Dollop
Sheet pan balsamic chicken with tomatoes and zucchini
Garlicky balsamic chicken roasted with zucchini and cherry tomatoes that burst into their own sweet sauce, bright and easy.
- 35 min total
- 15 min hands-on
- Anyone can make this
- Serves 4
- About $3.02 a serving
- 330 calories
- Good the next day
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
Dolly says: Make the full amount. It’s just as good for lunch the next day.
Ingredients
For 4 servings.
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1¼ lb chicken breasts, cut into 1½-inch pieces
- 2 zucchini, cut into half-moons
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes
- ½ red onion, cut into wedges
- ¼ cup fresh basil, torn (optional)
From your pantry
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Each serving has about 330 calories, 34 g protein, 15 g carbs and 14 g fat, and costs about $3.02 at typical US grocery prices. Both are estimates from what the recipe uses.
Missing something?
- No honey? Maple syrup works.
- No chicken breasts? Boneless chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins work.
- No zucchini? Yellow squash works.
- No red onions? White onions or yellow onions work.
Steps
Tap an underlined word for a quick explanation.
the oven to 425°F and line a large with .
Preheat. Preheating means turning the oven on before you start, so it’s fully hot when the food goes in. Food that starts in a cold oven cooks unevenly and doesn’t brown the same.
How you’ll know: The oven beeps or its light clicks off, usually 10 to 15 minutes after you turn it on.
Sheet pan. A sheet pan is a flat metal baking tray with a low rim all the way around. The rim catches juices, and the wide surface lets food spread out and brown.
How you’ll know: Everything fits in one layer with a little space between the pieces.
Parchment paper. Parchment paper is a nonstick, oven-safe paper for lining pans. Food lifts right off and cleanup is easy, but don’t swap in wax paper or put parchment under the broiler.
How you’ll know: It lies flat in the pan, and the food slides off when you lift it.
the balsamic, honey, garlic, Italian seasoning, oil, salt and pepper together, and pour 3 tablespoons into a small bowl for later.
Whisk. Whisking means beating quickly with a whisk or a fork to blend things together. It smooths out lumps and mixes eggs, oil or sauces evenly.
How you’ll know: It all looks one even color and texture, with no streaks or lumps.
Cut the vegetables, then the chicken, and wash your hands and board.
Food safety: Wash your hands, the board and the knife with hot soapy water after touching raw meat, and don’t rinse raw chicken in the sink.
the chicken, zucchini, tomatoes and onion on the pan with the rest of the dressing and spread them into one layer.
Toss. Tossing means gently lifting and turning food so everything gets coated, like pasta in sauce or vegetables in oil. It coats every piece evenly without mashing anything.
How you’ll know: Every piece looks glossy or evenly coated, with no dry spots hiding underneath.
20 to 22 minutes, until the tomatoes burst and the biggest piece of chicken reads 165°F.
Roast. Roasting means cooking in a hot oven, around 400°F to 450°F, usually spread out on a sheet pan. The dry heat browns the outside and brings out sweetness, especially in vegetables.
How you’ll know: The edges are browned and a little crisp, and a fork slides easily into the thickest piece.
Timer: 21 min
Food safety: Chicken and turkey are done at 165°F in the thickest part. A thermometer is the only sure check. Without one, cut into the thickest piece: it should be white all the way through, with no pink.
the saved dressing over the hot pan and scatter the basil.
Drizzle. Drizzling means pouring a thin, slow stream over the top of something. A thin stream spreads a little flavor a long way.
How you’ll know: You see thin lines across the food, not a puddle collecting underneath.
Plan this in Dollop, and get the grocery list
Dollop puts this dinner on a night that suits your week, lists only what you still need to buy, and walks you through each step while you cook.
More dinners like this
Sheet pan BBQ chicken and broccoli
40 min
Sheet pan honey mustard chicken and Brussels sprouts
40 min
Sheet pan lemon chicken and asparagus
45 min
Sheet pan pesto chicken and vegetables
35 min
One-pan dinners ›High-protein dinners ›What to make with chicken and tomatoes ›What to make with tomatoes and zucchini ›