Provencal Chicken and Lentil Bake

A hearty, rustic bake featuring tender chicken breast, earthy brown lentils, and colorful bell peppers, all simmered in a rich tomato sauce and seasoned with fragrant Provençal herbs.

• Prep: 20 min
• Cook: 55 min
• Total: 1 hr 15 min
• Servings: 4
• Cuisine: French
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $3.63/serving

Dietary

• High-Fiber
• High-Protein
• Nut-Free
• Dairy-Free

Tags

• bake
• comfort food
• savory
• healthy
• crowd-pleaser

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, chopped)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
• 1 yellow bell pepper (chopped)
• 1 cup brown lentils (dry, rinsed)
• 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 1.75 cup vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breast pieces and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
2. Add the yellow onion, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Stir in the minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
4. Add the rinsed brown lentils, diced tomatoes (undrained), and vegetable broth to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
5. Return the chicken breast to the skillet, stirring to combine. Cover the skillet and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
6. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

This bake makes excellent leftovers, which can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of extra broth if needed.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 420
• Protein: 45.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 44.2 g
• Fat: 8 g
• Fiber: 20.1 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
• Sugar: 7.5 g
• Cholesterol: 98 mg