Description
This Greek Chicken Bake is a vibrant, flavorful one-dish meal featuring tender chicken breasts baked atop a bed of fluffy quinoa, and topped with Mediterranean classics like cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, and feta cheese. Infused with oregano, basil, and garlic, this easy-to-make recipe offers a wholesome, healthy dinner option bursting with fresh and savory flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Quinoa Base
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 cup water
Chicken and Seasonings
- 4 trimmed chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Salt, to taste
Toppings
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 red onion, sliced thin
- 1 cup kalamata olives
- 1 (3.5 oz) jar marinated artichoke hearts
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 lemon, sliced thin
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Add Quinoa and Water: Pour 1 cup of quinoa and 1 cup of water into the baking dish. Stir gently to evenly combine the quinoa with the water. This will serve as the base that cooks alongside the chicken.
- Place Chicken Breasts: Transfer the trimmed chicken breasts on top of the quinoa mixture, making small ‘nests’ or indentations in the quinoa to hold each chicken breast securely in place.
- Season the Chicken: Evenly sprinkle oregano, basil, and minced garlic over the chicken breasts. Add salt to taste to enhance the flavors.
- Layer Toppings: Arrange the cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, kalamata olives, marinated artichoke hearts, crumbled feta cheese, and thin lemon slices evenly over the chicken breasts and quinoa base.
- Bake: Place the dish uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through with juices running clear and reaching an internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC). Note that larger chicken breasts may require longer baking time.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven, cover it, and allow it to rest for 3 to 5 minutes. This helps redistribute the juices in the chicken for moist and tender results before serving.
Notes
- Use trimmed chicken breasts for even cooking and to reduce excess fat.
- Check internal temperature of chicken to ensure safe cooking at 165ºF.
- Feel free to substitute quinoa with couscous or rice if preferred, adjusting water accordingly.
- Marinated artichoke hearts add a bright, tangy flavor – drain excess marinade to control moisture.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
