🍅 Mediterranean Chicken & Tomato Casserole

This easy one-pan casserole combines juicy chicken, sweet tomatoes, garlic, herbs, olives, and feta in a rich Mediterranean-style sauce. It’s comforting without being heavy, and most of the preparation takes only a few minutes.

🛒 Ingredients

For the chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 6 chicken thighs
• 1½ tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

For the tomato sauce

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon chili flakes, optional
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon sugar, optional, if the tomatoes taste acidic

Mediterranean toppings

• ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, optional
• 1 lemon
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Lightly grease a large oven-safe casserole or baking dish with a little olive oil.

2. Season the chicken

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. This helps the seasoning stick and gives the chicken better browning.

Season both sides with:

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Paprika
• Oregano
• Thyme

Rub the seasoning gently into the chicken.

3. Brown the chicken

Heat 1½ tablespoons of olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the chicken and cook for approximately 2–3 minutes per side.

You don’t need to cook the chicken completely at this stage. The goal is simply to brown the outside and develop extra flavor.

Transfer the chicken to a plate.

4. Sauté the vegetables

In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and sliced red pepper.

Cook for about 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds.

Be careful not to burn the garlic.

5. Make the Mediterranean tomato sauce

Add the tomato paste and stir it into the vegetables.

Cook for about 1 minute.

Then add:

• Chopped tomatoes
• Chicken broth
• Oregano
• Chili flakes, if using
• Salt
• Black pepper

Stir everything together and let the sauce simmer for 3–4 minutes.

Taste the sauce. If the tomatoes are particularly acidic, add about ½ teaspoon sugar.

6. Return the chicken

Place the browned chicken pieces back into the skillet or transfer everything into your prepared casserole dish.

Spoon some of the tomato sauce over the chicken so that it is partially covered.

Scatter the Kalamata olives throughout the casserole.

7. Bake

Place the casserole in the preheated oven.

Bake for approximately 20–25 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken.

The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.

If you’re using chicken thighs, they may need a few extra minutes.

8. Add the feta

Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the crumbled feta generously over the top.

Return it to the oven for another 3–5 minutes, just until the feta is warmed through.

For a more golden top, you can briefly use the broiler/grill—but watch it carefully so the cheese doesn’t burn.

9. Finish with fresh flavors

Take the casserole out of the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes.

Finish with:

• Fresh chopped parsley
• Fresh basil, if using
• A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• A drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil

The lemon is especially important because it brightens the rich tomato and olive flavors.

🍽️ What to Serve With It

This casserole is delicious with:

• Warm crusty bread for soaking up the tomato sauce
• Rice
• Couscous
• Quinoa
• Roasted potatoes
• Orzo
• A simple Greek salad

For an especially easy weeknight dinner, serve it with warm pita bread and a cucumber-yogurt salad.

⏱️ Quick Weeknight Tips

• Use chicken thighs if you want extra juicy, forgiving chicken.
• Use canned tomatoes to save time—good-quality canned tomatoes work beautifully here.
• Buy pitted olives so there’s no extra preparation.
• You can prepare the tomato sauce earlier in the day and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake.
• Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for about 3–4 days in a covered container.
• The sauce often tastes even better the next day after the Mediterranean flavors have had time to develop.

🌿 Why This Recipe Works

The combination of tomatoes + garlic + oregano + olives + feta + lemon gives the chicken that classic Mediterranean character. Browning the chicken first adds a deeper savory flavor, while finishing the casserole in the oven allows the chicken to absorb the tomato sauce without requiring lots of hands-on cooking.

Total time: about 45 minutes
Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Best for: Busy weeknight dinners, family meals, and meal prep