Description
This Mediterranean Chicken Zucchini Bake is a flavorful and healthy one-dish meal featuring tender chicken breasts baked with fresh zucchini, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, and red onion. Enhanced with garlic, herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil, it is finished with fresh parsley, basil, and tangy crumbled feta cheese for a vibrant Mediterranean flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced (about 2 cups)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup red bell pepper, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, sliced
Seasonings and Garnish
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the correct temperature for baking the chicken and vegetables evenly.
- Prepare Chicken: Place the 4 chicken breasts in a baking dish, arranging them evenly as the base for your bake.
- Add Vegetables: Arrange the sliced zucchini, halved cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper slices, and red onion slices around and partially over the chicken breasts to create a colorful, balanced dish.
- Mix Seasonings: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Drizzle this aromatic mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables to infuse them with rich Mediterranean flavors.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked (reaching an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C) and the vegetables are tender but still vibrant.
- Add Fresh Herbs: Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley and basil on top for a burst of fresh herbal aroma and flavor.
- Finish with Feta: Finally, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese evenly over the hot dish before serving, adding a creamy and tangy finish that complements the Mediterranean ingredients perfectly.
Notes
- For juicier chicken, you can marinate the chicken breasts in the olive oil and herb mixture for 30 minutes before baking.
- If you prefer a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the seasoning mixture.
- This dish pairs well with a side of couscous, quinoa, or crusty bread for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
