15 Juicy Summer Chicken Recipes To Make At Home

15 Juicy Summer Chicken Recipes To Make At Home

When the temperatures rise and the skies are blue and clear, everyone is in the mood for a summer barbecue or picnic!

One of the best foods to serve at these traditional summer events is chicken but no one wants to eat dry chicken on a super hot day – so check out these recipes for some juicy chicken meals that are perfect to eat in the middle of summer.

Check them out, find your favorites, and give them a try!

Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken Quesadillas

The first chicken dish on our list is chicken quesadillas!

One of Mexico’s best known dishes takes a healthy spin with this recipe, which swaps out the red meats for a juicy chicken alternative.

Combined with the gooey melted cheese, the crispness of the tortilla, and the crunch of the peppers and onions, this meal is packed with plenty of textures as well as varying flavors.

The hot sauce marinade and melted cheese help moisten the chicken further, making it a super juicy and delicious meal to try out this summer.

Baked Chicken Breasts

Baked Chicken Breasts

Sometimes, all we want is the taste of traditional chicken with all the juice that helps dampen our taste buds on a hot summer day.

If that is all you want, then this recipe for baked chicken breasts is a great one to try.

The steps are super easy to follow and help you lock in all the important juices and oils to help moisten the chicken as it cooks.

The chicken is not plain – there’s plenty of seasoning with paprika, garlic, pepper and salt to help add a kick to this classic addition to any meal.

Pineapple Chicken

Pineapple Chicken

For a classic summer vibe to your chicken dish, try cooking it alongside chunks of juicy pineapple to make a Chinese-style stir fry!

Not only do the pineapple juices help moisten the chicken and give this dish a sweet glaze that you can taste in every bite, but it also infuses the chicken and other ingredients with the tropical flavors of summer.

This allows you to get all the taste of eating abroad right at your kitchen table.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Chicken Salad Sandwich

For a great recipe that you can enjoy on picnics or on your lunch break, try out this recipe for a classic chicken salad sandwich.

Some recipes for chicken salad sandwiches often overcook the chicken to the point where it’s dry and difficult to swallow.

Luckily, that’s not the case with this recipe. The chicken here is smothered in mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, accompanied by the cool notes of lemon, dill, apple, and celery.

All together combined, these ingredients make a delicious chicken salad that goes down a treat on a hot summer day.

So, spread it between two slices of crusty fresh bread for the ideal summer picnic sandwich!

Juicy Peach-Glazed Chicken Thighs

Juicy Peach-Glazed Chicken Thighs

Prefer your juicy chicken to also be super sweet? Then this recipe for peach-glazed chicken thighs is sure to tickle your taste buds!

It’s a super easy dish to make at home and leaves you with pieces of moist, delicious chicken infused with the natural sweetness of peaches.

The fruity flavors are also a perfect choice for a summer meal, allowing you to get a taste of the tropics even if you vacation at home this year.

Curried Chicken Salad

Curried Chicken Salad

Curry is a classic dish to enjoy all year round, but this recipe for a curried chicken salad helps create a lighter version that is perfect as a lunch or side dish during the height of summer.

You still get all the classic curry flavors combined with juicy raisins, crunchy cashews and carrots to shake up the textures.

The chicken is cooked in cubes and drizzled in a rich curried sauce that is sweet as well as savory – a perfect balance for a light summer meal!

Sticky Barbecue Chicken Wings

Sticky Barbecue Chicken Wings

You didn’t think we would make a list of chicken dishes without adding this classic recipe to the list, did you?

Sticky barbecue chicken wings are the go-to juicy meal for summer barbecues.

Beloved by everyone of all ages, this recipe is a staple and easily found at backyard barbecues all across the world, yet alone the States.

So, try out this recipe to ensure your chicken wings are sweet yet tangy, sticky and so juicy that you will definitely be licking your fingertips after enjoying them.

Grilled Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken

Grilled Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken

This recipe is definitely a fun one to try out this summer as everything is cooked within a foil pack, allowing all the aromas and juices to cook together, seeping into all the ingredients.

