Whether you’re between trips to the grocery store, on a strict budget, or simply prefer to keep your meals simple, easy chicken recipes for dinner with few ingredients can be a lifesaver. Check out this list of 30+ delicious recipes that require minimal ingredients for a quick and easy weeknight meal solution.
Why You’re Going To Love This List
- Fast. Many of the chicken dishes listed here are made quickly in under 30 minutes.
- Easy. Use simple to follow instructions to for a dinner the whole family will love.
- Minimal Ingredients. Easy chicken recipes with few ingredients will eliminate added expense and trips to the grocery store.
- Variety. A well-rounded list of recipes that will keep dinner time exciting and efficient.
Why Simplify Your Recipes?
Some of the joy of cooking is experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. I’m obviously one that enjoys exotic cuisine and layering flavors.
On the other hand, there is a sense of satisfaction that comes with minimizing the amount of money you spend in the grocery store, and significantly reducing or eliminating food waste.
For the days that I’m not feeling like creating something new in the kitchen, I tend to reach for recipes that can be made with minimal ingredients to keep my time and effort low.
Here are a few reasons you may want to downsize your ingredient list when you make your weekly meal plan:
- Fewer trips to the grocery store
- Less money spent
- Reduced food waste
- Easy macro calculation
- Efficient time in the kitchen
- Reduced chance of food allergy contamination
What To Make For Dinner When You Don’t Have Many Ingredients
Just because you aren’t using a huge list of ingredients doesn’t mean your options for a tasty meal are limited. Try out these recipes for a tasty meal that will simplify your time in the kitchen!
Easy Chicken Dinners with Few Ingredients
Teriyaki Chicken Bowl | 3 Ingredient Chicken Teriyaki
If you need a one-pan meal that’s delicious and the whole family will love, you need to make this Teriyaki Chicken Bowl! It’s unbelievably easy to make and only has three simple ingredients.
Garlic Butter Roasted Chicken (Easy!)
This garlic butter roasted chicken is not only a great way to make a lot of delicious chicken meat but also is a way to save money on ingredients. One whole chicken can be eaten for dinner and then used to make chicken broth by using the leftover bones!
Roasted Vegetable Chicken Fajitas
Everyone needs to have a good Chicken Fajitas recipe in their arsenal. This one is full of vegetables and stuffed with flavor. It makes a great sheet pan dinner.
Easy Chicken Rissoles
These easy chicken rissoles are made with only 5 main ingredients. Fun dinner or lunch idea that pairs well with any side dish.
Sesame Chicken | Easy Sticky Sesame Chicken Recipe
This Sesame Chicken recipe is really quite simple and absolutely delicious! The combination of sweet and savory is incredibly satisfying. The hardest part of the recipe is mixing the sauce ingredients together, which isn’t difficult at all!
Simple and Savory Pulled Chicken
Make this savory pulled chicken with a handful of ingredients. Perfect on rice, in sliders, or on salads!
Savory Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup + Video
Serve a bowl of Chicken Taco Soup made in the Instant Pot for a delicious and easy low-carb dinner made in 30 minutes!
Bacon Wrapped Cranberry Brie Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Time to get festive at your dinner times with this delicious cranberry brie stuffed chicken recipe. Simple to make, chicken breasts are loaded with creamy brie cheese and tangy cranberry sauce before being wrapped in bacon and cooked in the oven.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole | Keto Casserole Recipe
Whether you’re cooking for a picky family, looking for a quick dinner option because you’re pressed for time, or just want to throw something delicious together using some ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry, this Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole is sure to be an absolute hit in your household.
Chorizo Chicken
Add some spice and flavor to your meals with this super easy one pan chicken skillet recipe. Simple to make, this chorizo chicken is ready to serve in around 30 minutes, and you just need a few simple ingredients.
Hainanese Chicken Rice | Instant Pot Hainan Chicken
One step, one pot, less than 5 ingredients, and you’ve got an authentic-tasting Hainanese Chicken Rice Instant Pot recipe that your whole family will love.
