The average paleo diet includes quite a bit of chicken. We’ve got whole chicken roasts, budget-friendly thighs and wings, plain breasts to use up in a pinch, and livers, of course. Fortunately, the primal community has taken a more varied approach to the poultry than just pairing it with broccoli and calling it “diet food.” There are paleo chicken recipes to cover all ground here whether you need the perfect dish to tote to a party or appetizers that the kids will love. Below, you’ll find the 10 most amazing paleo chicken recipes found on the web. Enjoy!
Looking for a dip or marinade to create your own signature paleo chicken recipes? Check out a roundup of our favorite homemade dressings here.
Jalapeno Lime Chicken Wings from Meatified
The marriage of ingredients for this wing recipe make it what it is. Whether it’s game day or the store has wings on sale this week, consider this one a tried-and-true winner in the category of paleo chicken recipes. The jalapeño gives ’em that kick you thought could only be found at a restaurant while coconut aminos give it that lovely “soy-glaze” flavor. The hard part? Choosing what to dip these in. Truth is, they probably don’t need anything at all.
Ingredients:
- 2 lb chicken wings
- 2 jalapeño peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Juice of 1 lime
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
Read the full recipe from Stupid Easy Paleo here
Sweet and Sticky BBQ Chicken from My Natural Family
Think takeout without all of the usual suspects: soy, wheat, and sugar. That “sticky” chicken you love is probably sticky because it’s sweet, and not with the good stuff. This recipe uses pineapple concentrate and maple syrup to achieve that perfect consistency. The best part? This healthy sauce comes together in just 5-minutes. Keep it in the fridge for dipping all of your favorite paleo chicken recipes.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. Tomato Paste
- 1 T. Olive Oil
- 2 t. Chopped Garlic
- ⅛ t. Cumin
- ½ t. Chili Powder
- ½ t. Ground Mustard
- ⅓ C. 100% Juice Pineapple Concentrate
- ⅓ C. Pure Maple Syrup
- ¼ C. Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 t. Real Salt
- 12 Chicken Legs or Skinless Boneless Thighs
Read the full recipe from My Natural Family here
Old Fashioned Spice Roast Almond Milk Chicken from Foraged Dish
This medieval-themed dish is easily amongst the most perfect paleo chicken recipes to warm up with. Warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, sage, and ginger add that subtle sweet that chicken takes on oh-so-well. Almond milk stands in for dairy and adds dimension to your usual roasted chicken. Don’t forget the brine though – this is the key to the most brilliant, melt-in-your-mouth poultry you’ve ever tasted.
Ingredients:
- 1 5-pound chicken
- 3 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- Water
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1/4 cup verjuice (Substitute 2 tablespoons lemon juice plus 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar)
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 10 garlic cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick (.25 oz)
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 tablespoon fresh sage leafs, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 large white onion
- Salt and Pepper
- Pinch of mace
Read the full recipe from Foraged Dish here
Fig and Ginger Chicken Tagine from Paleo Parents and Mediterranean Paleo
Dried fruit just works with paleo chicken recipes. Don’t question it! This dish from Mediterranean Paleo uses whole dried figs to add a little something to chew on amongst whole chicken pieces and tons of warm spices. This flavor profile is an interesting deviation from the norm with its Mediterranean influence, so save this recipe for those “food rut” moments when things start getting a little boring behind the stove.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon butter, ghee, or coconut oil
- 1 whole (5-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- fine sea salt and ground black pepper
- 4 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 1/2 cups whole dried figs
- 4-6 cups cauliflower rice, for serving
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Read the full recipe from Paleo Parents here
Cracklin’ Chicken from Nom Nom Paleo
As far as I know, this is one of the only paleo chicken recipes you’ll ever need, so it had to make an appearance on the list. Salt and clarified butter are all you need to take chicken thighs to places you’ve never even dreamed of. It’s all in the prep, which can get a little dangerous with all the crackling, so make sure you read through the safety precautions first. Otherwise, consider your dinner dilemma solved.
Ingredients:
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (approximately 4 pounds)
- 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ghee
- 2 teaspoons seasoning blend of choice (optional)
Read the full recipe from Nom Nom Paleo here
Chicken Shawarma from Paleo Cupboard
Lebanese food, anyone? Marinated chicken thighs will produce that “cooked-on-the-spit” texture and flavor you get with a slow, fiery roast at home. Unless of course you have a spit, then do what you will (and invite me over for your next cookout, please). Alas, you can replicate this timeless dinner at home with a stocked spice cabinet. Serve with homemade baba ghanoush or zucchini hummus for optimal greatness.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
- 2 tsp. paprika
- 2 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- 1/2 tsp. allspice
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Read the full recipe from Paleo Cupboard here
Plantain Chip Chicken from Sweet Treats Baking
Besides the sweet potato, plantains may be the paleo-ite’s most beloved starch. They’re an easy, delicious source of healthy carbs and provide you with a dose of both vitamin-A and vitamin-C to boot. In chip form, they stand in for a beautiful bread-crumb substitute. This recipe is AIP-compliant, so its simple coating is just made up of avocado oil and plantain chips. Easy peasy comfort food right here, folks.
Ingredients:
- One 4 oz package Plantain Chips
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbl avocado oil
- between 1.25 and 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
Read the full recipe from Sweet Treats Baking here
Pulled Tandoori Chicken from the Big Man’s World
We couldn’t leave this Indian buffet staple out when discussing the best paleo chicken recipes. This authentic tandoori dish uses coconut milk in place of dairy to get that creamy goodness and lots of turmeric, cayenne, and paprika for the familiar red hue. Pulled chicken is often the result of the slow-cooker, but this is a stove top option for those of you who are seeking more instant gratification.
Ingredients:
- 1 kilogram chicken breasts, fat trimmed and cut into palm sized portions (just over 2 lbs)
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 onion, chopped finely
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Pinch sea salt
-
1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
-
1 tsp sea salt
-
1 tsp smoked paprika
-
1 tsp cayenne pepper
-
1 tsp cumin
-
1 tsp turmeric
-
1 tsp black pepper
Read the full recipe from The Big Man’s World here
Chicken and Zucchini Poppers from One Lovely Life
Need a protein-packed appetizer that isn’t quite as messy as wings? These are bite-sized and handheld which will appeal to the kids as much as the adults. Serve them with fries and dipping sauce for a full-on main dish or bring a double (okay, triple) batch to the next potluck. There’s no doubt these healthy, veggie-packed fritters will be a hit.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground chicken breast
- 2c grated zucchini
- 2-3 green onions, sliced
- 3-4 Tbsp cilantro, minced
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- (optional: ¾ tsp cumin)
- olive oil, for cooking (or coconut oil, avocado oil, or ghee)
Read the full recipe from One Lovely Life here
Waldorf Chicken Salad from Merit and Fork
There’s nothing quite like this lunch classic made all kinds of healthy. That’s what makes these paleo chicken recipes the best – they take on “forbidden food” and make them a possibility for us again. Thankfully, it’s an easy feat with homemade mayo, fresh fruits and veggies, and coconut yogurt. If you’re wondering what to do with all that mayo in the fridge, consider a batch of this. You can even swap out apple varieties, grape colors, your dried fruit option, and your choice of nut to make this recipe 100% your own.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil
- 12 oz. chicken breast, shredded OR diced
- 1 green apple, peeled, diced & tossed in 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup grapes
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- ⅓ cup walnuts, toasted & roughly chopped
- ¼ cup golden raisins
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup non-dairy yogurt of choice
- ¼ – ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Read the full recipe from Merit and Fork here
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