Easy Chicken Tzatziki Rice Bake (Print Version)

Mediterranean chicken and rice bake with flavorful tzatziki, zucchini, and herbs. Oven-baked for effortless, vibrant meals.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 450 g boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, diced into bite-sized pieces
02 - 200 g uncooked long grain white rice
03 - 1 medium zucchini, coarsely grated (approximately 150 g)
04 - 480 ml chicken broth

→ Marinade Base

05 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Fresh Herbs

07 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 0.5 teaspoon dried parsley
08 - 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano or 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme

→ Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 0.75 teaspoon seasoned salt
12 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
14 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
15 - 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
16 - 0.25 teaspoon ground turmeric
17 - 1 pinch cayenne pepper (approximately 0.125 teaspoon)

→ For Serving

18 - Tzatziki sauce
19 - Pita bread
20 - Fresh herbs (dill, basil, parsley, or chives), as desired
21 - Fresh lemon wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Grease a 33 x 23 cm (9x13-inch) baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
02 - In the prepared dish, combine diced chicken, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, seasoned salt, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, turmeric, and cayenne. Toss well to coat and let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).
03 - Mix uncooked rice, grated zucchini, and chicken broth into the marinated chicken mixture. Stir thoroughly to combine.
04 - Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the rice is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed. If needed, continue baking for 5-10 minutes.
05 - Fluff the rice with a fork. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve with tzatziki sauce, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon. Accompany with warm pita bread.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Uses just one pan for easy cleanup
  • Perfect for meal prepping or feeding a hungry family
  • Ready for the oven in under 15 minutes then hands-off
  • Packed with Mediterranean flavors and full of healthy veggies
02 -
  • High in protein from chicken and naturally gluten free when served as is
  • Each bowl hides a full serving of veggies thanks to the zucchini
  • Great for make-ahead lunches as it keeps well in the fridge
  • Smoked paprika is my secret flavor weapon It gives the dish a subtle fire kissed taste like real grill marks When I made this for my mom she said it tasted just like what she ate in Athens and asked for the recipe
03 -
  • Let the chicken marinate at least thirty minutes for best flavor absorption
  • Use very tightly sealed foil to avoid dry rice and ensure the grains cook perfectly
  • Grate your zucchini on the wide holes of a box grater for moisture without mushiness

Go Back