This Dump-and-Bake Chicken Tzatziki with Rice is a total weeknight dinner winner. It takes everything you love about Greek flavors—tangy yogurt, cucumber, lemon, garlic, and herbs—and wraps it around tender chicken and perfectly cooked rice, all baked together in one dish. No searing, no stovetop, no babysitting. Just mix, dump, bake, and enjoy.

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🧾 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the Main Dish:

• 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 ½ cups uncooked long-grain white rice
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 cup diced cucumber (peeled if desired)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

For the Tzatziki Sauce (Homemade or store-bought):

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cucumber, finely grated and squeezed dry
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

💡 You can also use ¾–1 cup of your favorite store-bought tzatziki if you’re short on time.

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat Oven:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Mix & Dump:

In the baking dish, add rice, chicken broth, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, and diced cucumber. Stir to combine.

Nestle the chicken breasts or thighs on top of the rice mixture. Season the chicken lightly with a bit more salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of oregano.

3. Bake:

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5–10 minutes to lightly brown the top.

4. Add Tzatziki & Serve:

Once out of the oven, spoon a generous amount of tzatziki sauce over each piece of chicken. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley and serve with a wedge of lemon.

Optional: Add a simple Greek salad or roasted vegetables on the side for a complete Mediterranean-style meal.

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📊 Nutrition Facts (Per Serving – Based on 6 servings)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	~410 kcal
Protein	32g
Carbohydrates	30g
Fiber	2g
Total Fat	16g
Saturated Fat	4g
Sugar	3g
Sodium	480mg

Nutritional info may vary depending on the yogurt and broth used.

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💡 Tips & Tricks

• Don’t skip the lemon zest! It adds a bright, citrusy pop that enhances the Mediterranean flavors.
• Use brown rice: You can substitute with long-grain brown rice, but increase the baking time to around 1 hour 15 minutes and add ½ cup more broth.
• Make it vegetarian: Swap chicken with canned chickpeas or marinated tofu and use veggie broth.
• Double the tzatziki: Because let's be honest—you’re going to want extra sauce!

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✨ From My Kitchen

I love how easy this dish is—just a few fresh ingredients tossed in a baking dish, and the oven does the rest. It’s perfect for those nights when you want something nourishing and flavorful but don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Plus, it’s super customizable. Try adding cherry tomatoes, spinach, or olives before baking for even more Mediterranean flair.

This is the kind of dinner you’ll want to keep in your weekly rotation—healthy, fresh, and bursting with flavor!