Grilled Balsamic Chicken
These balsamic marinated chicken thighs are the most tangy, sweet, and flavorful chicken thighs you’ve ever tasted!
Low Carb Sesame Ginger Chicken | Ginger Chicken With Sesame Sauce
Instant Pot low carb Sesame Ginger Chicken is very versatile. Eat it plain, over zoodles, with rice, or in a lovely crunchy salad.
Chicken Katsu
With just a few tips and tricks, you can easily make perfectly crispy, tender chicken katsu at home! Serve it with Japanese curry or a drizzle of katsu sauce.
Huli Huli Chicken | Easy Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken Recipe
If you want to give your chicken a tropical flare, you need to make this Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken. Make the sauce and the chicken at the same time, and get a sweet and slightly spicy, family-friendly dinner on the table fast.
Dairy-Free Pizza Chicken Bake (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free, Keto)
Just 3-ingredients for this easy Dairy-Free Pizza Chicken Bake! A healthy dinner idea that’s gluten-free, allergy-free, low-carb keto, and with paleo options! Kids will love this chicken casserole recipe that can be customized with homemade marinara sauce and any pizza toppings you want!
Pecan Crusted Chicken | Low Carb Pecan Chicken Recipe
This Pecan Crusted Chicken recipe gives you all the delicious flavor of breaded chicken without the carbs. They’re keto, crunchy, and absolutely irresistible!
Baked Feta Chicken Tenders
With only 4 ingredients and a few minutes to prep, you can pop these chicken tenders in the oven to bake while you unwind. 30 minutes later, dinner is served!
Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe | Creamy Chicken Salad +5 Easy Variations
Just 5 ingredients, a simple little hack, and probably one of the best chicken salads you’ll ever make. Additional variations keep it interesting and versatile.
Carolina-Style Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
These delicious, Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are so quick and easy! Terrific Carolina barbecue flavor, with hardly any effort at all!
Instant Pot Enchiladas | Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Long, busy days call for a quick and simple recipe, and these Instant Pot Enchiladas are perfect. Put everything into the pressure cooker, and then broil the cheesy topping for a few minutes for all of the taste of Chicken Enchilada Casserole with half of the effort!
Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Orzo is a simple one pan meal that only requires a handful of ingredients. Plus it’s on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Buffalo Chicken Casserole | Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip
This Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip is a deliciously filling casserole with just the right amount of kick. It’s the perfect weeknight keto casserole that takes little effort to make.
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets | How To Make Chicken Nuggets In Your Air Fryer
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are a way to take your favorite childhood meal to the next level. Whether you want to make a tasty homemade chicken nugget or throw some frozen chicken nuggets in for a quick snack, I have everything you need to know all in one place.
Keto Chicken Tenders | Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins
These Keto Chicken Tenders are the absolute best low carb breaded chicken tenders out there! They’re so good and so easy to make in your air fryer.
Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Wings | How Long To Air Fry Wings
These breaded chicken wings give you all the wonderful flavor of an extra crispy chicken wing without any of the deep-frying!
Fast and Easy Instant Pot Chicken
Make cooking Instant Pot Chicken fast and easy with some of my helpful tips and tricks. You may never cook it another way again.
Air Fried Chicken Legs with Cilantro Pesto | Air Fryer
Air fried Chicken Legs with Cilantro Pesto are made with minimal fuss in your air fryer. It’s pesto like you’ve never had, and you’re going to love it. It’s kinda pesto and kinda chimichurri, but no matter what you call it, it’s delicious.
Instant Pot Barley and Chicken Soup
Make the most comforting meal in a fraction of the time with this Instant Pot Barley and Chicken Soup recipe. It’s chicken and barley soup made fast!
Creamy Chicken Soup
Here’s a super easy, delicious, and highly customizable Creamy Chicken Soup recipe for your Instant Pot that you can make with whatever you have in your pantry, freezer, or fridge. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner for those nights when you need something quick and easy.
How Long Do Chicken Dishes Last?
For the best bite, it is recommended that you consume cooked chicken within 3-4 days of preparing it. Of course, the amount of time it remains safe to eat can be reduced by the use by date printed on the package. Always use caution and be aware of the freshness of any food you eat before you consume it, especially raw chicken.
Personally, I always use the mantra “When in doubt, throw it out” because no amount of money is worth sacrificing your health.
What To Serve With Easy Chicken Recipes
Chicken is an extremely versatile, which makes finding the perfect side dish a breeze.
Here are a few flavorful side dishes that will pair well with a majority of the dishes in this list:
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
- Keto Creamed Spinach
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
If you already signed up, you should have received an email with a password to give you unlimited access to our FREE Printable Library. The password is case sensitive. Enter it below and get printing!
Password:
Cherry Poke Cake is a simple and delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth. With just a few ingredients and a simple to follow recipe, you’ll have a cake you’ll want to sneak bites of again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Cake Recipe
- Easy. Bake the cake, poke some holes, pour the syrup, frost, and enjoy. Just a few simple steps for a dessert your family or guests will adore.
- Vegetarian. Unlike many other poke cakes, this is a poke cake without jello. So, there’s no need to be concerned about using gelatin.
- Delicious. With rich cherry flavors in every bite, you’ll fall in love with this decadent cake recipe.
- Low Carb. While this cake is far from keto-approved because of a few ingredients that include simple sugars, it is low in carbs compared to many cakes and can be enjoyed in moderation if you’re primarily eating low carb for weight reduction.
Why Is It Called Poke Cake?
The name given to this cake comes from the tell-tale holes that you poke in the cake to create wells of flavor throughout.
While you won’t be able to see the holes in the cake once it is frosted, you will be able to tell that it is indeed a poke cake when you cut your first piece.
What Do You Use To Poke Holes In Cake?
When creating the holes in the cake to pour the cherry syrup into, you have several options. There is no “correct” way to go about this. You can use something large for bigger deposits of cherry flavor, or you can use something small if you want to ensure your flavor is distributed equally throughout the cake.
Here are a few different things you can use to poke the holes:
- Toothpick
- Bamboo skewer
- Chopstick
- Straw
- Handle end of a fork or spoon
Ingredients You’ll Need
The list of ingredients below may seem rather lengthy, but this will be everything you will need for not only the poke cake but the cherry “filling” and the cream cheese frosting as well.
- Almond Flour - Use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour in this recipe to keep it low carb and gluten-free.
- Coconut Flour - Adds sweetness while maintaining a low carb count.
- Truvia - Skip the sugar and use Truvia to sweeten your cake without the guilt.
- Baking Soda -Keeps the cake light and fluffy.
- Salt - To help balance the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Butter - Melted butter gives additional moisture and richness to the low carb cake mix.
- Eggs - To bind the cake and prevent it from being crumbly.
- Cherry Skinny Syrup - Gives the illusion of biting into a juicy maraschino cherry without overloading with sugar.
- Maraschino Cherries - Yes, I know these are far from low carb. Use them sparingly–or omit them completely to keep this dish light.
- Heavy Whipping Cream - Creates a creamy frosting.
- Truvia Confectioner’s Sugar - Provides sweetness to the keto frosting without adding unnecessary carbs.
- Almond Extract - Almond pairs extremely well with the flavor of the cherry syrup and maraschino cherries in the cake mix.
- Cream Cheese - Thickens the frosting and adds a finishing layer of tanginess to the cake.
How To Make A Poke Cake
To Make The Cake
- In a large bowl, mix together the almond flour, Truvia, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.
- Once the two bowls of ingredients are combined, chop and gently fold in the maraschino cherries.
- Pour the cake mix into a well-greased cake pan.
- Bake the cake at 350F for 35 minutes.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes.
- Once the cake has cooled, use a chopstick to poke small holes evenly (approximately 1 inch apart).
- Take the cherry flavored skinny syrup and pour it into the holes you have created in the cake.
- Once the cake is baked and the cherry syrup has been poured into the holes, use the keto frosting recipe below to cover the top of the cake.
- Cut into 12 servings, garnish, and enjoy!
To Make The Frosting
- In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, almond extract, Truvia Confectioner’s sugar, and heavy whipping cream.
- Mix until well combined and slightly fluffy.
Why Is My Poke Cake Soggy?
There can be two different things that can cause your poke cake to become soggy. Check out the reasons why before you get started to avoid a cake that is anything less than perfect:
- Too much filling. If you’re one of those people that believes that more is always better, try to avoid that mindset when making this cake. Sure, the skinny cherry syrup tastes amazing, but adding too much to your cake can cause it to become oversaturated and soggy. Trust me when I say that a little bit goes a long way.
- Not enough rest time. Give your baked cake plenty of time to cool before poking holes and pouring the cherry syrup over the top. While the cake is cooling the residual heat inside will continue to cook the cake and create a firm structure to create the wells of flavor you will add later on. Adding the syrup to the poke cake before it is cooled may result in the cake not setting up properly and leaving the middle muddled and soggy.
Variations
- Switch up the syrup. Use a variety of cocktail syrups to switch up this flavor-packed poke cake. Try pina colada, salted caramel, or strawberry sugar-free syrup instead of cherry.
- Mix up the cake. While vanilla makes a delightful pairing with the cherry syrup, you might also enjoy this poke cake made with chocolate or coconut cake mix.
- Add more fruit. The amount of fruit in this cake is minimal to keep the carbs low, but if you’re not watching your carbs or are cooking for a crowd that isn’t eating keto, you can double the amount of fruit without making this cake too dense or soggy.
How Long Does It Last?
While it is possible to make a poke cake several days in advance for an event, you will get optimal results preparing it the evening before. This will give the cake plenty of time to rest and the ingredients to incorporate well.
For the best bite, I would suggest storing any leftovers in the refrigerator and eating them within a day or two of preparing this cake. The longer this poke cake without jello sits, the soggier the inside of the cake will become.
More Delicious Desserts
If you have a sweet tooth but are tired of the same old cookie or cupcake recipes, give some of my other tasty dessert recipes a try!
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- French Silk Pie
- Mango Cheesecake
- Cherry Fluff
Poke Cake | Cherry Poke Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For The Cake
- ▢ 1 1/4 cup Superfine Almond Flour
- ▢ 3/4 cup Coconut Flour
- ▢ 2 tsp Baking Powder
- ▢ 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1 cup Truvia
- ▢ 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
- ▢ 4 Eggs
- ▢ 1/2 cup maraschino cherries
- ▢ 1 cup cherry skinny syrup
- ▢ 1 tsp Almond Extract
- ▢ 1/2 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
For The Frosting
- ▢ 8 ounces Cream Cheese
- ▢ 1 tsp Almond Extract
- ▢ 2 tbsp Powdered Swerve
Instructions
For The Cake
- In a large bowl, mix together the almond flour, Truvia, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Once the two bowls of ingredients are combined, chop and gently fold in the maraschino cherries.
- Pour the cake mix into a well-greased cake pan.Bake the cake at 350F for 35 minutes.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes. Once the cake has cooled, use a chopstick to poke small holes evenly (approximately 1 inch apart).
- Take the cherry flavored skinny syrup and pour it into the holes you have created in the cake.
- Once the cake is baked and the cherry syrup has been poured into the holes, use the keto frosting recipe below to cover the top of the cake.
- Cut into 12 servings, garnish, and enjoy!
For The Frosting
- In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, almond extract, Truvia Confectioner’s sugar, and heavy whipping cream.
- Mix until well combined and slightly fluffy.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Don’t forget to check out my other Ketocookbooks.
Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats , and Easy keto in 30 minutes.
