Chicken & Zucchini Casserole

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This baked chicken and zucchini casserole is creamy and hearty! The whole family will love this easy casserole—it's a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies.

an image of the Chicken & Zucchini Casserole
Credit:

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 cups
  • This hearty casserole can be prepared in advance, and it contains no hot spices, making it kid-friendly.
  • Chicken is a nutritious source of lean protein, rich in B vitamins, plus choline that benefits brain health.
  • You can substitute summer squash for zucchini in this recipe, or use both, as they are quite similar.

Chicken & Zucchini Casserole is a healthy, satisfying way to end your day. Protein-packed chicken breast and nutrient-rich red bell peppers and zucchini bake in a creamy, dreamy cheese sauce that gets all brown and bubbly on top. This healthy chicken casserole is simply seasoned with salt, Italian seasoning and pepper. No hot spices, which makes it perfect for kids and grown-ups alike and is a great way to get more veggies into your family's eating. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to cut down on prep time.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

  • You can substitute 2% milk for whole milk in the casserole. The casserole will be slightly less creamy, but the overall flavor will remain unaffected.
  • We recommend cutting the chicken into 1-inch pieces, as smaller pieces cook much more quickly, and when they are the same size, they cook simultaneously.
  • You can substitute zucchini with summer squash or use both; they provide a similar mild flavor. Make sure to remove as much moisture from them as possible to prevent a watery casserole.

Nutrition Notes

  • Chicken breast is a great lean source of protein, vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, which help your body use energy, and choline, which is necessary for brain health.
  • Zucchini is a low-carb veggie that adds vitamin C and fiber to this dish. The antioxidants in zucchini help protect eyesight and promote healthy skin.
  • Red bell peppers are bursting with vitamin C and also bring vitamin A to this casserole—both of which are necessary for a strong immune system. The fiber in the peppers and zucchini combined with the protein in the chicken will help fill you up and keep you satisfied by slowing digestion. This also helps stabilize blood sugar.
  • Mozzarella cheese adds to the protein content of this dish. It also brings with it some bone-building calcium. Mozzarella is lower in saturated fat and sodium than a lot of other cheeses, making it a great choice for cheese lovers who are trying to cut down in those areas.
an image of the ingredients to make the Chicken & Zucchini Casserole

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 2 large zucchini, cut into ½-inch pieces

  • 1 large red bell pepper, chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • ¾ cup no-salt-added chicken broth

  • ¾ cup whole milk

  • 3 ounces chive-and-onion cream cheese

  • cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

  • ¾ teaspoon ground pepper

  • ½ teaspoon plus teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces; cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a medium bowl. Add zucchini pieces, chopped bell pepper, minced garlic and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning to the pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the zucchini mixture to the bowl with the chicken.

    A glass bowl containing diced chicken, zucchini, and vegetables, sitting on a countertop beside an orange cloth napkin

    Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

  2. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Stir in ¼ cup flour; cook, stirring constantly, until the flour starts to brown, about 1 minute. Add ¾ cup broth and ¾ cup milk; bring to a boil, whisking often. Remove from heat and add 3 ounces cream cheese and ¾ cup mozzarella; stir until melted. Stir in ¾ teaspoon pepper and ½ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon salt. Thoroughly drain liquid from the chicken-and-vegetable mixture; stir the chicken and vegetables into the cheese sauce. Transfer to a 2-quart baking dish. Place the dish on a foil-lined baking sheet; sprinkle the casserole with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella.

    A person sprinkling shredded cheese onto a baked casserole dish with chicken and zucchini

    Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

  3. Bake until the top is browned and the edges are bubbly, 18 to 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

    A casserole dish with a prepared chicken and zucchini mixture, topped with shredded cheese, placed on a foil-lined baking tray

    Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

To make ahead

Prepare through Step 2 and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Let stand at room temperature while the oven preheats.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use rotisserie chicken?

    To cut down on prep time, you can use store-bought rotisserie chicken, but it will change the nutritional profile of the recipe. To prepare a rotisserie chicken, first remove and discard the skin. Then, carefully separate the meat from the bones and discard any cartilage. Pull the chicken apart with your hands, dice the chicken breasts and shred the remaining meat. Leftover roast chicken is also a great option.

  • Why place the baking dish on a foil-lined baking sheet?

    Placing the baking dish on a foil-lined baking sheet helps catch any liquid that may drip from the casserole. This can occur if the casserole is too runny, so it's essential to drain as much liquid as possible from the chicken-and-vegetable mixture before mixing it into the cheese sauce.

  • What should I serve with Chicken & Zucchini Casserole?

    This casserole is a complete and satisfying meal on its own. However, if you want to make it go further, consider serving it with a salad. Rolls or rustic bread are also great for soaking up any delicious sauce left on your plate. Additionally, you can use the casserole as a topping over rice or mashed potatoes.

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    Allow the casserole to reach room temperature before transferring it to one or more airtight containers. It will keep well in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the leftovers for about a month, but be aware that the texture of the zucchini may become mushy. To thaw, place it in the refrigerator the night before you plan to heat it. When reheating the casserole, put it in the microwave and heat it slowly, checking and stirring every 30 seconds until it reaches your desired temperature.

Recipe Updates

Based on earlier review and comments of this recipe, we've retested and made the following adjustments (and updated the nutritional analysis accordingly):

  • Added garlic and Italian seasoning (to boost flavor)
  • Decreased flour, chicken broth and milk (to improve texture of sauce)
  • Switched from plain to flavored cream cheese (to boost flavor)
  • Increased salt (to boost flavor)

Updated May 2025

EatingWell.com, May 2020

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

280 Calories
11g Fat
10g Carbs
34g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 cup
Calories 280
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Added Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 34g 68%
Total Fat 11g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Vitamin A 194µg
Vitamin C 38mg 42%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 1mg 9%
Folate 55µg
Vitamin K 13µg
Sodium 426mg 19%
Calcium 240mg 18%
Iron 1mg 7%
Magnesium 64mg 15%
Potassium 718mg 15%
Zinc 2mg 18%
Vitamin B12 1µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.