Description
Mediterranean Chicken Tzatziki with Rice brings zesty Greek flavors straight to your dinner table, blending juicy chicken with cool yogurt sauce over fluffy rice for a simple weeknight meal that feels like a quick trip to the Mediterranean.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb boneless chicken breast or thighs
For the Marinade and Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 medium zucchini
- 2 cups chicken broth
Serving Components:
- Tzatziki sauce
- Fresh herbs (dill, parsley, basil, or chives)
- Lemon wedges
- Optional: Pita bread
Instructions
- Whisk together 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and all dried spices in a large baking dish to create a vibrant marinade.
- Add 1 lb diced chicken to the marinade, ensuring every piece gets thoroughly coated. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Grate 1 medium zucchini until you have about 1½ cups of shredded vegetable.
- Pour 2 cups chicken broth over the marinated chicken in the baking dish. Add 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice and grated zucchini.
- Stir the mixture gently to distribute ingredients evenly across the dish.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake the covered dish for 40 minutes, checking that rice becomes tender and liquid mostly absorbs.
- If rice seems undercooked, return to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork.
- Serve in individual bowls, topping each portion with a generous dollop of tzatziki sauce.
- Garnish with fresh chopped herbs and squeeze a lemon wedge over the dish.
- Optional: Serve with warm pita bread on the side.
Notes
- Marinating overnight intensifies the flavors, letting the spices deeply penetrate the chicken for a more robust taste profile.
- Grating zucchini adds moisture and subtle nutrition, helping prevent the rice from drying out during baking.
- For a low-carb version, swap rice with cauliflower rice and reduce baking time by 10-15 minutes to maintain texture.
- Choose full-fat Greek yogurt for the tzatziki to ensure a creamy, rich sauce that complements the spiced chicken perfectly.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg