Description
Mediterranean chicken zucchini bake promises a delightful culinary journey through Greece’s coastal flavors. Succulent chicken, fresh zucchini, and aromatic herbs create a nourishing meal you’ll savor with Mediterranean spirit.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless), sliced horizontally into 4 cutlets
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsps garlic powder
- 1 zucchini, thinly sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp instant chicken stock (optional)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to a searing 400ºF (200ºC), establishing an optimal roasting environment for the Mediterranean-inspired culinary creation.
- Seasoning: Lavishly coat chicken cutlets with olive oil, then generously massage with garlic powder, oregano, instant chicken stock, salt, and pepper, ensuring a robust flavor infusion.
- Assembly: Position the herb-kissed chicken in a spacious baking vessel, then strategically layer with delicate onion slices, zucchini rounds, and vibrant tomato chunks, creating a colorful landscape of ingredients.
- Flavor Enhancement: Cascade the vegetable terrain with additional salt and pepper, then drizzle with remaining olive oil to amplify moisture and depth of taste.
- Cheese Crown: Construct a decadent cheese topping by blending mozzarella and Parmesan, artfully dispersing the mixture across the chicken and vegetable terrain.
- Roasting: Slide the uncovered dish into the heated oven, allowing ingredients to roast and harmonize for 20-25 minutes until chicken achieves perfect succulence.
- Final Transformation: Activate the broiler for a swift 2-3 minutes, transmuting the cheese into a golden, crispy masterpiece that adds textural intrigue.
- Resting and Serving: Extract from the oven and allow 5-10 minutes for flavor consolidation, then embellish with fresh parsley, introducing a verdant flourish before presenting the piping hot dish.
Notes
- Prepare Perfectly: Ensure chicken cutlets are evenly sized for consistent cooking and optimal flavor absorption.
- Season Strategically: Massage seasonings directly into chicken to maximize taste and create deeper flavor penetration.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Use freshly grated cheese for superior melting and more robust flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Resting is Crucial: Allow dish to rest after cooking to help juices redistribute, ensuring tender chicken and more intense taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg