Baked Chicken With Zucchini and squash is a dish that’s perfect for serving as part of a tapas meal. It’s also ideal if you’re planning on serving a number of dishes in one go. This recipe is low in fat and very nutrient dense, so whether it is served as part of a main meal or as an appetizer, there is no danger of not getting enough vitamins and minerals.—> The chicken and vegetables are baked in one large tray, allowing the vegetables to pick up the lovely juices from the chicken. Serve with crusty bread to mop up the juices.
Baked Chicken With Zucchini And Squash
My go-to recipe for a quick and healthy dinner is this Healthy One Dish Chicken Bake. Its completeness is the best part, though! It is delicious, too. This dish is a hit with my family! I thought I should share it with you because I’ve made it a dozen times! The best part is that you can use any kind of vegetable you like. It’s clean eating made easy.
This is a fantastic meal to use with fresh vegetables, which is why I prefer to make it during gardening season! Whatever you discover at the farmers market, on the manager’s special, or whatever your family likes can also be used. For myself, I went with broccoli, butternut squash, zucchini, carrots, and onion. Also frequently, I add peppers! This recipe complies with the Whole 30 diet and is also Paleo and gluten-free. Simply make sure the spices you use are legal.
You can easily prep your veggies in advance and then when you are ready to bake you just simply toss in olive oil and seasonings and then bake! If you want you can serve this with rice but we generally eat it without carbs. The choice is yours! I love that this is a heart healthy recipe too!
Simply use vegetables that are low in carbs if you’re on the Keto Diet. Without a doubt, I advise against using carrots. I frequently use zucchini, squash, broccoli, and onions. Make sure to figure the carbs in the vegetables you select. I sincerely hope you enjoy this simple keto recipe.
Healthy One Dish Chicken Bake
Course: Main
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients
- Veggies of your choice – I use carrots broccoli, squash, zucchini and onions
- Chicken Breast
- Olive Oil
- McCormick Garlic and Herb Seasoning
- Salt and Pepper – optional
Instructions
- Vegetables should be chopped and placed in a large storage bag.
- Put 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil in.
- Add 1 teaspoon of spice. Garlic and herb seasoning from McCormick
- Transfer to a 9×13 baking dish after shaking
- Put two (or more) chicken breasts in the center of the plate.
- Season with extra McCormick seasonings, salt, and pepper.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees, or until chicken is thoroughly done.
Baked Pesto Chicken and Zucchini
The best summertime dish is baked pesto zucchini chicken. This dish is loaded with fresh zucchini, yellow squash, pesto, and cheese that is bubbling on top. You’ll adore this casserole’s FRESH and FABULOUS flavor. This is an excellent method for including vegetables in your dinner. For those hectic weeknight evenings, zucchini chicken is the ideal one-dish supper.
Easy Baked Pesto Chicken and Zucchini
The preparation of nutritious meals for my family is one of my favorite pastimes. Large ingredient lists for recipes sometimes cause me to feel a little overwhelmed. This recipe is one of my favorites because it simply calls for a few basic ingredients.
I truly enjoy cooking one-dish meals, especially when I can use fresh ingredients from my garden. This recipe only seemed natural to make as I ate zucchini straight out of the garden as a child.
I felt it was about time I make one of these simple chicken bakes with some summer squash since it seems like this is the time of year when zucchini and squash are overflowing at the stores, as well as your garden, if you are fortunate enough to have one.
How to serve Baked Pesto Zucchini Chicken
There are many different sides you can serve with this dish. I’ll mention some of our favorites. To make it a healthy lunch for your family to enjoy, pick 1 of these sides. I typically ladle the sauce over the side dish while serving the chicken to give it more flavor.
TRADITIONAL SIDES:
- Rice
- Mashed Potatoes
- Pasta
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Pasta
- Baked Potatoes
LOW CARB SIDES:
- Cauliflower Rice
- Sautéed Greens
- Salad
- Roasted Vegetables
- Garlic Green Beans
Tips and Trick for Making Pesto Chicken and Zucchini
I’ll go over the instructions for making this chicken and zucchini dish below. I try to include all of my notes, as well as any helpful hints I may have. Scroll down to the recipe card if you only want the short version.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Chop the zucchini, onion, squash and combine.
