Photo by Mark DeYoung on Unsplash

Chicken is a great source of protein and other nutrients, and you can make it even healthier with the right recipes. Instead of having fried chicken, for example, make grilled or baked chicken with some healthy ingredients added to it. If you’re looking for simple ways to prepare a chicken dinner, keep the following nutritious and easy recipes in mind.

Baked Lemon Chicken

This chicken recipe is simple to make and offers a zesty kick. To make it, you’ll need the following ingredients:

3 tbsps butter

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 tbsp honey

4 tbsps lemon juice

1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp Italian seasoning

Salt

Pepper

Sliced lemons

Rosemary

Before getting started with the ingredients, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and coat it lightly with non-stick cooking spray. This makes the sheet easy to clean up when you’re done baking. Melt the butter in a skillet on medium-high heat, then add the chicken breasts. Cook the chicken for a few minutes on each side, then place it on the baking sheet. In a separate bowl, mix the honey, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper with a whisk. Cover the chicken breasts with this sauce, then bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Add more sauce to the chicken every 5 to 10 minutes while baking. Add lemon slices and rosemary to the chicken as a garnish. For additional recipe tips and serving suggestions click here.

Grilled Apple-Marinated Chicken and Vegetables

This chicken recipe provides you with plenty of vegetables for extra nutrition, as well as tart and tasty apple flavoring. You’ll need the following ingredients for this recipe:

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1 cup apple juice

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsps minced parsley

3 tbsps lemon juice

3 minced garlic cloves

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 medium-sized zucchini

4 carrots

2 medium-sized yellow summer squash

To make this recipe, start by mixing the canola oil, soy sauce, apple juice, brown sugar, parsley, lemon juice and garlic in a bowl with a whisk. Place the chicken breasts and a cup of the apple marinade in a freezer bag. Close the bag, and turn it around so that all of the chicken is covered with the marinade. Leave the chicken in the marinade for at least 6 hours. Place the leftover marinade in a closed container in the fridge. Chop the carrots, squash and zucchini into 2-inch slices, then cover with a 1/2 cup of the marinade. Drain the chicken, and grill it while covered on medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes on each side until it’s thoroughly cooked. Baste the chicken often with the marinade while it’s grilling. Place the vegetable slices on a foil pan, then grill them while covered for 10 to 12 minutes on medium heat. Serve the vegetable slices with the chicken, and add more marinade for flavoring if desired. For additional recipe tips and serving suggestions click here.

Tag: Meal Planning