The 10 Most Popular Chicken Recipes of 2018

Every year, our most popular recipes are dominated by one ingredient: chicken. We keep coming up with new ways to roast, braise, and fry ‘em, and you keep cooking ‘em, and coming back for me. So, we did it again in 2018, breaking out a new crop of crowd favorites, including a whole grilled chicken doused in lemon-pepper butter, a foolproof skillet roast chicken, and a few sheet-pan wonders. Check them all out below.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Emily Eisen1/1010. Chicken Cobb Salad
This brand spankin’ new Chicken Cobb Salad improves on the classic. How? It’s baconier, for one. The mustard vinaigrette turns glossy bacon fat into a shimmering emulsion that tempts you to bathe in it. Plus, there’s crunchy torn frisée to liven up the lettuce situation. Loads of peak-season tomatoes. The hardest part is waiting for water to boil for your jammy eggs. Knowing that, why waste your time with anything else?
Photo by Heidi's Bridge2/109. Chipotle-Rubbed Chicken Sheet-Pan Dinner
Sweet-spicy chipotle chicken, zippy roasted tomatillo salsa, and spice-rubbed squash all on one sheet pan.
Photo by Peden + Munk, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky3/108. Lemon-Pepper Chicken
You haven’t lived until you've doused an entire grilled chicken in lemon-pepper butter. This recipe is from B’s Cracklin’ BBQ in Savannah, GA, and is a heck of a lot better than that bottle of lemon-pepper seasoning you grew up with.
Photo by Caleb Adams4/107. Oven-Barbecued Chicken
No backyard? No problem. All the sticky-sweet goodness of barbecued chicken without having to leave the house.
Photo by Chelsie Craig5/106. The Basically Fried Chicken Sandwich
Our incredibly simple method for breading chicken thighs (no brine! no seasoned flour! no dipping!) is based on karaage, a type of Japanese fried chicken. No fuss. No muss. Just crispy, juicy chicken thighs on Sriracha mayo-slathered buns.
Photo by Heidi's Bridge6/105. One-Skillet Lemony Chicken with Fennel and Tomatoes
This simple, satisfying one-skillet chicken recipe leaves you with a ton of sweet, sweet pan juices—plenty of crusty bread for sopping it all up is non-negotiable.
Photo by Caleb Adams7/104. Coconut-Curry Braised Chicken Thighs
This simple, big-flavor chicken thigh dish is a great intro to the fundamentals of braising—once you've got the method down, you can braise just about anything. And since braises tend to be rich, we always like to serve them with something zippy to brighten things up. You can get by without the coconut condiment in this recipe, but a few wedges of lime and some cilantro are non-negotiable.
Photo by Chelsie Craig8/103. Chicken Paprikash with Buttered Egg Noodles
What’s more comforting than saucy chicken and creamy sauce over buttered egg noodles? Nothing. This easy recipe will make you want to have chicken thighs in your fridge at all times.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser10/101. No-Fail Roast Chicken with Lemon and Garlic
Nothing is as perfect, iconic, and delicious as a beautifully-browned roast chicken surrounded by a puddle of buttery, garlicky pan juices. And if you've ever been hesitant to roast a whole bird at home, this one's for you—it's converted many a nervous meat cooker. Consider this chicken, a hunk of good baguette, and a simple green salad your Sunday afternoon plan from now on.