Description
Easy chicken zucchini bake brings together tender chicken, fresh zucchini, and melty cheese in one dish that comes together in under an hour. Your family gets a wholesome, satisfying dinner that tastes like you spent way more time in the kitchen than you actually did.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 cup marinara sauce
Cheese and Seasonings:
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Preparation:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.5 cup fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 375°F and let it reach temperature while you prepare the dish.
- Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil so nothing sticks to the sides.
- Spread your sliced zucchini across the bottom of the dish as your first layer.
- Add 1 cup of shredded chicken over the zucchini and season it with salt, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- Pour 1/2 cup marinara sauce over the chicken layer, then sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
- Layer your remaining zucchini slices over the cheese.
- Add the remaining 1 cup chicken and season it the same way as the first layer.
- Spread the remaining 1/2 cup marinara sauce across the chicken, then top with your remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the oven for 20 minutes at 375°F.
- Remove the foil carefully and bake for another 10-15 minutes at 375°F until the cheese bubbles and turns golden brown on top.
- Let the dish rest for 3-5 minutes before serving, then add fresh basil or parsley if that sounds good to you.
Notes
- Slice your zucchini into thin, even pieces so they cook through at the same rate and don’t stay watery or tough.
- Pat the zucchini dry with a paper towel before layering, since excess moisture can make the dish soggy on the bottom.
- If the cheese isn’t browning enough after removing the foil, turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes, but watch it closely so it doesn’t burn.
- For a lower-carb version, replace the marinara sauce with a simple mixture of crushed tomatoes, garlic, and herbs to reduce added sugars and keep the dish lighter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg