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Nothing is better (or easier) than this Cheesy Zucchini Chicken and Rice Bake…with crispy, crunchy cheddar on top. Made using healthy vegetables and herbs, this bake is so darn easy, and so darn delicious. And the best part? It’s made entirely in one pot and in under an hour. Grab some chicken, rice, orzo pasta, plenty of herbs, and all that summer zucchini you can find. Just cook everything together on the stove. Add creamy Havarti and sharp cheddar cheese, a sprinkle of everything spice. Then finish it off under the broiler to melt the cheese and get it crispy and crunchy. Simple, but SO GOOD. The perfect weeknight family-style dinner.
When summer life gives you a lot of zucchini you make some cheesy rice…with crispy cheddar on top. And you make it casserole-style because it’s August and back to school season is on my brain.
First things first no matter what’s going on in life, or how old I am, August and September with be back to school “season” for me. I know things are looking different this year in regards to heading back to school, but we can still enjoy “back to school recipes”. Whether you or your kids are actually heading into a classroom or not.
Speaking of which, are you heading back to school? Or are your kids? I know many schools have gone completely online this year, while others are doing only two to three days of in-classroom classes. I don’t have any kids yet, but I know my parents are still on the fence about what they’ll be doing for my little sister, Asher. Her school is heading back for two days each week and my mom is debating about sending her. She’s just not sure it’s worth it to be in the classroom for only two days. She could just elect the online option and use the year to travel some…Grand Canyon, National Parks, etc…which could be more educational anyway.
Curious what you guys are doing…heading back, or is it homeschooling this year?
Either way, with summer slowly ebbing away, it’s about to get busier. Meaning dinner can get hectic. This is where these back to school recipes come in. They’re easy, served casserole-style (aka family-style), and always so nice to come home to a delicious comforting meal.
This one is a mix between extra summery and cozy comfort food. The perfect transitional recipe for mid-August through early October.
Side note, it’s crazy I just wrote out the words October. I can’t believe it’s mud August. Where has this year gone?uld
The inspiration for this one came from so many different ideas running through my head, but mainly, I had both my parents in mind when creating this recipe. We all know my mom loves rice, I’ve talked about it many times. But what I haven’t chatted about are the rice bakes my dad would make for my brothers and me when we were younger. He’d throw leftover rice in a casserole dish, add some kind of vegetable, usually broccoli, and then top it with cheddar cheese. Lots of cheddar cheese. He’d then throw the dish in the oven and let the cheese get extra crisp and crunchy over the rice and broccoli.
It was really simple, but one of mom’s favorites…mine too!
This is my summer, one-pot version of dad’s cheesy rice dish. It has a little more going on, but it’s easy and it is delicious!
It all starts and ends in one pot. Maybe two if you’re like me and decide you want to bake this in a real casserole dish.
Anyway, start with the zucchini. You want to caramelize the zucchini first before you add anything else. Then add a little onion, some chicken, a touch of butter, some rice, orzo, and fresh thyme. Cook until you’ve got a nice toasty smell going. Then add the broth and a few more seasonings. Cover and cook just like you would a normal pot of rice. Once this is finished cooking, simply top with cheese. I like using a mix of creamy Havarti and sharp cheddar.
And for that extra special touch? A sprinkle of everything bagel spice and fresh chives. It might sound odd, but I promise it’s delicious.
Oh and a quick note on that chicken. If you prefer to go the vegetarian route, just omit the chicken from the dish. Do what works best for you and your family. This bake is good with or without.
This is key. Bake the rice for ten or so minutes to melt that cheese, then switch the oven broil and let the cheese start to bubble up. Just be sure to watch closely, the broiler works quick.
As soon as you pull this out from under the broiler, add a bit of basil, serve, and ENJOY.
Super easy, right?
But yet so very good. The rice underneath stays soft and creamy while the cheese on top turns crispy and crunchy. The corners of the dish will form an insanely delicious, cheesy crust. The creamy, cheesy rice underneath? And that crunchy cheddar on top…with the everything spice and chives too?
