Mediterranean Magic: A One-Pan Chicken & Zucchini Feast

One-Pan Mediterranean Chicken Zucchini Bake

Introduction

When you need a flavorful, fuss-free dinner that brings the sun-drenched flavors of the Mediterranean right to your table, this One-Pan Mediterranean Chicken Zucchini Bake is the answer. It’s wholesome, colorful, and packed with aromatic herbs, making it a sure win for busy weeknights. Everything cooks together in one dish for easy clean-up, while the combination of juicy chicken, tender zucchini, and tangy tomatoes guarantees an irresistible meal that’s both healthy and comforting.

Why You’ll Love This One-Pan Mediterranean Chicken Zucchini Bake

This recipe celebrates bright Mediterranean flavors thanks to briny olives, creamy feta, fresh zucchini, and a medley of herbs and spices—all roasted with chicken to perfection. It’s a crowd-pleaser, perfect for feeding the family or meal prepping. You get a balanced meal with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, all in a single pan, which means minimal prep and cleanup.

How To Build Layers of Flavor

Start with a simple marinade for the chicken featuring olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano. This infuses the meat with classic Mediterranean notes. Next, add zucchini rounds, cherry tomatoes, and red onion, tossing them in the same seasoning mix. This ensures every bite is flavorful without the hassle of multiple steps. As everything bakes, the vegetables become succulent while the chicken stays juicy and tender.

Customizing Your Mediterranean Bake

Feel free to add or swap vegetables based on season and preference—eggplant, bell pepper, or even artichoke hearts fit perfectly. Crumbled feta and pitted olives sprinkled over the top add richness and brininess, elevating the dish to dinner-party worthy status.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this dish straight from the pan with warm pita bread, over couscous, or atop a simple mixed greens salad for a lighter option. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and an extra squeeze of lemon for brightness.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 4 and is impressively balanced—each serving clocks in around 330 to 380 calories (depending on cheese and olive quantities), boasts ample protein, and is loaded with vitamins from the vegetables, making it a nourishing choice for all ages.

Ingredients

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs), cut into large chunks
2 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium red onion, sliced
1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate a streamlined shopping list, sorted by store section—making your grocery trip faster and meal planning a breeze.

CookifyAI meal planning interface

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a large baking dish or ovenproof skillet.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  3. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss to coat. Reserve a couple tablespoons of marinade.
  4. Add the zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and red onion to the marinated chicken; toss everything together to evenly coat.
  5. Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it out in a single layer for even cooking. Drizzle the reserved marinade over the top.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven, gently stir, and top with the feta cheese and olives.
  7. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
  8. Scatter fresh herbs over the top before serving. Enjoy!

Weekly Meal Planning

This One-Pan Mediterranean Chicken Zucchini Bake is ideal for meal prep and weeknight planning. Save and schedule this recipe in CookifyAI to plan when to enjoy it and generate intelligent shopping lists that consolidate all ingredients for your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

  • Automatically adds up total quantities across recipes for efficient shopping
  • Groups ingredients by supermarket section for speedier trips
  • Eliminates overbuying and forgotten items
  • Simplifies multi-meal meal plans and boosts pantry efficiency

Pro tip: When you plan recipes like this alongside others for the week, schedule your meals—CookifyAI will add up all needed zucchini, olive oil, or herbs, so you’ll never run out or double up unnecessarily. Waste less, save more, and keep your weeknight dinners exciting.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 32 minutes
Total Time: 47 minutes

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