Chicken · 30 min
Seared Chicken Thighs with Creamy Zucchini and Cauliflower Purée
- 30 min
- 2–6 servings
- 674 kcal / serving
Seared chicken thighs rest atop a velvety zucchini and cauliflower purée, creating a comforting coating of sauce and tender vegetables. The method comes together in about 30 minutes, making it suitable for busy weeknights.
Free on iPhone · servings scaled, grocery list written for you.
Ingredients
- ½ medium headcauliflower
- 1 lbchicken thighs, boneless skinless
- ¼ (8 oz) blockcream cheese
- 1 ozParmesan cheese
- 1tomato
- 1 mediumzucchini squash
- tomatoes
From the pantry: black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt
Cookware
aluminum foil · chef's knife · colander · cutting board · grater · hand or regular blender · measuring cups · measuring spoons · medium saucepan · nonstick skillet · stirring spoon · tongs
Kitchen help: cups to grams · tablespoons to cups · oven temperatures · butter conversions · what each cooking tool is for · ingredient substitutes
More recipes with: chicken thighs · cauliflower
More dinner ideas: easy dinners
Shopping list by aisle
Produce
- ½ medium headcauliflower
- 1tomato
- 1 mediumzucchini squash
- tomatoes
Meat & seafood
- 1 lbchicken thighs, boneless skinless
Dairy, eggs & chilled
- ¼ (8 oz) blockcream cheese
- 1 ozParmesan cheese
3 aisles for this recipe. Plan a week in MealPot and it merges every dinner into one list in this order, scaled to your household.
Ingredients for 2, 4 and 6 servings
| Ingredient | 2 servings | 4 servings | 6 servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| cauliflower | ½ medium head | 1 medium head | 1 ½ medium heads |
| chicken thighs, boneless skinless | 1 lb | 2 lb | 3 lb |
| cream cheese | ¼ (8 oz) block | ½ (8 oz) block | ¾ (8 oz) block |
| Parmesan cheese | 1 oz | 2 oz | 3 oz |
| tomato | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| zucchini squash | 1 medium | 2 medium | 3 medium |
Quantities in US units. Any other household size: MealPot scales the recipe and the grocery list for you.
Directions
- Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper as the pan heats over medium.
- Heat a skillet with a little oil and brown the chicken on both sides until cooked through, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and loosely cover with foil; keep the drippings in the skillet.
- Wash and dry all produce, then prepare the cauliflower by cutting into quarters and trimming away leaves and thick stems.
- Boil a cup of water in a medium saucepan, cover, and bring to a boil; add cauliflower, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
- Slice the zucchini into ¼-inch half-moons and dice the tomato.
- Return the skillet to medium heat with a touch more oil, add zucchini, tomato, and Italian seasoning; cook until the vegetables begin to soften, 3–4 minutes.
- Cut the cream cheese into small pieces and grate the Parmesan.
- Stir the cheese with a splash of water into the skillet until melted and smooth, then return the chicken to coat and heat through, about 2 minutes.
- Drain the cauliflower and transfer to a blender; blend with a little oil, salt, and pepper until smooth. Plate with the chicken and vegetables alongside the purée.
Two tips
- Prep ahead by patting the chicken dry and seasoning while the skillet warms so it’s ready to go when the pan is hot.
- Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat gently and serve with any remaining purée and vegetables.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 674 kcal
- Protein
- 56 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 44 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
- Sodium
- 360 mg
Estimates from the recipe's published nutrition data; they change with the version you pick above.
More like this
Balsamic Chicken Drumsticks with Garlic & Parsley Sautéed Carrots40 min · 2–6 servings
Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders with Broccoli Orange Slaw35 min · 2–6 servings
Thai Coconut Chicken Soup with Mushrooms & Bell Pepper40 min · 2–6 servings
Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks with Spinach, Avocado & Orange Salad35 min · 2–6 servingsPLAN THE WEEK
One of 1,676 recipes in MealPot.
Pick five dinners, MealPot writes one grocery list sorted by aisle and scales every recipe to your household.
Ingredient quantities, timing and nutrition follow the original Mealime recipe ↗ (captured 2026-09-12). The photo is MealPot's AI-rendered illustration of the finished dish; the description, directions, aisle list and serving table are MealPot's.