Our Best Winter Chicken Recipes

This 170-calorie slow-cooker version of a classic comfort food takes just 25 minutes of prep and uses reduced-fat cream cheese in its creamy homemade broth.

This dish couldn't be easier, but the payoff is succulent, sweet, savory and so much more than the sum of its parts.

This from-scratch deep-dish chicken casserole comes from a Caledonia, Michigan, reader. "It's not your run-of-the-mill chicken pie," says the reader, who adds a bit of pork sausage for farm-hearty flavor. "Anyone who tries it just can't get enough of it."

For this recipe, Karen Bell, chef and owner of Bavette La Boucherie in Milwaukee, marinates thighs and drumsticks in saffron, mint and ras el hanout (a blend of cinnamon, coriander, ginger, turmeric and black pepper), then simmers them with olives and preserved lemons for pops of briny flavor.

Crushed tortilla chips, stirred into the chili's base, give this dish a lusciously silky texture. Put it together in just 20 minutes.

Chicken and fresh mushrooms slow-cook in cream cheese, wine and soup. It's easy to put together but tastes complex because of its delicately seasoned cream sauce.

We adapted a classic French recipe of chicken cooked in wine for this slow-cooker specialty. Burgundy flavors the meaty chicken and forms the base of the gravy.

This dish is creamy, chickeny goodness. The pastry tops can be made a day or two ahead. Bake as directed; cool and then cover loosely with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Apples, pears and cranberries mix with caramelized onions in a luscious tumble over chicken breasts. Why leave the skin on and bones in? Trust us; you'll notice the extra flavor.

Mix a can of cream of chicken soup, mushrooms, veggies and rice mix for the soup base. Any boneless cooked chicken works in this recipe, but chicken thighs, with more moisture from fat, slow-cook the best.

Fruit-and-nut stuffing transforms everyday chicken breasts into a company-ready feast. Bonus: It's deceptively simple; you'll have dinner on the table in an hour.

For a fast warm-up on a cold night, put together this quick and easy version of classic chicken and rice casserole with refrigerated light pasta sauce, cubed cooked chicken and cooked rice.

Combine chicken, chopped vegetables and canned beans for this warm and comforting chili. Our recipe gives variations for Slow Cooker Chicken Chili as well as a spicier Chipotle Chicken Chili.

Oven-baking the chicken makes this recipe a breeze for any time of the year, and homemade barbecue sauce is always a hit. Serve with rolls and slaw.  

Chicken and fresh vegetables simmer in a garlic-tomato broth for an easy skillet dinner. Feta cheese adds a touch of creaminess. Serve with either plain or flavored couscous.

Combine spices with raisins and apricots to season this slow-cooker chicken stew. Serve on couscous and topped with toasted pine nuts and fresh cilantro.

Chicken breast and chopped broccoli combine with a soup-based cream sauce and noodles in this classic potluck dish. You can lighten the traditional recipe by using reduced-fat, reduced-sodium soup and fat-free sour cream, if you prefer.

A package of frozen veggies, canned mushrooms and canned soup shorten the prep work in this takeout-style recipe.

Save time with premade pasta sauce for this slow-cooker recipe. Tender chicken, herbs and fresh vegetables blend for a crowd-pleasing dish.

Patterned after a legendary Texas recipe, this irresistible main dish includes seasoned chicken stacked up with chili peppers, tortillas, sour cream sauce and cheese.

We like the smooth richness of this chunky main-dish soup from Antlers Restaurant at Breezy Point Resort in Breezy Point, Minnesota.

Chicken, noodles, veggies and herbs simmer in a creamy sauce. It's a perfect one-dish winter meal; just serve with a small salad or dinner rolls.