- Cut the zucchini and squash in half length-wise, then half each of the halves again length-wise. Then chop into 1 inch pieces.
- In a large casserole dish, lay the chicken in a single layer and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Make sure the casserole dish is large enough for the chicken to lay flat. They will cook better and more evenly if they are laying flat.
- Layer the vegetables on top of the chicken. Dollup the pesto over the veggies, then top with cheese.
- Bake on the middle rack for 35-45 minutes.
- If you notice the cheese getting too brown, you can loosely cover with aluminum foil.
BAKED CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE WITH TOMATOES
Here is a delicious low-carb baked chicken and zucchini casserole dish with tomatoes. It’s made extra special with some mozzarella cheese melted on top!
The flavor of tomato and zucchini has always appealed to me. The vegetables are typically served on the side and the chicken is usually fried separately.
This time, I made the decision to mix them all in a casserole dish and top it with melted mozzarella cheese.
This scrumptious low-carb baked chicken and zucchini casserole with tomatoes will win you over.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
To keep things simple, I used just a handful of whole ingredients. All of the exact ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Chicken
To make this casserole, you need some chicken breasts. I suggest using boneless and skinless chicken breasts or even chicken breast tenderloins.
Vegetables
For the fresh produce, I just used some zucchini and tomato. If you have some yellow squash, slice it up and use it too!
Seasoning
I spiced it up with some garlic powder, salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. I basically used my favorite Italian spices.
Cheese
Then, I topped it with mozzarella cheese because it has the best melting consistency. You can easily swap this out for your favorite cheese.
Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low carb recipe.
Quick Tips:
- Slice really thinly any thick chicken breasts you get from the grocery store. The chicken will cook more quickly and evenly as a result of this. Because they are already thin, this is another reason I like to purchase chicken breast tenders.
- If you add additional vegetables, simply grate them very finely (or slice them really thin).
- This will ensure that they all bake uniformly and that you don’t end up with portions that are mostly cooked and smooshed and some that are particularly crispy or raw.
HOW TO MAKE LOW-CARB ZUCCHINI CHICKEN CASSEROLE
All of the exact steps for this recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. First, here is an overview of the recipe along with some photos of the process.
Brown The Chicken Breasts
I thinly cut chicken breasts for this recipe, seasoned them, and then browning them in a skillet.
Place them in a casserole dish in layers.
Cook Up All Of The Veggies
The chicken breasts were inserted in the casserole dish after being cooked on the stove. I then cooked the tomatoes and zucchini in the skillet.
I added the vegetables to the casserole dish when both were thoroughly cooked.
Add Cheese And Bake
Just sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top, then bake the dish until the cheese has melted throughout.
This delicious chicken and zucchini casserole is elevated by the cheese. And it definitely enhances the flavor of the food!
It resembles a chicken pizza in some ways but without the crust.
This low-carb chicken dish with zucchini and tomatoes has to be baked until it’s nicely browned. It seems to taste best when baked golden, in my opinion.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is a classic side dish that fits with just about anything because of how light and flavorful it is. This dish can be eaten as a complete dinner on its own because it already contains tomatoes and zucchini.
This will seem like a feast with a couple additional low-carb sides. Due to the Italian ingredients in this recipe, some mildly flavored oven-roasted asparagus will go great with it.
Serve this casserole with some mashed turnips or garlic cauliflower mash if you enjoy mashed potatoes. Although they both have fewer than 9g net carbs per serving, they both taste a lot like mashed potatoes!
Serve a tasty, low-carb dessert following supper. Only 2 grams of net carbohydrates are included in one piece of coconut key lime pie.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
Before we get to the recipe, I wanted to answer some questions people have about my baked chicken and zucchini casserole.
Can I make this casserole in the crockpot?
Yes, it’s really easy to turn this into a slow cooker meal. You don’t have to precook anything, either.
To make this in the slow cooker, just follow these steps:
- In the slow cooker, add the raw, thinly sliced chicken breasts.
- Add the diced tomatoes, spices, and 1 cup of chicken broth.
- Add the zucchini during the last two hours of cooking.
- Add some mozzarella cheese on top before serving.
