Description
Chicken and Zucchini Skillet brings together tender chicken and garden-fresh zucchini for a speedy weeknight dinner that’ll have your family asking for seconds. Packed with flavor and ready in under 30 minutes, this simple skillet meal delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 chicken breasts
Supporting Vegetables:
- 2 zucchini
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Season 4 chicken breasts with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, ensuring each side is evenly coated.
- Slice 2 medium zucchinis into half-moons approximately ¼-inch thick and halve 1 cup of cherry tomatoes.
- Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large skillet, heating over medium-high heat until oil shimmers at 375°F.
- Place seasoned chicken breasts in hot skillet, cooking for 6 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook opposite side for another 5-6 minutes.
- Remove chicken from skillet and set aside on a clean plate.
- Mince 3 garlic cloves and add to same skillet, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Toss zucchini slices into skillet, stirring occasionally and cooking for 3-4 minutes at medium heat.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes to zucchini, continuing to cook for 2-3 minutes until vegetables soften slightly.
- Return chicken breasts to skillet, nestling them among vegetables and warming everything together for 1-2 minutes.
- Chop ¼ cup fresh basil and sprinkle over dish just before serving, gently mixing to distribute herbs.
Notes
- Choose chicken breasts with similar thickness to ensure even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- For a low-carb version, swap out tomatoes for bell peppers or skip them entirely to reduce natural sugars.
- Fresh herbs make a significant difference, so opt for just-picked basil from your garden or farmers market when possible.
- If watching sodium intake, use low-sodium seasoning or replace salt with herbs like thyme or rosemary for extra flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: One-Skillet
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg