Italian Chicken & Zucchini with Pesto-Pepper Rice

Italian Chicken & Zucchini

with Pesto-Pepper Rice

25 MIN
2 Servings
Wellness at Blue Apron
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Vegetarian
These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.
Carb Conscious
These meals have 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. They replace refined carbohydrates from sources like white flour, rice, and cane sugar with high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
600 Calories Or Less
Coming in at 600 calories or less per serving, these recipes are ideal for those choosing to monitor their caloric intake without sacrificing flavor. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.
Wellness Grain
These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.
Pescatarian
These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.
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From the Test Kitchen

This simple dish is packed with vibrant Italian flavors like basil (the beloved, aromatic herb at the heart of our irresistible pesto), as well as a blend of classic seasonings like the fragrant dried rosemary and sage used to coat our chicken.
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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    710 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
Italian Chicken & Zucchini with Pesto-Pepper Rice
Title
  • 2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • ½ cup Long Grain White Rice
  • 1 Zucchini
  • 1 Lemon
  • ¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • ⅓ cup Basil Pesto
  • 1 oz Sliced Roasted Red Peppers
  • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning (Whole Dried Basil, Sage, Oregano, Savory, Rosemary, Thyme & Marjoram)
time-saving
tips & techniques
Cook the rice
1 Cook the rice

In a small pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Cover to keep warm.

Cook the chicken
2 Cook the chicken

Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season on both sides with salt, pepper, and enough of the Italian seasoning to coat (you may have extra). In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a cutting board and cover with foil to keep warm. 

*The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 165°F for chicken.

Prepare the remaining ingredients
3 Prepare the remaining ingredients

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Thinly slice the zucchini into rounds. Roughly chop the peppers. Quarter and deseed the lemon.

Cook the zucchini
4 Cook the zucchini

In the pan of reserved fond, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened. Turn off the heat. Stir in the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

Finish the rice & serve your dish
5 Finish the rice & serve your dish

To the pot of cooked rice, add the pesto and chopped peppers; stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Slice the cooked chicken crosswise. Serve the sliced chicken with the finished rice and cooked zucchini. Garnish with the cheese. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy! 

Tips from Home Chefs

Cook the rice
1 Cook the rice

In a small pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Cover to keep warm.

2 Cook the chicken

Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season on both sides with salt, pepper, and enough of the Italian seasoning to coat (you may have extra). In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a cutting board and cover with foil to keep warm. 

*The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 165°F for chicken.

Cook the chicken
Prepare the remaining ingredients
3 Prepare the remaining ingredients

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Thinly slice the zucchini into rounds. Roughly chop the peppers. Quarter and deseed the lemon.

4 Cook the zucchini

In the pan of reserved fond, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened. Turn off the heat. Stir in the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

Cook the zucchini
Finish the rice & serve your dish
5 Finish the rice & serve your dish

To the pot of cooked rice, add the pesto and chopped peppers; stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Slice the cooked chicken crosswise. Serve the sliced chicken with the finished rice and cooked zucchini. Garnish with the cheese. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy! 

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