This means that the chicken in this grilled Hawaiian barbecue chicken recipe is super juicy and flavorful with strong notes of pineapple, garlic, soy sauce and barbecue.

Sweet, tangy, and swimming in sauce, this chicken dish is the perfect one to try for its tropical flavors and juiciness.

Jerk Chicken

Jerk Chicken

Jerk chicken is a classic Jamaican dish that, when wet marinated, is just as juicy as it is spicy.

Sweet thanks to the notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, this recipe for jerk chicken perfectly balances all the flavors best associated with jerk chicken while ensuring that each bite is moist and tasty.

This makes the perfect main for your summer supper, and goes perfectly alongside some other Jamaican side dishes such as fried plantains, coconut rice, grilled pineapple, or sweet potatoes.

Chicken Bruschetta

Chicken Bruschetta

Traditional Italian bruschetta is made using crusty bread but this version swaps out the carbs for some juicy, glazed chicken!

Smothered in garlic, tomatoes, red onion and herbs, this meal is a delicious alternative to a pizza as it contains all the cheesy parmesan and classic Italian seasoning you would ever need in a delicious summer inspired meal.

Try it out and take a bite to instantly transport you to Italy.

Chicken Souvlaki

Chicken Souvlaki

This recipe for Greek-style chicken is often overlooked yet it’s one of the best ways to enjoy juicy chicken on a skewer.

The key to making the chicken skewers totally juicy and moist is the Greek Souvlaki marinade which is made from a combination of herbs, spices, lemon juice, olive oil, and white wine.

For great results, it’s best to leave the chicken marinade overnight to allow the flavors to completely soak into the chicken, ensuring that each diced chunk will be bursting with juices once cooked.

So, for a great yet underappreciated recipe for chicken skewers, try out this recipe for chicken Souvlaki!

Chicken Caprese

Chicken Caprese

Caprese salad is a classic summer dish, but why not serve it alongside some juicy chicken caprese as well?

This recipe combines all the best ingredients of the Mediterranean including fresh tomatoes, rich mozzarella, and delicious basil pesto.

The combined oils and juices seep into the chicken as it cooks, ensuring that each bite is moist and filled with flavor.

So, if you want to cook your chicken this summer in a traditional recipe, this one for chicken caprese is a simple yet tasty one to try out!

Cilantro, Honey And Lime Chicken Thighs

Cilantro, Honey and Lime Chicken Thighs

A great way to ensure that your chicken thighs are super juicy is to roast them alongside a drizzle sauce that is filled with sweet and citrus flavors.

This is why this recipe for honey and lime chicken thighs has made our list for the best summer chicken dishes.

It’s packed with classic summer flavors and balances the honey and lime perfectly for a great sweet and sour mix.

The recipe itself is also super easy to make (and clean up after) so you can enjoy a light yet filling meal on those lazy summer days when it’s just too hot to cook.

Chicken Waldorf Salad

Chicken Waldorf Salad

This classic American salad is the perfect way to enjoy some juicy, creamy chicken alongside a range of other flavors.

With strong notes of walnut, grapes, apples, and sour cream, this chicken side dish is the perfect cool-down meal to serve during those hot summer days.

Lemon Chicken

Lemon Chicken

And finally, we have come to the last recipe in our list – lemon chicken!

Lemon chicken is a light yet sharp flavor of chicken that is filled with all the great juices of this citrus fruit.

Combined with plenty of flavors including herbs, garlic, and butter, you can enjoy this delicious chicken alongside light salads, mashed potatoes, or buttered noodles.

It’s not too sharp or lemony – just the right amount of flavor to make your lips pucker without making you flinch.

Final Thoughts

So, those were our fifteen favorite chicken recipes that are perfect to enjoy during the summer.

Each one will leave you with perfectly juicy pieces of chicken, some covered in delicious sauces, glazes, or marinades that completely infuse them with tons of unique strong flavors.

Check over the above recipes, pick out a few that speak to you, and give them a try this summer season.

This way, you can brighten up your summer menu and bring some tropical flavors to your table!

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