Posted by Tastefully Simple on October 23, 2026
Chicken for dinner again? Absolutely.
Chicken is one of the easiest proteins to turn into a quick weeknight meal, and the right sauce can take it from basic to anything but boring. Whether you’re craving sweet and savory teriyaki chicken, smoky-sweet glazed chicken or something with a little garlic Parmesan kick, having a few flavorful sauces on hand makes answering “What’s for dinner?” a whole lot easier.
What sauces are good for chicken? Sweet and savory sauces, glazes, jams and dressings all work well with chicken. Tastefully Simple favorites like Honey Teriyaki Sauce, Bayou Bourbon™ Glaze, Bacon Pepper Jam, Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce and Vidalia® Onion Dressing can be used to grill, glaze, bake, slow cook or sauté chicken for an easy dinner.
Here are 10 delicious ways to get started.
Honey Teriyaki Sauce: Sweet & Savory Chicken Dinners
Honey Teriyaki Sauce combines honey, ginger and sesame flavors, making it an easy match for chicken, vegetables, rice and stir-fry dinners.
Need a quick chicken dinner? This is one to keep handy. Honey Teriyaki Chicken combines chicken with pineapple, green pepper and Honey Teriyaki Sauce and is ready in just 20 minutes. Serve it over rice for an easy dinner that brings the protein, vegetables and plenty of flavor together in one bowl. It’s fast, family friendly and easy to customize with your favorite vegetables.
Chicken wings aren’t just for game day. Honey Teriyaki Chicken Wings get their sweet-savory flavor from Honey Teriyaki Sauce combined with Dijon mustard and Tastefully Simple seasonings.
Marinate them ahead of time, pop them in the oven and add a vegetable, salad or other simple side to turn wings into dinner. Try this when you want a fun alternative to traditional chicken breasts.
Bayou Bourbon™ Glaze: An Easy Chicken Glaze
Sweet, savory and full of bold flavor, Bayou Bourbon™ Glaze is an easy way to dress up chicken without adding a long list of ingredients.
Sometimes simple really is best. Bayou Bourbon Chicken starts with chicken breasts seasoned with Seasoned Salt and cooked in a skillet. Bayou Bourbon™ Glaze is added during the final few minutes for a flavorful finish.
Even better? It takes only about 20 minutes from start to finish. We love it when a few ingredients turn everyday chicken breasts into an easy weeknight dinner.
Let your slow cooker handle dinner with Creamy Bayou Bourbon Chicken. Chicken breasts slow cook with Bayou Bourbon™ Glaze, cream of mushroom soup, Seasoned Salt and Garlic Garlic™ Seasoning, creating a flavorful sauce that’s ready to spoon over rice.
You can even assemble the ingredients ahead of time and freeze them for an easy future meal. Try this when you want a prep-now, cook-later chicken dinner.
Bacon Pepper Jam: Sweet, Smoky Chicken Ideas
Jam for dinner? When it combines smoky bacon, brown sugar and peppers, the answer is yes. Bacon Pepper Jam adds sweet, smoky flavor to chicken and makes a great finishing sauce or sandwich topper.
Give the classic BLT a chicken dinner makeover with Grilled Chicken BLT. Grilled chicken breasts are topped with Bacon Pepper Jam, tomatoes, lettuce and a seasoned peppery mayo, then tucked into ciabatta rolls. It’s part grilled chicken sandwich, part BLT and a fun way to break out of the same-old chicken dinner routine.
For an easy baked chicken idea, try Cheesy Bacon Jam Chicken. Pan-seared chicken is topped with caramelized onions, Bacon Pepper Jam and Colby Jack cheese before heading into the oven.
The combination of chicken, cheese and smoky-sweet Bacon Pepper Jam makes this a great option when you’re craving comfort food without a complicated recipe. Turn simple chicken breasts into a cheesy, oven-baked dinner.
Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce: Chicken with a Kick
Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce isn’t just for wings. Its combination of Parmesan, garlic, cayenne and black pepper can add bold buffalo flavor to all kinds of chicken dinners.
There’s a reason Garlic Parmesan Wings are a favorite. Simply brush chicken wings with Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce, bake, turn and brush with more sauce. That’s it. Serve them with veggies, a salad, fries or your favorite side dishes and call dinner done. Get big flavor with very little prep.
