This Italian Chicken Zucchini Mushroom recipe is an easy, healthy, 20 minute dinner. Add tomatoes, fresh parmesan and basil for best results.
I love delicious healthy Italian dinners like Tuscan White Bean Soup for weekdays, but this one is even quicker to make and such a good chicken zucchini recipe for meal prepping! It's mediterranean style, and focuses on fresh summer vegetables and chicken, kind of like Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage and Veggies.
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Why You'll LOVE This Recipe
- It's FAST. It takes about 20 minutes to cook, and a few minutes to chop everything up.
- It's very nutrient-dense, packed with protein, veggies, and flavor, this easy zucchini tomato recipe checks all the boxes.
- Easy to make! Saute the chicken, then the veggies, add the spices, and voila!
🛒 Key Ingredients
- Zucchini - be sure to use fresh, not frozen for this recipe. This is a great zucchini recipe for when it's in season!
- Mushrooms - brown or white baby bella mushrooms are a good size and easy to find in stores.
- Italian Dressing - I use the restaurant Olive Garden brand, but your favorite Italian dressing is fine!
- Grape/Cherry Tomatoes - fresh is best! Canned diced tomatoes can be used in a pinch but fresh is SO much better. This recipe was MADE for in-season summer veggies.
- Parmesan - I love good fresh grated but pre-shredded is fine for this recipe.
✏️ Substitutions
- Mushrooms - use your favorite variety or leave out if you don't like them! You could use ½ a yellow onion in their place.
- Italian Dressing - can be replaced with 1 Tablespoon dry Italian dressing mix (not Italian seasoning), but I prefer dressing for more sauce if I'm serving over pasta or rice.
- Use yellow squash in place of zucchini for a different spin.
- Parmesan - switch for mozzarella, zucchini chicken with mozzarella and tomatoes is a killer combo.
🆒 Variations
- Use portobello mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, or any other variety you like!
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little bit of spice!
- Add a Tablespoon or two of Red Pesto Sauce for extra flavor.
- Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze for some extra loveliness!
🧑🍳 Instructions
Step 1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium/high heat. Add chicken and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring every 1-2 minutes.
If you are using cast iron or stainless steel, let the chicken cook until it unsticks from the pan, it will come loose when it is cooked on one side. It does not need to be cooked all the way at this point! Cooking it all the way now will dry it out later.
Step 2. Before the chicken cooks all the way, add in the zucchini and mushrooms with the garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Keep the heat high and sauté the veggies another 8-10 minutes until tender.
Step 3. Add in the tomatoes and Italian dressing, cooking 2-3 minutes, long enough for them to heat through. Overcooking can cause the tomatoes to get mushy.
Step 4. Remove from heat and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired.
📌 Top Tips
Don't forget to prep and wash your veggies properly.
- Chicken - cubed
- Zucchini - sliced thin matchstick ¼ inch (~.5cm) or less thick
- Tomatoes - sliced in half lengthwise
- Mushrooms - sliced thin or quartered if you prefer
- Use fresh vegetables! Frozen ones are not your friends and can taste rubbery.
- Add the tomatoes last so they don't turn to mush as everything else is cooking.
- Use fresh parmesan or pecorino romaano to sprinkle on top. SO delicious!
- Balsamic glaze drizzled on top will not do you wrong either.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Refrigerate: in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Freeze: In a freezer safe container up to 3 months.
Yes! I like it saucy, but if you don't like it then use Italian dressing mix instead of italian salad dressing. Another option is to serve it over pasta or rice!
A side of rice or pasta is my go to, but we also love it with Garlic Cheddar Drop Biscuits or Soft Fluffy French Bread
You can, it just may have a different texture than fresh zucchini. When I have used frozen, it is slightly rubbery, but some people don't mind that at all!
🍝 More Italian Recipes
Did You Try This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure to leave a star rating and a comment below the recipe card. I love hearing from you, and it is so helpful to other readers! Better yet, share it with family and friends. Thank you!!
📝 Printable Recipe
Chicken Zucchini Tomato Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced in 3 inch strips
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup sliced grape tomatoes
- 3-4 Tablespoons Italian dressing to taste (I use Olive Garden brand)
- ¼ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil or butter on medium heat. Add chicken and let cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you are using cast iron or stainless steel, let the chicken cook until it unsticks from the pan, it will come loose when it is cooked on one side. It does not need to be cooked all the way at this point.
- Add zucchini, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, garlic, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Cook another 5-7 minutes, until zucchini and mushrooms are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Add sliced tomatoes last and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in your favorite italian dressing , 3-4 Tablespoons to taste.
- Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
David says
This looks pretty amazing and i LOVE the fact that it is so quick and easy to make. Filling but low on calories is how I like it. Thanks for sharing this.
Sara says
Thank you David. Quick and easy meals (and cheese) are my best friends. Hope you enjoy!
Analynn Berry says
Ok now I must make this one also because the picture looks soooooo good.
Sara says
Parmesan Cheese makes anything look good. 😉 Let me know how it turns out.