Just. So. Darn. Good.
And guys, that’s pretty much it. Dinner all in one pan, and something I feel like the whole family can really enjoy. A little tip? if you have picky eaters at home, try shredding the zucchini instead of chopping it. They’ll never know they’re eating their chicken, rice, and vegetables too!
Looking for other easy back to school recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Browned Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Cheese Ravioli
Lastly, if you make this Cheesy Zucchini Chicken and Rice Bake be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Recipe is great with leftover turkey from Christmas! Thank you.
Thanks so much! xTieghn
Hi Tieghan, I recently discovered your site and this was the first recipe that caught my eye. It tasted amazing, no, that’s not descriptive enough…it was absolutely ‘yumtastic’! Enjoyed the initial meal and all the lunchtime leftovers so very much! Also surprised at how easy it was to make as I’m just learning to cook. And with that, here comes the dumb question. When making bakes and casseroles, do you add in the rice dry or rinse it off first? Hope you had a wonderful holiday season and thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes and introductory thoughts. OK, got to get back to picking out my first dessert recipe! Decisions, decisions…ok, maybe I’ll make two if I can’t decide. LOL
Hey Lisa,
Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! I just add my rice dry. Happy New Year! xTieghan
So delicious and filling!
Hey Meagan,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
So delicious. Reminded me of Mac and cheese but Healthier… because zucchini. Makes plenty so boyfriend and I had a ton of leftovers for lunches!
Hey Emily,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Made this recipe twice in one week cause I love it so much!
Love that!! Thank you Kayla! xTieghan
This is easy and delicious! Will definitely put this in my dinner rotations.
Thank you so much JM! xTieghan
I love this recipe! I live alone and it’s so great to make it at the beginning of the week and eat throughout the week. I even like to have it with eggs for breakfast!
Yes!! So glad you have been loving this one, Sarah! Thank you! xTieghan
Absolutely amazing! Easy, serves a lot, has your vegetable serving, & DELICIOUS! I’m a big fan of this recipe.
Thank you Hailey! xTieghan
Just made it, and it was great! I was amazed about the time estimate, start to finish was exactly 55 min! I added a few handfuls of fresh spinach in just to get extra veggies (mixed in at the same time as the cheese), and that worked out awesome too. No other changes. Delicious! My two year old even went for a second helping!
Aw that is so amazing! I am really glad you all enjoyed this one so much, Christina! xTieghan
What sides do you suggest?
Hey Allison,
I would do a large salad with this! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi! I was wondering what size casserole dish you suggest? 9×13?
Thank you, love your blog so much. It is my go-to for unique and different recipes when I am not sure what to make.
Hey Haley,
Thanks so much for your kind message! Yes, a 9×13 is great! Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love the recipe. Thank you! xTieghan
This was amazing! Made it this weekend. So easy and very flavorful. My husband loved
It too! I added extra chicken because I like high protein but otherwise followed it exactly. It made 10 servings for us. Have it printed and it is going on my regular rotation:)
I am so happy you both loved this one, Jennifer! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Hi there! Do you add the rice AND orzo dry before the broth?
Hey Courtney,
Yes, that is correct! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
What a crazy delicious, versatile recipe! We had a handful of super small potatoes I sauteed in right before I added zucchini – and I probably used way more zucchini than recipe stated just because I had half of a gigantic garden zucchini to use up. And it still worked out perfectly. The only other thing I’d say is that by the time I cooked on the stove for 15 minutes in broth everything was cooked, so I just put the oven directly on broil for 4-5 minutes until things had started browning. 🙂
Love that!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Christine! Thank you! xTieghan
I made this last night and it is absolutely delicious! Perfect comfort food as we transition into fall. I do agree that prep time should be updated. Lots of ingredients to prep. Cook time was right on.
Love to hear that! Thank you Lisa! xTieghan