15 Whole30 Chicken Dinner Recipes To Kickstart Your Weightloss Goals

Want to get out of a carb-loaded, booze-and-dessert-fueled diet? If you are one of the many who wanted to start life anew with a clean-eating plan then, the Whole30 campaign is definitely for you.

As the name implies, this 30-day eating plan offers to improve your eating habits and enjoy certain benefits directly impacting metabolism, digestion, skin condition, sleep patterns, energy and workout effectiveness. All by eating clean proteins and vegetables.

To get you started, here are 15 Whole30 chicken dinner recipes that’s easy to prepare but loaded with your needed vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Chicken Cacciatore

There’s nothing more exciting than chicken prepared “hunter” style. Think: herbs and spices dancing medley to braised chicken breasts. Awesome protein and great sensation to the taste buds!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons cooking fat

1 pound chicken legs (bone-in, skin-on)
½ pound chicken thighs (boneless)
½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper
½ onion, minced
½ red bell pepper, finely diced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon capers, drained

1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth or water
1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, rough chopped

Check out full list of ingredients and preparations here.

Baked Buffalo Chicken Balls

Ingredients:

1 pound ground chicken

3 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup Frank’s Red Hot sauce
1 egg

2 tablespoons paleo mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons almond flour

Tip: You may also prepare homemade mayo. See here

Get full recipes and cooking preparations here.

Chicken Piccata

Short on time? Check out this 15-minute chicken dinner recipe for your Whole30 regimen. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and grain-free. Great way to eating clean.

8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally and pounded 1/2″ thick (I get my chicken from ButcherBox, which I highly recommend)

1/2 cup blanched almond flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

1–1/4 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup lemon juice (from about 1 juicy lemon)
1/3 cup capers, liquid drained

finely chopped parsley for garnish

Tip: Best served with cauliflower rice or any favorite cooked vegetable.

See recipe and cooking instructions here

Chicken Salad

You can never go wrong with a chicken salad. That’s proven time and again.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup raw sliced almonds or raw walnut halves
2 cups 1/2-inch-diced cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes — halved
3 medium stalks celery — diced (scant 1 1/2 cups)
1 large green onion — thinly sliced (about 3 tablespoons), or 2 small/medium green onions

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup tahini
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt — plus additional to taste

1/2 teaspoon black pepper — plus additional to taste
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder — plus additional to taste
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

5 tablespoons hot water — plus additional as needed

For serving:

Bib or romaine lettuce

This recipe here is much “cleaner” though and more exciting, too, with grapes and almonds replacing the usual apples.

Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken

Busybodies can easily fall in love with this slow cooker recipe. Put all ingredients in. Program it and voila!

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs
1 medium onion, diced
2 tsp coconut oil

4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, finely minced
1 tsp coriander

1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp salt

1/4–1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 (14oz) can coconut milk (full fat, please)
1 (6oz) can tomato paste

juice of 1 lime
1/4c Cilantro, or to taste

Tip: add a fresh garden salad to get your digestion moving.

One meal ready in time for dinner. See full recipe here.

Easy Lemon Garlic Chicken

Shared by one Paleo-loving Mom, this lemon garlic chicken is anything but easy. That is, in terms of taste and succulence. And it only takes 20 minutes tops to prepare!

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs

2 tbsp ghee divided
sea salt and pepper
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup chicken broth sugar free for Whole30 homemade broth or bone broth
3-4 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp fresh rosemary finely chopped, optional

Tip: Pick boneless chicken thighs for added juiciness and flavor.

See full recipe and cooking instructions here.

Chicken Marsala

Gluten-free and grain-free, this Paleo-friendly dish is now one of Whole30’s chicken dinner reciper forerunners. The secret to this dish– Arrowroot.

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Cutlets (or 4 chicken breasts, butterflied)
kosher salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Arrowroot Starch
2-4 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. ghee

2 shallots, diced
2 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
8oz. sliced mushrooms (button, cremini, or baby bella)

a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional, or more to taste)
3/4 cup -1 cup of chicken broth
1 tbsp. balsamic or sherry vinegar

1/2 cup canned, unsweetened coconut milk- blended so that it is smooth and no longer separated
juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley

Check it out here.

Chicken Curry

Quick and easy to prepare, and one of the most popular recipes to any protein-loaded diet. That’s the oh-so-tasty Chicken Curry to you. Perfect when reheated and can also be served for lunch.

Ingredients:

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs rinsed, patted dry & cut into cubes
1 1/2 tablespoons ghee
1/4 cup bone broth- Find Here!

1 large yellow onion diced
4 tablespoons green curry paste
40 ounces canned coconut milk (this is about 3 cans)

1 head cauliflower cut into florets
2 cups green beans trimmed
1 small butternut squash diced

2 teaspoons turmeric
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes to taste (careful!)
sea salt and black pepper to taste

cooked cauliflower rice for serving
fresh cilantro for serving
spiced cashew pieces for serving

Tip: Add as many veggies as you like. Best served with cauliflower rice.

See full recipe and cooking instructions here.

