Description
A quick, healthy, and flavorful Mediterranean Chicken Zucchini Bake combining tender chicken breasts, fresh zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and aromatic herbs for a wholesome and light weeknight dinner. This easy-to-make dish balances vibrant Mediterranean spices with fresh vegetables and feta cheese, perfect for meal prep and enjoying warm or reheated.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Vegetables
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Dressing & Seasoning
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Toppings
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash and slice the zucchini into thin rounds and halve the cherry tomatoes. Mince the garlic cloves finely. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season them lightly with salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken breasts for about 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown but not fully cooked through. This helps seal in the juices and builds flavor.
- Layer the Bake: In a baking dish, arrange half of the zucchini slices on the bottom as a base. Place the seared chicken breasts on top, then spread the remaining zucchini and cherry tomatoes around and over the chicken. Sprinkle minced garlic evenly across the dish.
- Add Seasoning & Bake: Drizzle olive oil and fresh lemon juice over the entire dish. Sprinkle the remaining oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper to taste. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Finish with Feta Cheese: Remove the dish from the oven and crumble feta cheese generously over the top. Let it rest for a few minutes so the cheese softens and slightly melts into the hot ingredients. Serve warm.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the baking dish to ensure even cooking and caramelization.
- Use room temperature chicken to help it cook more evenly when baking.
- Slice zucchini thinly so it cooks quickly and absorbs flavor well.
- Let the dish rest before serving to allow flavors to meld and juices to redistribute.
- Experiment with fresh herbs like basil or parsley added at the end to brighten the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg