Chicken Zucchini Bake (Printable)
Creamy chicken and zucchini casserole with melted cheese and crispy breadcrumb topping.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), diced
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
03 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1/4 cup milk
→ Pantry
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 cup gluten-free or regular breadcrumbs
→ Spices & Seasonings
11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with oil or cooking spray.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes until just cooked through and no longer pink. Remove from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, sauté diced onion and minced garlic for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and softened, stirring occasionally.
04 - Add zucchini slices to the skillet and cook for another 4 minutes until slightly tender. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, sautéed vegetables, sour cream, milk, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, Italian herbs, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly incorporated.
06 - Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, then sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over the surface.
07 - Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown, bubbly, and the topping is crisp.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle and make serving easier.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one dish, including the initial chicken preparation, making cleanup almost nonexistent
- The creamy sauce keeps the chicken incredibly moist while the breadcrumb topping adds that satisfying crunch everyone craves
02 -
- Overcooking the zucchini in the skillet step will make them mushy in the final bake
- The sour cream can sometimes separate if baked too long, so keep an eye on that golden crust
03 -
- Pat the chicken pieces dry before cooking to get better browning and flavor development
- Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-grated for a noticeably smoother sauce