Name: Dump-and-Bake Chicken Tzatziki with Rice Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: For the Casserole: 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces; 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked); 1 ½ cups chicken broth or water; 1 cup plain Greek yogurt; ⅓ cup grated cucumber (squeeze out excess water); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; ½ teaspoon ground cumin; Salt and black pepper, to taste; Juice of 1 lemon; ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional); ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro (for garnish)

Description

This one-pan, dump-and-bake recipe is a flavor-packed dinner featuring tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a creamy tzatziki-inspired sauce. With the freshness of cucumber, dill, and lemon, it’s a perfect blend of Mediterranean flavors that’s easy to make and even easier to enjoy!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Casserole:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth or water
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ⅓ cup grated cucumber (squeeze out excess water)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro (for garnish)

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (squeeze out excess water), olive oil, minced garlic, dried dill, oregano, cumin, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well to create the tzatziki sauce.
Add the uncooked rice and chicken pieces into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour the tzatziki sauce over the top, and add the chicken broth (or water). Stir everything together to ensure the rice and chicken are evenly coated.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
Remove from the oven, discard the foil, and stir the casserole to mix everything together.
Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese (optional) and chopped fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

For a lighter version, you can use chicken breasts instead of thighs.
If you prefer a more intense tzatziki flavor, feel free to add more garlic, dill, or cucumber.
You can prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking for easy meal prep.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Mediterranean