Description
Sizzling chicken tzatziki rice bake brings Mediterranean comfort right to your dinner table, blending tangy yogurt sauce with perfectly seasoned chicken and fluffy rice. Creamy, zesty flavors come together in one satisfying pan that makes weeknight meals feel like a quick culinary vacation.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Starches:
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice, rinsed
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Seasonings and Add-ins:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup tzatziki sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Combine 1 cup rinsed rice, 2 cups chicken broth, and 1 cup tzatziki sauce in the prepared dish.
- Mix in 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp oregano, ½ tsp dill, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, salt, and pepper until well blended.
- Arrange 1½ lbs chicken thighs across the rice mixture, gently pressing them into the liquid.
- Scatter 1 sliced red onion and ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes evenly over the chicken.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until rice becomes tender and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- If desired, sprinkle ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese over the dish after removing from the oven.
- Let the bake rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to settle and rice to absorb remaining moisture.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or dill before serving.
Notes
- Tzatziki sauce brings creamy tang and moisture to the rice, helping prevent dryness during baking.
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken thighs for more flavor and tenderness compared to chicken breasts.
- For gluten-free version, confirm your tzatziki and chicken broth are certified gluten-free.
- Fresh herbs like dill and parsley make a huge difference in brightening the final dish’s flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour - 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg