Description
Hearty chicken zucchini bake combines Mediterranean flavors with simple ingredients for a delightful family meal. Home cooks can enjoy this nutritious casserole that delivers robust taste and wholesome satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) boneless chicken
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 medium zucchini
- 4 oz (113 g) fresh mushrooms
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) butter
- 2 cups (480 mL) shredded Italian cheese blend
- ½ cup (120 mL) sour cream
- 2 tsps dried basil
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 375°F, preparing a perfectly calibrated cooking environment for the zucchini and chicken casserole.
- Prepare Ingredients: Dice chicken into uniform cubes and finely chop green onions, mushrooms, and zucchini into consistent pieces.
- Sauté Mixture: In a large skillet, melt butter and combine chicken, zucchini, mushrooms, salt, and pepper. Cook while stirring frequently until vegetables soften and chicken achieves complete doneness, roughly 5 minutes.
- Drain Excess Moisture: Carefully remove any liquid from the cooked mixture to maintain optimal dish consistency.
- Create Sauce: Whisk together Italian cheese, sour cream, green onions, eggs, dried basil, salt, and black pepper until achieving a smooth, homogeneous blend.
- Combine Components: Thoroughly incorporate cooked chicken, zucchini, and mushrooms into the creamy cheese mixture, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Prepare for Baking: Spray individual baking dishes with non-stick spray and distribute the mixture evenly across the containers.
- Bake and Finish: Slide dishes into preheated oven, baking for 30-35 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and the interior sets completely. Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and settle.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro: Chop all ingredients uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Moisture Management: Thoroughly drain cooked ingredients to prevent a watery casserole and maintain a rich, creamy consistency.
- Cheese Selection: Use freshly grated Italian cheese for maximum flavor and smoother melting compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Resting Ritual: Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes after baking to allow flavors to settle and make cutting and serving easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg