Family Friendly Chicken Zucchini Bake (Printable)
Comforting casserole of chicken, zucchini and bell pepper with creamy cheese topping, baked until golden.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed (about 10.5 oz)
→ 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 (about 4.2 oz)
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 2.1 oz)
08 - 1/2 cup sour cream (about 4.2 oz)
09 - 1/2 cup milk
→ Grains (Optional)
10 - 1 cup panko or regular breadcrumbs (about 2.8 oz); 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 Cook:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes until softened and translucent.
03 - Add the minced garlic, sliced zucchini, and diced red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until the vegetables are just tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, sautéed vegetables, sour cream, milk, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
05 - Spread the chicken and vegetable mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
06 - Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the cheese layer to create a golden, crispy crust.
07 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the filling to set for cleaner portions.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It uses simple everyday ingredients but the creamy sour cream sauce makes it feel like something from a restaurant.
- Kids who normally push vegetables around their plate will go back for seconds without realizing they are eating zucchini and bell peppers.
02 -
- Do not skip draining excess moisture from the zucchini if yours are particularly watery because a soggy casserole is disappointing after all that work.
- Letting the bake rest those five minutes before cutting is not optional since it transforms the texture from loose to perfectly set.
03 -
- Cube the chicken into uniform bite sized pieces so every spoonful has the same ratio of meat to vegetable to sauce.
- Shred your own mozzarella instead of buying pre shredded because it melts into a smoother creamier layer without any added starch.