Dump-and-Bake Chicken Tzatziki Rice (Print-Friendly Version)
Tender chicken and herbed rice bake together, finished with fresh zucchini and a dollop of tzatziki sauce.
# What You’ll Need to Make This:
→ Chicken and Marinade
01 -
450 g boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless skinless chicken thighs, diced into bite-size pieces
02 -
2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
03 -
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
04 -
1 tablespoon (4 g) chopped fresh parsley or 0.5 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
05 -
1 teaspoon (1 g) chopped fresh oregano or 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
06 -
1 teaspoon (1 g) chopped fresh thyme or 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
07 -
1 teaspoon (2 g) smoked paprika
08 -
0.75 teaspoon (3 g) seasoned salt
09 -
0.5 teaspoon (1 g) ground cumin
10 -
0.5 teaspoon (1.5 g) onion powder
11 -
0.5 teaspoon (1.5 g) garlic powder
12 -
0.25 teaspoon (0.5 g) ground black pepper
13 -
0.25 teaspoon (0.5 g) ground turmeric
14 -
0.125 teaspoon (0.25 g) cayenne pepper
→ Casserole Base
15 -
1 cup (180 g) uncooked long grain white rice
16 -
1 medium zucchini, coarsely grated (approximately 1.5 cups or 180 g grated)
17 -
480 ml (2 cups) chicken broth
→ For Serving
18 -
Tzatziki sauce
19 -
Pita bread
20 -
Chopped fresh herbs (such as dill, basil, parsley, or chives)
21 -
Lemon wedges
# How to Prepare:
01 -
Lightly grease a 23 x 33 cm baking dish or coat with nonstick cooking spray.
02 -
In the prepared dish, combine 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 evenly coat. Allow chicken to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
03 -
Preheat oven to 190°C while chicken marinates.
04 -
Add uncooked rice, grated zucchini, and chicken broth to the dish with the marinated chicken. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
05 -
Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, until most liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
06 -
If the rice is still firm, re-cover and bake for an additional 5–10 minutes as needed. Test rice for tenderness and ensure most liquid is absorbed. Fluff rice gently with a fork.
07 -
Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if desired. Serve warm, topped with tzatziki sauce, fresh herbs, and lemon wedges, accompanied by pita bread.
# Extra Tips:
01 -
Use only uncooked long grain white rice for optimal results; substitutions may affect texture and cooking time.
02 -
Tightly seal the baking dish with foil to retain steam and ensure proper rice absorption.
03 -
Smoked paprika is recommended for its robust, savory aroma reminiscent of grilled meats.
04 -
Avoid overbaking to prevent rice from becoming excessively soft or mushy.
05 -
Fluff rice with a fork rather than stirring, to preserve individual grains and prevent density.