Chicken & Vegetable Skillet
Serves 4 servings
Prep: 20 minutes • Cook: 25 minutes
Tender chicken breast and colorful zucchini, peppers, and onion come together in one skillet with garlic, herbs, and a splash of fresh lemon. Packed with lean protein and vegetables while keeping carbohydrates light, this quick gluten-free meal is an easy choice for a healthy weeknight dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons House AP Seasoning
- No House AP on hand? Substitute 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 medium lemon)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and season with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Preheat a large skillet or outdoor griddle over medium-high heat. On a Blackstone, aim for roughly 400–425°F on the chicken side and 350–375°F on the vegetable side.
- Add about half of the olive oil to the hot cooking surface and spread the chicken into a single layer.
- Cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes without moving it so the bottom develops a golden-brown crust. This browning is the sear and adds flavor.
- Turn the chicken and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes, until nearly cooked through.
- Cook another 1 to 2 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F internally. Cut into one of the largest pieces if you're unsure—it should be opaque throughout with no translucent center—but use a thermometer as the final check whenever possible.
- Move the chicken to a cooler section of the griddle or transfer it temporarily to a clean plate if using a skillet.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the cooking surface, then add the onion and bell peppers. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the zucchini and continue cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the vegetables are lightly charred but still tender-crisp.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Return or move the chicken into the vegetables and add the chicken broth. Toss everything together and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Drizzle with fresh lemon juice, toss once more, and remove from the heat.
- Serve immediately while the vegetables are still tender-crisp.
Notes & Tips
- A large outdoor griddle works especially well for this recipe because the chicken and vegetables can cook in separate temperature zones before being combined.
- Pat the chicken dry and avoid overcrowding the cooking surface so the pieces develop a good sear instead of steaming.
- Cook the bell peppers and onion slightly before adding the zucchini because zucchini cooks quickly and can become soft if added too early.
- On a Blackstone, use the hotter zone to sear the chicken and a slightly cooler zone for the vegetables, then bring everything together for the final few minutes.
- Keep the vegetables tender-crisp with a little char for the best texture and flavor.
- For extra heat, add crushed red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne.
- This recipe works well for meal prep and reheats easily for lunch the next day.
- Flavor variation: For a bolder version, substitute House Cajun Seasoning for the House AP and smoked paprika. Start with about 1 tablespoon for the entire recipe and add more after tasting, since the Cajun blend already contains salt.
Nutrition:
285 cal • 39g protein • 10g fat • 11g carbs