Bite-sized chicken makes dinner more fun. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites combine seasoned breading with Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce for chicken that’s easy to serve as an appetizer or turn into a meal. Pair the bites with a salad, roasted vegetables or your favorite potatoes for an easy chicken dinner everyone can dig into. Try this when chicken nuggets sound more exciting than another chicken breast.
Vidalia® Onion Dressing: Your Secret Chicken Sauce
Don’t leave the salad dressing in the salad bowl. Sweet and tangy Vidalia® Onion Dressing also works as a chicken marinade, glaze and sauce, making it an easy shortcut for flavorful chicken dinners.
It doesn’t get much simpler than Vidalia Onion Chicken. Season chicken breasts, grill them and baste with Vidalia® Onion Dressing during the final few minutes. Drizzle with additional dressing before serving.
No grill? The recipe also includes a stovetop option. And since one bottle does most of the work, this is an easy chicken recipe for busy nights.
Chicken Bake proves that easy baked chicken doesn’t have to be boring. Chicken breasts are dressed up with Vidalia® Onion Dressing and cheese for a simple oven dinner that’s full of flavor.
It’s an especially easy recipe to pair with rice and vegetables for a complete weeknight meal. Try this when you want a dependable baked chicken recipe the whole family can enjoy.
Make Chicken Dinner Simple
The next time you’re staring at a package of chicken and wondering what to make for dinner, start with the sauce.
Grill it. Bake it. Sauté it. Slow cook it. Turn it into wings, bites or sandwiches. With a flavorful sauce and a few simple ingredients, chicken can become an easy dinner you’ll actually look forward to eating.
Explore more chicken recipes and simple meal ideas at Tastefully Simple.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sauce goes best with chicken?
There’s no single best sauce for chicken because its mild flavor pairs well with many flavors. Teriyaki sauce is great for sweet and savory chicken, garlic Parmesan sauce adds rich, garlicky flavor, and sweet or smoky glazes work well for grilled or baked chicken. You can also use onion dressing or a sweet and savory pepper jam to add quick flavor to chicken breasts, wings and sandwiches.
For Tastefully Simple, try Honey Teriyaki Sauce, Bayou Bourbon™ Glaze, Bacon Pepper Jam, Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce or Vidalia® Onion Dressing to easily turn chicken into a flavorful dinner.
Can you use salad dressing as a marinade for chicken?
Yes, salad dressing can be used as a marinade for chicken. Dressings add flavor and can help keep chicken juicy while it marinates. Simply coat the chicken with dressing, refrigerate while marinating, then cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F. For a sweet and tangy option, try Tastefully Simple Vidalia® Onion Dressing as a chicken marinade before grilling or baking.
How Do You Use Sauce on Chicken?
The best method depends on the sauce and how you’re cooking your chicken. Some sauces work well as marinades, while thicker sauces and glazes are often best brushed onto chicken toward the end of cooking. Dressings can do double duty as marinades and finishing sauces. No matter which method you choose, cook chicken to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
When should you put sauce on chicken?
The best time to put sauce on chicken depends on the type of sauce and cooking method. Thicker or sweeter sauces and glazes are usually best added during the last few minutes of grilling or baking to help prevent burning. Thinner sauces and dressings can often be used earlier as a marinade. For extra flavor, brush chicken with additional sauce near the end of cooking, and always cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F.
What can I add to chicken to make it taste better?
You can make chicken taste better by adding seasonings, sauces, marinades, glazes or dressings before or during cooking. Try garlic and herb seasonings for savory flavor, teriyaki sauce for sweet and savory flavor, or a smoky glaze for grilled chicken. Tastefully Simple sauces and seasonings make it easy to add flavor to baked, grilled, sautéed or slow-cooked chicken with minimal prep.
What are easy ways to cook chicken for dinner?
Easy ways to cook chicken for dinner include baking, grilling, sautéing, slow cooking and air frying. Add a favorite seasoning, sauce, glaze or dressing for extra flavor with minimal prep. For busy weeknights, choose a simple cooking method and pair chicken with vegetables, rice, pasta or potatoes for an easy, complete meal.