Description
Easy Dump-and-Bake Chicken Tzatziki with Rice is a simple Mediterranean-inspired family supper made with tender baked chicken, fluffy rice, and a cool homemade tzatziki sauce. This one-dish oven meal delivers comfort, freshness, and dependable flavor with minimal prep and cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1½ cups plain Greek yogurt
- 1 small cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for tzatziki)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Optional: feta cheese, olives, fresh herbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a large baking dish
- Spread uncooked rice evenly across the bottom of the dish
- Place chicken on top of the rice
- Drizzle chicken with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon zest
- Pour chicken broth around the chicken, fully submerging the rice
- Add lemon juice, then cover tightly with foil
- Bake for 45–50 minutes
- Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes until rice is tender and chicken is lightly golden
- Remove from oven and rest for 5 minutes
- Mix yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, and salt to make tzatziki
- Serve chicken and rice topped with tzatziki and optional toppings
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for extra moisture if preferred
- Grate and squeeze cucumber thoroughly for thick tzatziki
- Let the dish rest before serving to finish rice absorption
- Serve with warm pita or a simple salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg