Poor chicken gets a bad rap€”it’s such a go-to that we often tire of even our favourite recipes. If you’re looking to freshen up your poulet game, read on for a roundup of the best dishes in the west. At-home fried chicken, a healthy noodle bowl, and a few classics from the archives equal no more boring birds.

Credit: Kyoko Fierro

1. Dukkah-Crusted Chicken Schnitzel and Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Goodbye, basic chicken breasts. This fabulous fried recipe from Lawren Moneta uses dukkah, a homemade Egyptian spice rub that can also be used as a dip (just dunk bread or veggies in olive oil before rolling it in the mixture). Moneta shared step-by-step instructions on how to make dukkah, but you can also find it at gourmet grocery stores.

Click here for the recipe.

Credit: John Sinal

2. Chicken Yakitori with Teriyaki Sauce

It was when going through archives of 50 years of Western Living recipes that we (re)discovered this recipe€”it’s a Japanese-Canadian staple that’s a personal favourite of mine. The super-quick, super-simple sauce from chef Daryle Ryo Nagata is just mirin, soy sauce, sugar and corn starch.

For the full recipe, click here.

Credit: Tracey Kusiewicz

3. Easy Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Veggies

Transform a ready-made roast chicken (or your chicken leftovers) into an easy, healthy weeknight dish. The bulk of this recipe is add-what-you-feel€”no measuring required€”but our friend Julie Van Rosendaal gives precise proportions for the sweet and salty peanut sauce.

Find the full recipe here.

Credit: Gabriel Cabrera

4. Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Another hit from Julie Van Rosendaal (much like fried chicken, she’s a go-to). While the prospect of frying at home can be daunting, you don’t need a deep fryer for this recipe. A classic spice rub gives this bird extra attitude.

To find this recipe, click here.

Credit: Ann Zhuravleva/iStock

5. The Classy Chicken Recipe That Goes Viral Every Year

Classy? Not really. But there’s something about this Best of Bridge recipe that stands the test of time. It’s quick, easy and you likely have most of the ingredients swimming around your pantry or freezer.

For the recipe, click here.

Looking for more recipe inspo? Check out this page.

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, illustrator and comic artist. Her work has been featured in Vancouver magazine, Western Living, BCBusiness, Avenue, Serviette, Geist, BCLiving, Nuvo, Montecristo, The Georgia Straight and more. Her beats are food, travel, arts and culture, style, interior design and anything dog-related. She publishes a daily autobiographical comic on Instagram at @hialyssacomics.