That’s it! I prefer it in the oven because it bakes it to a delicious golden brown, but the slow cooker also works in a pinch.
How do you store leftovers?
Leftovers don’t last very long, this recipe really tastes the best fresh out of the oven. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last up to 3 days.
Can I use squash instead of zucchini?
Yes, you can use yellow squash instead of zucchini. In fact, if you really want to save time, you can even steam some frozen zucchini and then bake that with your chicken and cheese.
Can I make this without tomatoes?
Yes, you can leave out the tomatoes! That won’t change the end result enough to make a difference.
What cheese can I use instead of mozzarella?
I think the mozzarella really melts the best and has a mild flavor so that the rest of the ingredients stand out more. You can also use sharp cheddar too if that’s what you have. I can see that tasting just as good.
BAKED CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE WITH TOMATOES!
Because to how tasty and light it is, this traditional side dish goes well with almost anything. As this recipe already has tomatoes and zucchini, it can be consumed as a whole dinner on its own.
If you serve this with a few more low-carb sides, it will seem like a feast. This recipe uses a lot of Italian ingredients, so some softly flavored oven-roasted asparagus is a nice accompaniment.
If you like mashed potatoes, serve this casserole with some mashed turnips or garlic cauliflower mash. These both taste a lot like mashed potatoes despite having less than 9g net carbohydrates per serving!
After dinner, provide a nice, low-carb dessert. One slice of coconut key lime pie contains only 2 grams of net carbs.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHICKEN
Chicken is one of the most widely consumed meats in the world. It is a versatile food that can be cooked in many ways and is also a good source of protein. However, the health benefits of chicken go far beyond just being a protein source. In this article, we will look at 10 health benefits of chicken.
- Protein source Chicken is an excellent source of high-quality protein. Protein is essential for building and repairing muscles, bones, and tissues. It is also important for maintaining a healthy immune system. A 100-gram serving of chicken breast contains about 31 grams of protein, making it a great protein source for people who are looking to build muscle or maintain a healthy body.
- Weight management Chicken is a low-calorie and low-fat food that can help with weight management. A 100-gram serving of chicken breast contains only 165 calories and 3.6 grams of fat. It is also a good source of dietary protein, which can help reduce appetite and increase satiety, leading to fewer calories consumed overall.
- Heart health Chicken is a good source of niacin, which is a B vitamin that helps to lower cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease, so eating chicken can be beneficial for heart health. Additionally, chicken contains low levels of saturated fat, which can also help to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Brain health Chicken is rich in vitamin B6, which is important for brain function. Vitamin B6 helps to produce neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit signals in the brain. A deficiency in vitamin B6 can lead to depression, confusion, and other neurological disorders.
- Immune system health Chicken is a good source of zinc, which is important for a healthy immune system. Zinc helps to produce white blood cells, which are the cells that fight off infection and disease. Additionally, chicken contains vitamin A, which is important for a healthy immune system and helps to keep the skin and mucous membranes healthy.
- Bone health Chicken is a good source of phosphorus, which is important for bone health. Phosphorus works with calcium to build strong bones and teeth. A 100-gram serving of chicken breast contains about 200 milligrams of phosphorus, which is about 20% of the recommended daily intake.
- Energy production Chicken is a good source of vitamin B12, which is important for energy production. Vitamin B12 helps to convert food into energy that the body can use. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to fatigue and weakness.
- Skin health Chicken is a good source of niacin, which is important for healthy skin. Niacin helps to keep the skin moisturized and prevents dryness and flakiness. Additionally, chicken contains vitamin E, which is important for healthy skin and helps to protect against damage from the sun and other environmental factors.
- Vision health Chicken is a good source of vitamin A, which is important for vision health. Vitamin A helps to maintain healthy eyesight and prevent vision loss. Additionally, chicken contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants that help to protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals.
- Mood regulation Chicken is a good source of tryptophan, which is an amino acid that helps to regulate mood. Tryptophan is important for the production of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood, appetite, and sleep. A deficiency in tryptophan can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
In conclusion, chicken is a nutritious and versatile food that offers many health benefits. It is a good source of high-quality protein, which is important for building and repairing muscles, bones,