Healthy Chicken Breast with Zucchini and Squash Recipe
A light and healthy chicken breast dish perfectly paired with tender zucchini and yellow squash, seasoned with garlic, Italian herbs, and fresh lemon for a vibrant, flavorful meal that’s quick to prepare and ideal for a nutritious weeknight dinner.
- Author: Isla
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Chicken
- 1 1/4 lbs boneless chicken breasts, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Vegetables
- 10 oz zucchini, sliced
- 10 oz yellow squash, sliced
Finishing Touches
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish
- Season the chicken: In a mixing bowl, combine diced chicken breast with salt, black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning. Toss well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the seasonings.
- Heat the skillet: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Allow the oil to heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Cook the chicken: Add the seasoned chicken pieces to the hot skillet. Cook for about 5-6 minutes on one side until browned and almost cooked through, then flip and cook the other side for an additional 4-5 minutes until fully cooked and no longer pink inside.
- Add the vegetables: Lower the heat to medium and add the sliced zucchini and yellow squash to the skillet with the chicken. Sprinkle the remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and black pepper over the vegetables.
- Sauté vegetables: Stir gently to combine and cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables become tender but still maintain a slight crispness.
- Finish with lemon and garnish: Stir in the fresh lemon juice and zest to brighten the flavors, then remove from heat. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs for garnish to enhance freshness and presentation.
- Adjust seasoning levels according to taste preferences.
- To make this recipe gluten free, ensure your Italian seasoning blend contains no gluten.
- Chicken can be substituted with turkey breast if preferred.
- Serve with a side of quinoa or brown rice for a balanced meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: healthy chicken breast recipe, zucchini and squash chicken, low fat dinner, quick chicken skillet, lemon chicken with vegetables