Chicken with olives and squash
Easy Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry with squash and green olives. This Paleo, Whole30, and Keto Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry are full of flavor and healthy and delicious. If you love zucchini, squash, and olives, don’t miss this flavorful stir-fry recipe!
And if you are looking for more ways to enjoy zucchini and squash, you’ll also love my Air fryer zucchini fries and Air fryer zucchini and squash!
Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry – easy and full of flavor!
This is a rewrite of an older recipe that I shared a few years ago when I just started the blog. Olives are not a common ingredient used in cooking where I grew up but nevertheless the first time I tasted them I immediately fell in love. There are so many types of olives and I particularly love Castelvetrano green olives.
Green olives such as Castelvetrano olives aren’t too salty and they taste smooth and buttery. Quite often I’ll buy an entire jar of pitted Castelvetrano olives and enjoy them as little snacks with some fruit or add them to my lunch salad. So I thought why not add these gorgeous green olives to chickens stir-fry. I bet they’d bring so much flavor to any dishes!
This chicken zucchini stir fry is so simple because we use olives to enhance the flavor there’s no need to add stir-fry sauce. The zucchini and yellow squash turn naturally sweet once they are cooked down a bit, combined with the juicy flavorful chicken. I have a feeling this chicken zucchini stir fry recipe will become one of your favorite go-tos.
How to make tender flavorful chicken breast stir-fry
Oh hey! If you are new to my blog, you’ll quickly find out that stir-fry dishes are my signature go-to. From chicken broccoli stir-fry, Chicken Napa cabbage stir-fry, easy beef broccoli stir-fry, Whole30 Mongolian beef stir-fry, Thai basil beef stir-fry, Chinese pepper steak, Chinese sesame chicken…etc. The list can go on-and-on and there will be more to come. If you love stir-fries as much as I do (or maybe you want to bring your stir-fry chops to the next level), definitely check out the article I wrote on 7 stir-fry mistakes every home cook should avoid.
So my friends, next time when you are in the grocery next, be sure to grab some chicken (breasts or thighs), zucchini, yellow squash, and green olives. Toss them in the wok or skillet and within half an hour (or even shorter) you’ll have a lovely plate of my Chicken Zucchini Stir-Fry, plus extra for the next day’s lunch!
This Chicken Zucchini Stir-Fry is –
Easy
Healthy
Super flavor
Paleo, Whole30, and Keto friendly!
If you give this Chicken Zucchini Stir-Fry a try, be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe. It’ll help my blog tremendously. And if you share on Instagram, tag @iheartumami.ny I would love to see it! Thanks in advance!
Chicken with olives and squash stir fry
Video
Ingredients
Chicken seasonings:
- 1.5 chicken breasts, , thin sliced (alt. chicken thighs)
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1.5 tsp arrowroot powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ⅛ tsp black pepper + ¼ tsp coarse salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Other:
- Avocado oil, or ghee
- 2 to 3 tbsp finely chopped garlic cloves
- ⅛ tsp red chili flakes, , optional
- 2 medium size zucchini
- 2 medium-small yellow squash
- ¼ cup + ½ cup Green olives such as castelvetrano olives, , pitted
Instructions
- Thin slice chicken breasts to a little thicker than ⅛-inch thin. Season with coconut aminos, arrowroot, baking soda, pepper and salt, and olive oil. Gently mix well and set aside in the fridge while preparing other ingredients.
- Dice zucchini and yellow squash to triangle cube shape that’s a little larger than ½ inch at widest point. Try your best to dice them to similar sizes. Finely chop garlic. Set the ingredients aside.
- In a well-heated large stainless steel skillet or cast iron, add 2 tbsp cooking fat. Sear the chicken breasts in one even layer in the skillet over medium-high heat without disturbing until they are in golden brown color (about 3 mins.) then use a fish spatula to flip and sear the flip side (about 2 mins.). The chicken should be almost cooked through before setting them aside along with the pan juice and oil in the skillet.
