Summer Chicken Bake (Printable)
Juicy baked chicken with seasonal vegetables, lemon herbs and crumbled feta for a light summer dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 yellow zucchini, sliced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup baby spinach leaves
→ Marinade & Seasonings
07 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Toppings
13 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish with a small amount of olive oil.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, dried oregano, fresh thyme leaves, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
03 - Place the chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Brush generously with half of the marinade mixture, ensuring even coverage on all sides.
04 - Scatter the sliced zucchini, red bell pepper, red onion, and halved cherry tomatoes around and over the chicken. Drizzle the remaining marinade evenly over the vegetables.
05 - Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and the chicken starts to brown.
06 - Remove the dish from the oven. Scatter the baby spinach leaves over the top and sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese evenly across the entire dish. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F and the vegetables are tender.
07 - Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped basil. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks on a single sheet pan which means you get a beautiful dinner and your sink stays almost empty.
- The lemon herb marinade does double duty on the chicken and vegetables so every bite carries the same bright sunny flavor.
02 -
- An instant read thermometer is your best friend here because chicken breasts dry out fast once they pass 165 degrees internal temperature.
- Do not skip halving the cherry tomatoes because whole ones will burst unpredictably and leave uneven pockets of moisture in the pan.
03 -
- Let the chicken sit in the marinade for even ten minutes while you prep the vegetables and the flavor payoff is noticeably better.
- Use the convection setting on your oven if you have one because the circulating air gives the vegetables those irresistible roasted edges.