🎄 12 Days of Chicken: Quick, Delicious Holiday Recipes & Time-Saving Tips

December is one of the busiest months of the year. Between holiday events, school programs, family gatherings, shopping, and year-end deadlines, most of us don’t have hours to spend cooking dinner. But that doesn’t mean giving up on warm, homemade meals.

That’s why we created the 12 Days of Chicken — a festive collection of quick recipes, easy shortcuts, and smart time-saving tips featuring Springer Mountain Farms chicken. These ideas keep you inspired and help you get delicious meals on the table with minimal effort.

Let the countdown begin!

🎁 Day 1: The 20-Minute Holiday Chicken Dinner

Start the season with a skillet meal that feels special but cooks fast.
Recipe: Cranberry–Orange Skillet Chicken Breasts
Season and pan-sear Springer Mountain Farms 6 oz portion chicken breasts in a few tablespoons of butter. Add 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1/3 cup of cranberry sauce, 1 tablespoon of minced fresh rosemary plus salt and pepper, to taste. Cover with a lid, simmer until glossy and tender, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (about 10 minutes).

It’s festive, fragrant, and done in under 20 minutes.

🎄 Day 2: Meal Prep Monday — Cook Once, Eat 3 Times

Give yourself some breathing room by pre-cooking several pounds of Springer Mountain Farms ground chicken, divide and season them for quick meals for busy days ahead. Easily freeze them once seasoned.
Use them in:

• Chicken tacos

• Quick rice or grain bowls

• Easy pasta meals like chicken Bolognese sauce.

A little planning now saves you major time later.

🍲 Day 3: Comfort Food, Fast

When you need comfort in a bowl—fast—this one is a winter winner.
Recipe: Quick & Easy Chicken & Dumplings
Use pre-cooked chicken like our Fresh, Fully Cooked Oven Roasted Chicken Strips or leftover roasted chicken, and keep frozen dumplings or canned biscuits on hand.

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium skillet (with deep sides) over medium-high heat. Add 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and stir for several minutes until the roux starts to brown. Whisk in 2 cups of chicken broth or stock along with diced chicken, 1/2 cup of frozen corn, 1/2 cup of frozen peas and carrots, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Heat while stirring until the mixture thickens to your desired consistency (about 5 minutes). If you are using an oven-safe skillet, open a can of refrigerated biscuit dough and place on top of the pot pie mixture until most of the surface is covered. Bake in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes or until biscuits have browned. You can also portion into individual ramekins or casserole dishes for single servings.

The result tastes cozy and homemade without the long simmer time.

❄️ Day 4: Freezer Stash Favorites

A well-stocked freezer is a holiday lifesaver.
Prep and freeze SMF chicken tenders in your favorite chicken marinades.
They thaw and cook quickly—perfect for last-minute meals when time and energy are low.

Use store bought marinades to save time or make your own if time permits.

✨ Day 5: The Easiest Holiday Appetizer

Need a crowd-pleasing appetizer that takes almost no time to prep? These Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites are the perfect solution.
Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites
Tender pieces of Springer Mountain Farms chicken are wrapped in smoky bacon, tossed in a simple seasoning mix, and baked until caramelized and irresistible.

They’re festive, high-protein, and incredibly easy to make — a guaranteed hit for holiday parties, office gatherings, or family movie nights.

🔥 Day 6: One-Pan Magic

Sheet-pan meals save time and dishes, which is essential during the busy holiday season.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Chicken with Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Chicken and Brussels sprouts roast together in a sweet and tangy honey mustard glaze.

Balanced, hearty, and easy… a perfect December sheet-pan meal.

🕯️ Day 7: Slow Cooker Savior — Homemade Rotisserie-Style Chicken

Nothing says “holiday comfort” like a perfectly seasoned rotisserie-style chicken, and this slow cooker version makes it incredibly easy.
Recipe: Garlic Chili Rotisserie Chicken
This recipe shows you how to create your own tender, flavorful rotisserie-style chicken right in the slow cooker using Springer Mountain Farms whole chicken. Coated in a bold garlic-chili spice blend, the chicken cooks low and slow until incredibly juicy, with a rich, savory aroma that fills your kitchen.

It’s effortless, hands-off, and perfect for busy December days — plus the leftovers are amazing for soups, salads, wraps, and quick meals throughout the week.

🌟 Day 8: Holiday Hosting Without the Stress

Keep a container of cooked, shredded SMF chicken in the fridge to make quick meals effortless.
Use it for:

• Quesadillas

• Quick chicken Alfredo

• Chicken salad croissants -  try Chicken Waldorf Salad (substitute dried cranberries for the grapes for a festive holiday chicken salad)

Perfect for last-minute guests, busy weeknights, or days when your holiday schedule is overflowing.

Chicken Waldorf Salad

🍗 Day 9: The One-Pot Cozy Comfort You Need

Warm, comforting, and no pile of dishes afterward.
Recipe: One-Pot Chicken Orzo Bake
Creamy chicken, tender orzo, tomatoes, peas, and herbs bake together in one dish for a hearty winter meal. It’s rich, comforting, and perfect for chilly December nights.

Bonus are the festive holiday colors from the tomatoes, peas and spinach!
One pot in, one pot out. Dinner = done.

🥗 Day 10: Light but Cozy

A refreshing feel-good dish that still brings winter warmth.
Recipe: Warm Winter Chicken Salad
Use the air fryer to cook seasoned chicken tenders in just a few minutes. Toss the warm chicken tenders with greens, roasted pecans, crisp apple pieces or slices, and a drizzle of honey vinaigrette.
This meal gives you a break from the heavier holiday dishes while still feeling seasonal.

Make it even more festive with the additional of dried cranberries or crumbled feta cheese.

🎆 Day 11: Quick Holiday Meal Tips

Three easy ways to save time and still get great results:

1. Pre-slice chicken before marinating—it cooks faster.

2. Use the air fryer for crispy chicken in a fraction of the time.

3. Keep a holiday pantry stocked with broth, jarred garlic, canned tomatoes, and quick-cook grains.

These small habits save time and stress throughout December.

🍽️ Day 12: New Year’s Eve in a Flash

Ring in the new year with a crowd-pleasing, low-effort bite.
Recipe: Easy Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Layer fresh, fully cooked chicken breast strips with marinara and mozzarella on slider buns. Ready in just about 35 minutes!

Your guests will think you spent all afternoon cooking.

🎉 Wrap-Up: Celebrate the Season with Less Stress & More Flavor

The holidays should be full of fun, flavor, and togetherness — not kitchen overwhelm.
With these 12 Days of Chicken recipes and time-saving tricks, you can serve festive, delicious meals all month long while keeping things simple, quick, and satisfying with Springer Mountain Farms Simply Superior Chicken™.