Description
This Chicken Zucchini Bake is a delicious and healthy casserole featuring tender chicken breast, fresh zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and flavorful herbs, topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a low-carb, gluten-free dinner that’s easy to prepare and packed with protein and veggies.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Herbs
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into half-moons
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Proteins
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings & Oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) so it’s ready when your casserole is assembled.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and cook for about 4-5 minutes until they are lightly browned but not fully cooked through.
- Sauté aromatics: Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the chicken, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant and softened.
- Combine the ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, toss sliced zucchini, halved cherry tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and the cooked chicken mixture until everything is evenly mixed and coated with seasoning.
- Prepare for baking: Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly over the top of the mixture.
- Bake covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and chicken to finish cooking.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the cheese on top is golden and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the casserole before serving warm for a fresh, vibrant touch.
Notes
- For extra heartiness, stir in cooked rice or quinoa with the vegetables and chicken before baking.
- Use rotisserie chicken to reduce prep and cooking time, adding it when combining ingredients.
- Ensure not to overcook the chicken in the skillet since it will finish cooking in the oven.
- You can swap mozzarella for a lower-fat cheese to reduce fat content.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat beautifully.
