Cheesy Chicken Breast Vegetable Gratin
Delicious Way to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast: Diet-Friendly Chicken Gratin
Do you often find yourself with plenty of chicken breast and wonder how to prepare it differently? Move beyond simple grilling or salads with this incredibly delicious ‘Chicken Breast Vegetable Gratin’! It’s perfect for a low-carb, high-fat diet and transforms bland chicken breast into a moist, flavorful dish. Featuring a homemade low-sodium tomato sauce, fresh vegetables, and melted cheese, this gratin is a satisfying and healthy option for your diet.
Main Ingredients- Cubed chicken breast (cheese-flavored or plain)
- Store-bought tomato sauce or homemade tomato sauce
- Mozzarella cheese
- Eggplant
- Dried parsley
- Zucchini
- Mushrooms (any variety)
For Homemade Tomato Sauce- Canned tomatoes (whole peeled or diced)
- Onion (1/4)
- Minced garlic (1 Tbsp)
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Canned tomatoes (whole peeled or diced)
- Onion (1/4)
- Minced garlic (1 Tbsp)
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
I’m using the new cheese-flavored cubed chicken breast from Harim today! It’s less salty and more savory with a lovely cheesy aroma, which immediately made me think ‘This is perfect for gratin!’ You can also use regular cubed chicken breast.
Step 2
First, let’s make the tomato sauce from scratch. If you have store-bought sauce, you can skip this step! I’m using whole peeled tomatoes, but diced tomatoes or tomato paste would make the mashing process much easier.
Step 3
Finely mince about 1/4 of an onion. Prepare about 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. If possible, using freshly minced garlic from whole cloves will provide a better aroma and flavor than pre-minced garlic.
Step 4
Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Sauté the minced onion until translucent, then add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
Step 5
Once the onion and garlic are nicely sautéed, add the canned tomatoes. (Tip: If using whole peeled tomatoes, mash them with a knife or spatula for a smoother sauce.)
Step 6
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer the sauce until some of the liquid has evaporated and it thickens to your desired consistency. It’s important not to make it too watery.
Step 7
Delicious homemade tomato sauce is ready! Making it yourself allows you to control the sodium content for a healthier meal. Of course, using store-bought sauce is fine when you’re in a hurry!
Step 8
Slice the eggplant and zucchini into about 8mm thick pieces. If they’re too thin, they might become mushy when cooked, so be mindful of the thickness. Slice the mushrooms similarly.
Step 9
Heat a pan with a little olive oil and add the sliced eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms. Lightly season each vegetable with salt and pepper.
Step 10
Once the vegetables are lightly browned, transfer them to a plate. Since all ingredients should be cooked before layering, it’s necessary to pre-cook the vegetables. You can cook them all at once if preferred.
Step 11
Lightly grill the chicken breast pieces on both sides in the pan. Alternatively, you can cook them in an air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for about 10-15 minutes.
Step 12
In an oven-safe dish or gratin dish, start by layering the pre-cooked vegetables. Spread a moderate amount of tomato sauce evenly over them. Don’t use too much; just enough to coat the ingredients nicely.
Step 13
Add another layer of vegetables, followed by a thin spread of tomato sauce. Arrange the cooked chicken breast on top. Generously sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and finish with a dusting of dried parsley.
Step 14
Place the assembled gratin in the microwave and heat for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Microwave until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. Adjust the time based on your microwave’s power.
Step 15
Behold the appetizing Chicken Breast Vegetable Gratin! You might wonder if it’s truly a diet food with all that cheese, but thanks to the homemade low-sodium tomato sauce, fresh vegetables, and lean chicken breast, it’s actually an excellent choice for a healthy and satisfying diet meal! Enjoy!
