A juicy, cheesy oven-baked chicken dish with tender zucchini, roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and a golden melted-cheese topping. This is a great one-dish dinner and closely matches the ingredients and presentation in your photo. Similar chicken-zucchini bakes commonly use 400°F/200°C and finish when the chicken reaches 165°F/74°C internally.
Ingredients — Serves 4
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced into rounds
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Heat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
- Season chicken: Pat chicken dry. Rub with 1 tbsp olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper, and oregano.
- Prepare vegetables: Toss zucchini and cherry tomatoes with the remaining olive oil, a little salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Assemble: Arrange the chicken in the baking dish and place zucchini and tomatoes around and between the chicken pieces.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for about 25–30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the chicken and vegetables.
- Brown the top: Return to the oven for 5–8 minutes, or broil for 1–2 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Finish: Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with parsley or basil.
- Rest: Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Important: Chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part before serving.
Nutrition Information
Approximate per serving, assuming 4 servings and the ingredients above.
- Calories: ~480 kcal
- Protein: ~55 g
- Carbohydrates: ~10 g
- Fat: ~25 g
- Saturated Fat: ~8 g
- Fiber: ~3 g
- Sugar: ~5 g
- Sodium: ~650 mg
Nutrition will vary depending on the chicken size, cheese, and amount of oil/salt used. Similar baked chicken-zucchini recipes are typically around 400–450 calories per serving, depending on the cheese and oil.
Q&A
Q: Can I use chicken thighs?
A: Yes! Boneless chicken thighs work especially well because they stay juicy.
Q: Can I use another cheese?
A: Yes. Mozzarella, Parmesan, provolone, or a mozzarella-Parmesan blend all work well.
Q: Can I make this without cheese?
A: Absolutely. Simply omit the cheese and add extra herbs and a little lemon juice.
Q: Can I prepare it ahead of time?
A: Yes. Assemble the chicken and vegetables, cover, refrigerate, and bake within about 24 hours.
Q: Is this low-carb?
A: Yes, it is relatively low in carbohydrates because the main ingredients are chicken, zucchini, tomatoes, cheese, and olive oil.
Q: What should I serve with it?
A: Serve with a green salad, roasted vegetables, quinoa, rice, or crusty bread.
Q: How do I stop the zucchini from becoming too soft?
A: Cut the zucchini into fairly thick rounds and avoid overcrowding the baking dish.
Quick Recipe Caption
Cheesy Garlic Chicken with Zucchini & Cherry Tomatoes
Juicy chicken baked with garlic, herbs, zucchini, juicy tomatoes, and a golden layer of melted cheese. An easy one-pan dinner that’s packed with flavor!