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Quick Chicken Tzatziki Bake

Featured in Chicken & Turkey Everyone Will Love.

Craving something easy and full of flavor? This one-pan Chicken Tzatziki and Rice dish is what you need. The chicken turns tender, the rice soaks in bold Mediterranean spices, and grated zucchini keeps everything moist. Minimal prep means marinate the chicken, toss it all together, and bake. Cool it down with tzatziki and fresh herbs for a low-effort, high-reward meal.
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Updated on Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:18:38 GMT
One-Pan Chicken Bake with Tzatziki and Rice Pin it
One-Pan Chicken Bake with Tzatziki and Rice | cookbybook.com

When you mix the bright tastes of the Mediterranean with an all-in-one meal approach, something wonderful happens. This throw-together chicken tzatziki with rice turns basic items into a fragrant dinner, featuring juicy chicken on fluffy rice, all soaked with warm seasonings and topped with cool, tangy tzatziki. What makes it great is how the chicken seasons itself while cooking, sending all its goodness down into the rice, and the covered baking keeps everything nice and juicy.

After many kitchen experiments, I've found that letting the chicken sit in its seasonings for a short time before baking really steps up the flavor. What began as a simple dinner fix has turned into one of our favorite ways to bring Mediterranean taste to our meals.

Key Ingredients Breakdown

  • Chicken: Go for same-sized breasts or thighs around 6-8 ounces each. They should look pinkish without dark areas. For breasts, try to find ones with the same thickness or flatten them yourself
  • Rice: You'll need long-grain white rice here - it drinks up liquid while staying separate. Pick rice that looks clear instead of powdery
  • Spices: New, strong-smelling spices make this dish pop. When you can, heat whole spices and crush them yourself, especially the cumin and smoky paprika that give the main flavors

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Getting Chicken Ready:
Wipe chicken completely dry using paper towels. Mix lemon juice with olive oil first. Toss herbs and spices into your wet mix. Stir until spices float evenly. Drizzle over chicken in a flat dish. Flip pieces for total coverage. Sit out for 30 minutes. Use this waiting time to ready everything else.
Setting Up Your Rice Base:
Wash rice until water's almost clean. Shake out water using a fine strainer. Lay rice flat in your baking dish. Mix in grated zucchini if you want. Pour warm broth near the edges. Add tiny bit of salt to the broth layer. Make sure rice sits fully underwater. Make small dips for placing chicken.
Putting It All Together:
Put oven shelf in the middle. Get oven fully hot at 350°F. Set seasoned chicken pieces on top of rice. Space them out for even cooking. Pour leftover seasoning mix on top. Wrap tightly with two layers of foil. Make sure edges are totally sealed. Put dish on a baking sheet so it's stable.
Finishing Your Dish:
Look at chicken after 35 minutes. Rice should be nearly soft. Meat should hit 165°F. Let sit covered for 10 minutes. Gently fluff rice with fork. Drop spoonfuls of tzatziki on top. Sprinkle with fresh herbs. Bring extra sauce to the table.
Throw-Together Chicken Tzatziki with Rice Dinner Pin it
Throw-Together Chicken Tzatziki with Rice Dinner | cookbybook.com

I first made this dish when I was hungry for Greek flavors but needed something quick for dinner. After trying different ways, I found out that this throw-it-all-in method actually blended flavors better than the usual cooking steps.

Heat and Time Control

Getting great results means keeping your oven at the right heat and not opening it to check during cooking. Every time you lift the foil, important steam gets out, which changes how your rice turns out.

Making It Look Amazing

How it looks at the end matters just as much as how you cook it. I've figured out it's better to put tzatziki in small scoops instead of spreading it around, making little spots of cool creaminess that work great with the hot, spicy rice and chicken.

Simple Throw-Together Chicken Tzatziki with Rice Dinner Pin it
Simple Throw-Together Chicken Tzatziki with Rice Dinner | cookbybook.com

This meal has become what I always make when showing friends Mediterranean cooking. The way your kitchen smells as it bakes, how the rice takes in all those amazing flavors, and the cool tzatziki on top - it's a whole experience that brings a bit of Greece right to your dinner table.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I switch white rice for brown rice?
Sorry, it won't work. This dish relies on long grain white rice due to different cooking needs and liquid amounts.
→ Why bother with smoked paprika?
Smoked paprika gives it that rich, grilled smokiness, making it taste more like souvlaki. Regular paprika won't match it.
→ Can this be prepped ahead?
Sure! Marinate the chicken up to 8 hours in advance, but don't mix in the rice or broth until you're ready to bake.
→ What if my rice stays undercooked?
No worries! Just cover the dish and give it another 5-10 minutes in the oven, checking now and then.
→ Can leftovers go in the freezer?
Absolutely! Freeze portions for about 3 months. Warm them gently with a bit of broth to keep the rice soft, then add fresh tzatziki when serving.

Easy Chicken Tzatziki Bake

All you need is one pan to create this flavorful Chicken Tzatziki with Rice. Juicy chicken and fluffy rice meet fresh Mediterranean herbs for an easy dinner fix.

Prep Time
40 Minutes
Cook Time
40 Minutes
Total Time
80 Minutes
By: Susan

Category: Poultry

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Yield: 4 Servings

Dietary: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Main Ingredients

01 1 medium zucchini, roughly shredded (makes about 1½ cups)
02 1 cup long grain white rice, uncooked
03 1 pound chicken breast or thighs, no skin or bones, cut into small chunks
04 2 cups chicken stock

→ Marinade Base

05 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

→ Fresh Herbs

07 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried)
08 1 tablespoon parsley, finely cut (or ½ teaspoon dried)
09 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped (or ¼ teaspoon dried)

→ Seasonings

10 ¼ teaspoon turmeric
11 ½ teaspoon cumin
12 ¾ teaspoon seasoned salt
13 ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground
14 ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
15 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
16 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
17 ½ teaspoon onion powder

→ For Serving

18 Warm pita
19 Fresh lemon wedges
20 Chopped herbs (like dill, basil, parsley, or chives)
21 Creamy tzatziki sauce

Instructions

Step 01

Lightly coat a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray or a little oil.

Step 02

Mix the chicken pieces with the olive oil, lemon juice, seasonings, and fresh herbs straight in the baking dish. Let it sit for about half an hour on the counter while warming the oven to 375°F.

Step 03

Into the dish with chicken, add the rice, shredded zucchini, and chicken stock. Stir everything well to combine.

Step 04

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes, or until the rice is soft and the liquid is almost absorbed. If it needs a bit more cooking, leave it in for another 5-10 minutes.

Step 05

Fluff the rice with a fork, check the seasoning, and adjust as needed. Plate it up with a dollop of tzatziki, more chopped herbs, and a bit of fresh lemon juice.

Notes

  1. Stick with long grain white rice for this dish. Other types like instant, brown, or wild rice won't work with the liquid and cooking times.
  2. Smoked paprika brings the smoky flavor that makes this dish stand out, like something you'd grill outdoors.
  3. Keep the dish covered nice and snug so the steam stays locked in while baking.

Tools You'll Need

  • A 9x13-inch dish
  • Aluminum foil to cover
  • A grater for the zucchini
  • Measuring tools for liquids and spices

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 384
  • Total Fat: 11 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 41 g
  • Protein: 29 g