Spicy Chicken Patties

This spicy chicken patty reciipe is as simple as it gets– but a versatile one at that. It can be used for salads, sliders, or wraps. It can also be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And it’s gluten-free!

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground chicken (I use 90% lean)
1 medium zucchini, grated and squeezed well of excess moisture (should be about 1/2 cup after squeezed out)
1 clove garlic, minced

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional; see notes)
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil or coconut oil

Tip: Got kids? Leave out the cayenne and just serve with hot sauce for adult consumption.

Check out full recipe and cooking prep here.

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Want something cheesy and creamy without being loaded with fatty stuffs? This chicken broccoli casserole with its healthy trimmings is to die for. Easy to prepare yet healthy to the max.

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked and Shredded Chicken

2 tbsp olive oil
2 heads broccoli, florets removed
10 cremini mushrooms, sliced

1/2 small onion, diced
1 cup chicken broth
1 recipe Vegan Alfredo Sauce

salt and pepper, to taste
rosemary, for garnish

Tip: Don’t forget to soak those cashews overnight for the Vegan Alfredo Sauce– which you can do a day before and stored in the fridge.

Check out recipe and cooking prep here.

Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad

Get into the groove come Friday night with this sultry grilled chicken salad. Light yet filling, this refreshing dish is perfect not just for you but for the entire family.

Ingredients:

Dressing

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh oregano or thyme
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon garlic powder or 3 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes

Salad

2 heads romaine lettuce chopped
2 large chicken breasts

2 small zucchini squash sliced lengthwise
1 cup baby heirloom tomatoes chopped
1/2 large cucumber chopped
1/2 large avocado sliced
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes sliced
1/4 cup black olives sliced
1/4 cup silvered almonds optional

See full recipe and cooking instructions here.

Full-Throttle Harvest Chicken Skillet

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, — cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon kosher salt — divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon — chopped
3 cups Brussels sprouts — trimmed and quartered (about 3/4 pound)
1 medium sweet potato — peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 8 ounces)
1 medium onion — chopped
2 Granny Smith apples — peeled, cored and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
4 cloves garlic — minced (about 2 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme — or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth — divided

Think: Autumn for meal time and you got this recipe to blow your taste buds aways. Made with sweet potaoes, Brussels sprouts and apples sauteed to perfection, this is definitely one clean meal perfect for your Whole30 as well as Paleo diet.

Orange Sesame Chicken With Broccoli

Get a kick out of a wellknown traditional Asian recipe with a twist– broccolis!Flavorful and endearing, this is one dish you won’t get tired of. Great for lunch or dinner, too.

Ingredients:

Chicken & Broccoli

2 lbs chicken breasts
2 tbsp ghee
1 cup orange hoisin sauce see below⠀
4 cups broccoli florets⠀
1 tsp salt⠀
1 tsp pepper⠀
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 green onions, sliced

Orange Hoisin Sauce

2 tbsp compliant almond butter⠀
zest and juice of 1 orange ⠀
2 cloves garlic⠀
½ inch peeled ginger, about 1 tsp
1 tsp apple cider vinegar⠀
1 Tbsp tomato paste⠀
3-4 dates⠀
¼ cup coconut aminos⠀
½ tsp Chinese five spice seasoning
2 tsp sesame oil⠀
½ tsp chili powder⠀
1 tsp salt⠀
½ tsp pepper

Tip: Make a batch of sauce and freeze remaining for next day’s dinner.

See full recipe and cooking prep here.

Roasted Chicken With Chorizo & Asparagus

Another Whole30 and Paleo-friendly recipe, this one calls for the simplicity of pan sheet dinners. Easy to do. No high post-cooking clean-up.

Ingredients:

For the onion & pepper mixture

1 large brown onion, diced
1 medium red pepper, diced
1 small chorizo sausage, peeled and diced (about 100–150 g / 4–5 oz.)
1/2 teaspoon paprika powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
Pinch of dried coriander or thyme
Generous pinch of salt and pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the chicken

4–5 chicken tenderloins, cut into 3 pieces each (see notes for alternatives)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
Generous pinch of salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

For asparagus

100 g / 3-4 oz. asparagus spears (1 bunch), ends trimmed
2 cloves garlic, finely diced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
Generous pinch of salt

Tips: Don’t like chorizo? Try diced bacon or salami– seasoned with paprika.

No stress. All these goodness can be seen here.

Chicken Chile Verde

Low in carbs and fat. Gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free. And oh, it’s Paleo and Whole30 healthy eating, too!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
4 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1 pound tomatillos
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
2 1/2 pounds boneless chicken (breasts, thighs, or both)
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Possible garnishes: cilantro, avocado, lime

Tip: Can be prepared using a slow cooker. Make sure to sautee spices before adding them to the crockpot though.

Light flavors with a little zing, this recipe is definitely amazing!

Without a doubt, these 15 Whole30 chicken dinner recipes are so worth it! Don’t expect results to be instantaneous though. Results can vary from person to person–and we all know that each one is unique. Your main concern is to stick to the Whole30 mechanics and, if possible, go the extra mile by adding daily workout to your routine. Start your meals plans with these easy-peasy chicken recipes.