Easy Meals With Baked Chicken Breasts

Slitting the chicken breasts to create a pocket opens up a world of culinary possibilities. Stuff them with garlic, rosemary, cream cheese and chives for an especially flavorful main course. Use a dash of dry dressing and dip mix as a seasoning base to combine your favorite herbs for the filling. Serve with baked potatoes with shredded cheese for a hearty and ultra-filling meal. Go Italian for the evening and stuff the chicken breasts with tomato sauce, basil and shredded mozzarella cheese. Coat the outside with a creamy salad dressing and roll it in Italian breadcrumbs. Sides of whole-wheat pasta tossed with pesto and a lettuce salad with creamy dressing complete the meal.

You don't have to leave the chicken breasts whole. Chop, shred or slice them instead. Stuff large, hollowed green or red peppers with shredded chicken, carrots and lettuce, cilantro and dry spicy ranch dressing mix for seasoning. Stuff whole-wheat pita pockets with shredded chicken and grill them lightly to seal in the flavor. Add a side of brown rice or couscous. Use whole-grain tortillas to make chicken enchiladas. Chop the chicken and cook it with onions and garlic, then combine it with a mixture of dry dressing and dip mix in sour cream, salsa and cheese. Fill a tortilla with the mixture and roll it up. Place it seam-down in a baking pan and bake it until it's golden brown. Serve with a side of black or refried beans for a healthy dose of protein, and add a green salad with cool creamy dressing.

Add bread to your baked chicken breasts for a quick, healthy sandwich. Stick to whole grains for maximum health benefits. Shred the chicken and mix it with barbecue sauce, then make barbecue chicken sandwiches. Serve them with homemade french fries and creamy coleslaw. You can also leave the breasts whole for a sandwich, and top them with sauteed mushrooms and onions. Cover the chicken and vegetables with a slice of cheese and let the heat of the warm meat and vegetables melt the cheese. A side of crunchy veggies with light ranch dressing makes an excellent complement.

Dice the chicken breasts and mix them with chopped boiled egg whites, fat-free creamy salad dressing, shredded carrots and lettuce to make a quick and easy chicken salad. Or, cut the chicken into strips and serve on a bed of crisp Romaine lettuce. Add walnuts, fruit slices, crumbled feta cheese and fat-free creamy dressing for a light, summery salad. For a side, add wheat toast slices with garlic butter.