This one pan chicken and zucchini orzo will elevate your weeknight dinners to a new level. This recipe is also meal prep friendly and bursting with bright and vibrant flavors that come together beautifully in just one pan. This recipe is literally SO easy, you’re going to want to add this to your weekly meal rotation!
While this one pan chicken and zucchini orzo is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed year-round, it truly shines in the summertime.
This was inspired by my viral one pan chicken lemon orzo that you all absolutely loved and went crazy for! After creating that recipe, it became very evident to me that one pan recipes were a fan favorite and for good reason! No one wants to spend all evening washing dishes after a long and busy day. If you love this recipe, you will love my one pan caprese chicken.
Jump to:
Ingredients
For the Main Dish:
- Chicken Breast, Diced
- Pepper
- Large Zucchini, Sliced
- Sundried Tomatoes
- Banana Peppers
- Orzo
- Water
For the Dressing:
- Banana Pepper Liquid
- Avocado Oil
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon Mustard
- Soy Sauce
- Garlic Cloves, Minced
- Italian Seasoning
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 400 F and set your rack to the middle position.
2. Grab a large baking pan (9×13). Add your diced chicken breast and season with pepper. Next add in your zucchini slices, sundried tomatoes, banana peppers, and orzo. Set your pan aside.
3. In a small bowl, add banana pepper liquid, avocado oil, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, soy sauce, garlic cloves, and Italian seasoning. Mix using a whisk until well combined. Then add in on top of your orzo. Add in your water on top. Use a spoon or a utensil to push down your orzo and zucchini. Make sure that the orzo is completely submerged in the liquid.
4. Place in the oven and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until your orzo is cooked through! Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Hint: Dish may appear watery but trust the process and cook just until your orzo is cooked through. Once you remove your pan let it rest for 5 minutes before serving and this will soak up the excess liquid.
Hint: If you want this meal to be extra flavorful and you have the time, make your dressing (in step 2) and add to your chicken in the pan first and let it marinate for anywhere from 20 minutes up to 2 hours in the fridge. Once you’re done marinating the chicken, then you can add in your remaining ingredients and bake.
Substitutions
If you are interested in making this one pan chicken and zucchini orzo but you have dietary restrictions, you can make the following substitutions:
- Vegetarian– Skip the chicken to make this recipe vegetarian.
- Gluten-Free– try using rice instead of orzo to make this recipe gluten-free and use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Zucchini– if you don’t like or have zucchini you can substitute zucchini for spinach.
- Sundried tomatoes– if you don’t like sundried tomatoes, you can substitute sundried tomatoes for cherry tomatoes.
This recipe is already dairy-free.
Variations
- Spicy – substitute banana peppers for pepperoncini
- Kid friendly – skip the added banana peppers in the dish to make this recipe kid friendly.
Equipment
All you need to make this one pan chicken and zucchini orzo is a 9×13 ceramic baking dish or pan.
For those that are looking for something similar to the pan I used in my reel, here is a baking dish I found on amazon with great reviews.
If you are meal prepping this one pan dish, these are some of my favorite glass bento box containers.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.
Storage
You can store this one pan chicken and zucchini orzo in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Top tip
The dish may appear watery but trust the process and bake just until your orzo is cooked through. Once you remove your pan let it rest for 5 minutes before serving and this will soak up the excess liquid.
FAQ
Yes! Try using rice instead of orzo to make this recipe gluten-free and use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
Yes, skip the chicken to make this recipe vegetarian.
Yes! You can use cherry tomatoes if you don’t have or like sundried tomatoes
One Pan Meals
Looking for other one pan recipes like this? Try these:
Meal Prep
Looking for some other easy meal prep recipes like this? Try these:
Jump to: Recipe
One Pan Chicken and Zucchini Orzo
Equipment
- 1 9×13 ceramic baking dish
Ingredients
For the Main Dish:
- 1 & ¼ pounds Chicken Breast Diced into 1" cubes
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 Large Zucchini Sliced very thinly
- ¼ cup Sundried Tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons Banana Peppers
- 1 & ⅕ cups Orzo
- 1 & ¾ cups Water
For the Dressing:
- ¼ cup Banana Pepper Liquid
- ¼ cup Avocado Oil
- ¼ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 5 Garlic Cloves Minced
- 2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 F and set your rack to the middle position.
- Grab a large baking pan (9×13). Add your diced chicken breast and season with pepper. Next add in your zucchini slices, sundried tomatoes, banana peppers, and orzo. Set your pan aside.
- In a small bowl, add banana pepper liquid, avocado oil, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, soy sauce, garlic cloves, and Italian seasoning. Mix using a whisk until well combined. Then add in on top of your orzo. Add in your water on top. Use a spoon or a utensil to push down your orzo and zucchini. Make sure that the orzo is completely submerged in the liquid.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until your orzo is cooked through! Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Hint: The dish may appear watery but trust the process and bake just until your orzo is cooked through. Once you remove your pan let it rest for 5 minutes before serving and this will soak up the excess liquid.
- Hint: If you want this meal to be extra flavorful and you have the time, make your dressing (in step 2) and add to your chicken in the pan first and let it marinate for anywhere from 20 minutes up to 2 hours in the fridge. Once you’re done marinating the chicken, then you can add in your remaining ingredients and bake.
Video
Notes
Substitutions
If you are interested in making this one pan chicken and zucchini orzo but you have dietary restrictions, you can make the following substitutions:-
- Vegetarian– Skip the chicken to make this recipe vegetarian.
-
- Gluten-Free– try using rice instead of orzo to make this recipe gluten-free and use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
-
- Zucchini– if you don’t like or have zucchini you can substitute zucchini for spinach.
-
- Sundried tomatoes– if you don’t like sundried tomatoes, you can substitute sundried tomatoes for cherry tomatoes.
Variations
-
- Spicy – substitute banana peppers for pepperoncini
-
- Kid friendly – skip the added banana peppers in the dish to make this recipe kid friendly.
Equipment
All you need to make this one pan chicken and zucchini orzo recipe is a 9×13 ceramic baking dish or pan. For those that are looking for something similar to the pan I used in my reel, here is a baking dish I found on amazon with great reviews. If you are meal prepping this one pan dish, these are some of my favorite glass bento box containers. Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.Storage
You can store this one pan chicken and zucchini orzo in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.Nutrition
Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Kayli says
This sauce is SO flavorful. My husband loved it so much it’s now on the dinner rotation! Thank you so much for sharing.