Best Chicken And Zucchini Skillet Recipes

SKILLET CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI ENCHILADAS WITH TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 12" (preferably cast-iron) skillet over medium-high. Add onion and cook, stirring, until it starts to soften, about 2 minutes. Add zucchini, coriander, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, until onion and zucchini are softened and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir 1 1/2 cups salsa, scraping up any brown bits from the pan. Fold in the chicken and cook until warmed through, about 1 minute. Transfer enchilada filling to a medium bowl; set skillet aside (do not wipe out).
• Meanwhile, wrap tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave on high in 30-second bursts, flipping after each burst, until warmed, about 1 minute total. Alternatively, wrap in foil and heat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, 10-12 minutes.
• Pour 1 cup salsa into reserved skillet. Working with one at a time, dip tortillas in salsa until coated on both sides; transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet. Divide enchilada filling among tortillas. Roll each tortilla around filling and place seam side down in skillet, arranging in a pinwheel formation.
• Heat enchiladas over medium-high. Pour remaining salsa over enchiladas, making sure each is coated. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover with a lid or large baking sheet and cook until cheese is melted and enchiladas are warmed through, about 3 minutes. Top with sour cream, avocado, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges alongside.

SKILLET CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI WITH CHARRED SCALLION SALSA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Pat the chicken very dry and season generously all over with salt and pepper.
• Heat the canola or grapeseed oil in a 12-inch cast-iron pan or other large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Once the oil shimmers, add the chicken, skin side down, and cook undisturbed until skin turns golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip and cook another 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Add the zucchini and stir to coat in the chicken fat. Season with salt and pepper. Do your best to arrange the zucchini in an even layer (some overlap is O.K.). Place the chicken, skin side up, on top of the zucchini, transfer to the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the salsa: In a medium bowl, stir together the lime juice and jalapeño; set aside. Heat a large skillet over medium. Add the scallions and cook, tossing frequently, until they begin to brown and char in spots, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove and set aside. When cool enough to touch, finely chop the scallions and toss them with the lime mixture. Stir in the cilantro, olive oil and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Season to taste with salt.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to a plate or a cutting board for about 5 minutes. If you want your zucchini more golden, pop it back in the oven while the chicken rests. Slice the chicken, if desired, and return it to the pan or serve it on the bone. Drizzle a few spoonfuls of the salsa over the chicken and season with flaky sea salt, if you'd like. Serve with the remaining salsa at the table.

SKILLET GRATINATE OF ZUCCHINI AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preparing the Chicken and Zucchini
• Place a rack in the center or upper third of the oven and preheat to 425°.
• If the chicken breasts are whole, cut them in half. Trim off any bits of fat, skin, or tendon. Flatten each breast half with a mallet (or the flat bottom of a heavy pan) to an even thickness, about 3/4 inch.
• Trim the stem and blossom ends of the zucchini and wash well. Slice across the squash on a sharp angle, creating long ovals, 1/4 inch thick. You should have about twenty pieces at least 3 inches long, and a few shorter pieces from the ends.
• Put 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in the skillet, tilt to coat the bottom, and set it over medium heat.
• Toss about half the zucchini pieces in flour to coat well (set flour aside to use for chicken), pat off any excess, and lay them in the pan. Keep the heat moderate, and let the pieces caramelize slowly for about 4 minutes. Turn when the edges are nicely browned on the underside; fry for about 2 minutes on the second side. With a slotted spatula, lift the pieces to a plate or tray (no paper towels are needed here) and salt lightly. Fry the remaining zucchini ovals in the same way and salt them. While frying, monitor the heat, keeping it high enough to brown the zucchini but not let them burn.
• When the zucchini are done, turn off the heat but leave all the oil in the skillet.
• Starting on the Stovetop
• Have all of your gratinate and sauce ingredients handy to the stove.
• You should have at least 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the skillet (add a bit if needed). Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and set the pan over medium-low heat.
• Salt the chicken pieces lightly, flop them in the dredging flour to coat on both sides, and pat off excess. When the butter is just beginning to sizzle, arrange all six cutlets in the pan. Cook them gently for 1 1/2 minutes, then turn them over; they should be very lightly colored, with no browning.
• Maintain the gentle cooking while you assemble the gratinate.
• Sprinkle the chicken again with salt (using 1/2 teaspoon total for the dish).
• Spread a heaping tablespoon of tomato sauce on top of each cutlet.
• Arrange the zucchini slices on top of the sauced chicken, overlapping the ovals so each portion is neatly covered. Use all the zucchini.
• Now raise the heat a bit and begin to develop the sauce:
• Sprinkle the peperoncino onto an open "hot spot" where it will sizzle and toast briefly.
• Drop the remaining butter, in small pieces, in between the layered cutlets.
• After a few seconds, pour in 2/3 cup of the wine around the cutlets and let it heat briefly, 10 to 20 seconds.
• Spoon the rest of the cup of tomato sauce into the pan (not on the chicken).
• Bring to a simmer, then drop the mint into the sauce all around the pan.
• Give the pan a gentle shake or two, to mix and emulsify the sauce ingredients.
• Finally, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated cheese evenly over each zucchini-topped mound.
• At this point, the sauce should be about 1/3 inch deep in your pan or even higher, coming well up the sides of the chicken cutlets. If not, pour in the rest of the wine and as much hot vegetable broth or stock as necessary. Raise the heat again to bring the pan sauce to an active simmer.
• Finishing in the Oven
• When the sauce is simmering, place the skillet in the oven. (Put the handle in front and the food in the back.)
• Bake for about 10 minutes-and have thick pot holders or dry towels in hand before you touch the handle or the skillet!-then open the oven and check the pan.
• Right on the rack, give the skillet another gentle shake. There should still be plenty of sauce, and the cheese should be lightly colored. If the sauce appears syrupy, or close to evaporating, add more vegetable broth, stock, tomato sauce, or wine to raise the level.
• Bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender and the gratinate top is deeply and evenly browned. If the cheese layer still appears too light, raise the heat in the oven as high as possible (turn on the broiler if it is top-mounted) and bake briefly until it is as dark and crispy as you like.
• Carefully remove the skillet from the oven, handling it with plenty of thick cloths. I carry it right to the dining table, where it makes a beautiful presentation (see the photo on page 286). While it is on the table, leave the cloths covering the hot handle. With a large, angled spatula, lift one portion of chicken-and-zucchini gratinate onto a dinner plate, then spoon over it some of the sauce.

CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI MEXICAN SKILLET

Steps:

• 1. Spray skillet with olive oil or pam spray. Sprinkle both sides of chicken breasts with cumin and chili powder. Place seasoned breasts in hot skillet and cook until starting to brown. Flip and brown other side. Lower heat, cover and cook chicken for about 5 minutes, or until centers are no longer pink. Remove to cutting board.
• 2. Heat additional olive oil in skillet. Slice zucchini in half and then into 1/4 inch slices. Chop cleaned peppers and onion. Add veggies to skillet and sauce until onion starts to soften.
• 3. Add tomatoes and corn to skillet. While veggies cook, use two forks to pull chicken apart. Or use a knife and cut into small pieces. Add chicken back to skillet.
• 4. Season mixture with garlic salt, tajin and pepper, to taste. If you don't have tajin, just use your favorite seasoned salt.
• 5. Stir everything together and sprinkle the cheese on top. Cover and keep on low heat until cheese melts.
• 6. Serve with chopped cilantro, avocado and hot sauce.

CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI SKILLET

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup of the dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 10 min. or until browned on both sides. Remove from skillet; cover to keep warm.
• Add remaining 1/4 cup dressing and beans. Top with chicken; cover. Reduce heat; cook 20 to 25 min. or until chicken is cooked through (180°F), stirring occasionally and mashing beans to thicken sauce as desired.
• Stir in zucchini; cook 10 min. or until tender, stirring occasionally. Spoon chicken mixture over rice on large serving platter. Sprinkle with cheese.