Family Friendly Chicken Zucchini Bake (Printable version)

Tender chicken, zucchini, bell pepper and melted cheeses baked until golden for an easy, family-friendly weeknight meal.

# What you need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into half-moons
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Dairy

06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/2 cup sour cream
09 - 1/2 cup milk

→ Grains (Optional)

10 - 1 cup panko or regular breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if desired)

→ Pantry Staples & Spices

11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
14 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How To:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 2 minutes until softened.
03 - Add garlic, zucchini, and red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables are just tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, sautéed vegetables, sour cream, milk, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir until evenly mixed.
05 - Spread the chicken and vegetable mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
06 - Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over the cheese layer.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown on top.
08 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns basic pantry ingredients and leftover chicken into something that feels like a real meal without any fuss.
  • The cheese pulls together everything into one creamy, comforting bite that even picky eaters go quiet for.
02 -
  • Salt the zucchini slices lightly and let them sit for a few minutes before cooking to draw out excess moisture, otherwise your bake can turn soupy.
  • Do not skip the resting time after baking because the casserole holds together much better when it has a few minutes to set.
03 -
  • Use a rotisserie chicken from the store and your total active prep time drops to about fifteen minutes, which is a lifesaver on busy weeknights.
  • Broil the top for the last two minutes of cooking if you want an extra crispy, deeply golden crust that makes people think you spent hours on this.

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