweet potato fries and either broccoli or Brussels sprouts for a wholesome, satisfying dinner. "I love this recipe because it's quick, easy, and doesn't require much thinking," Jennifer said.

"I love stir-fry because the options are virtually limitless," said Laura Yautz, RD. She uses leftover cooked chicken to make it easy. Laura sautes garlic and ginger, then adds frozen stir fry vegetables and low-sodium soy sauce. Add the chicken at the end to warm it up, then serve. "By avoiding salty or sugary store-bought stir fry sauces, and using low sodium soy sauce, you'll get a lighter dish that really allows the ingredients to shine through," Laura told POPSUGAR.

Crystal Karges, RD, makes her chicken stir fry by sauteing shredded rotisserie chicken in olive oil along with her favourite seasoning and veggies like onions, bell peppers, broccoli, and carrots. "I usually serve this with brown rice for an easy balanced meal," she said. Head this way for 17 simple stir-fry recipes, including lots of chicken options.

Skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs are flavourful and moist, making them great for savory meal prep. Lisa Hugh, MS, RD, buys hers from Costco and bakes them in batches: one has a simple salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder seasoning, while the other is a little more flavourful with a spice blend or a soy sauce and sliced-orange mix. She freezes them then reheats them with brown rice or quinoa plus a vegetable; options include a spring mix salad, sliced tomato with cucumbers, or frozen veggies. (Here are 20 more chicken thigh recipes to try.)

A simple wrap with rotisserie chicken is an easy and healthy lunch or dinner recipe. Shana Spence recommended using a whole wheat tortilla then stuffing with the chicken, romaine lettuce, sliced red pepper, cucumber, and dried cranberries. Here's a simple chicken wrap recipe to get you started.

Chicken salsa is a satisfying option for meal prep and quick dinners, said Meghann Featherstunn, RD. Even better, her version uses a slow cooker for minimum effort. Combine a pound of chicken and a can of salsa in the slow cooker or Instapot then shred it once it's cooked. From there, "you can make so many different things," Meghann told POPSUGAR. "My favourite are burrito bowls." She combines the chicken salsa with brown rice, black beans, avocado, chopped romaine lettuce, sweet potatoes, and more salsa or hot sauce for a satisfying, balanced meal.

Crystal Karges, MS, a registered dietitian nutritionist and maternal health expert at Crystal Karges Nutrition, says that her pesto chicken dish is "a crowd-pleaser, nutrient-dense, and super easy to put together, even on the busiest weeknight." Here's how to make it:

1. Layer a dish of chicken tenders with store-bought pesto, sliced tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.
2. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes or until cooked through.
3. Serve with spinach tortellini and a Caesar salad.

"This dinner offers a nutritious balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates that leaves tummies satisfied and content," Crystal told POPSUGAR.