- Use the same skillet over medium to medium-high heat, add 1.5 tbsp cooking fat. Add garlic and chili pepper flakes. Season with a small pinch of salt and saute until fragrant (about 8 seconds). Add zucchini and yellow squash, season with another pinch of salt, keep sauteing until the squash turn softer but not mushy (about 4-5 mins.). Your skillet should not be watery at this point. Add ¼ + ½ cup pitted green olives and chicken to the skillet. Keep stir-frying until the chicken is completely cooked through.
- Serve hot or in room temperature with broccoli or cauliflower fried rice, mashed sweet potatoes, or steamed rice for a gluten-free meal!
Notes
Nutrition
Love chicken recipes? Also check out my Paleo Asian Chicken Cabbage Salad, Paleo Sweet and Sour Chicken, Paleo Chicken Katsu, and Kung Pao Chicken!
We love this recipe!! I make it more like stew than stir fry but it always comes out delicious and is family favorite!!
You are making me hungry! 😀
So delicious, as always! I had turkey breast and it worked so well! 🙂 Quick to prep and cook, perfect for any day, as the olives really elevate the dish
Hi, Chih Yu. We love so many of your recipes, we keep making the same ones over and over again, but checked in lately to find some new. Tried this and can’t believe the flavor that develops in such a quick, easy dish. The bonus, I finally know how to cook zucchini without making it mushy and watery! Besides eating healthy, tasty dishes, we have learned so many techniques from you and have become much better cooks. We definitely have ChihYu love!
Thank you so much, Ann. I was just thinking about you the other day and it’s so great to hear everyone’s doing well in the family. Appreciate your kind words and support truly. Wish you and the family a very happy holiday season. Please stay in touch! XOXO !
Likewise, ChihYu – Thanks!
Made this tonight. It was wonderful, and quick to make.
That’s awesome. Thanks, Lisa!
This is so simple and delicious. Used thighs.
So lovely to hear. Thanks for sharing, Heather !
Thank you, ChihYu.
What a delightful meal. I love adding olives to savoury dishes to add another level of flavours to the dish!
Thank you, Carol! This is a very simple and practical dish for everyday!
I’m loving the late summer zucchini right now so I can’t wait to try this out, looks so flavorful!
Thanks, Kari! Love green olives. They add so much flavor to chicken!
Made this tonight for dinner and I absolutely loved it. I added some chopped asparagus for extra green ☘️ Thank you so much for always delivering solid recipes I can trust.
You are so very welcome, Katheleen!
I bet the briny olives brings a great flavor to the squash – this dish sounds really interesting!
You totally got it, lady !
Is this meal OK for meal prepping? Do the olives and squash and olives freeze well after cooking?
Hi Jan, I think freezer should be okay if you can avoid freezer burns.
I am obsessed with olives and add chicken… they make the perfect combo. This looks like a great meal prep dish for Sundays!
Thank you, Karen!
I’ve never thought to make a stir fry with zucchini. Brilliant! I get so much squash in my farm share, so I can’t wait to try this.
Thank you, Annemarie. Appreciate it!
I’ve never seen Chinese food or a stir-fry with olives, but why not — delicious and so appealing, especially with the zucchini and your beautiful sauteed meat! These are our favorite olives too.
Thanks, Megan! I love olives. This is an east meets west recipe for sure! So delicious!
Those bright green olive looks so fresh and sweet! My girls are obsessed with olives and I know they will love this dinner!
What a yummy quick dinner, I love cooking stir frys. You used green olives, are they one of the less salty options — asking because I don’t use olives much and don’t want a super salty taste.
I love the simple and quick meals like this, especially on weekdays! I love all those textures that you are creating with the various ingredients. Looks fantastic!
I love zucchini in a stir fry! Yum!
I never thought to add olives to this combo but it works! Also love how the chicken tastes on its own with the seasoning!
We are big time olive fans in my home. Those gorgeous green olives look so good in this yummy dish. I love how simple it is, yet so full of flavor.
A one pot wonder…all protein and veggies included: My type of dish! Looks so tasty!