diff --git a/examples/chef/chef.py b/examples/chef/chef.py
index 299229e890a92f..288a3b79c70e49 100755
--- a/examples/chef/chef.py
+++ b/examples/chef/chef.py
@@ -19,12 +19,13 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import textwrap
-from typing import Sequence
+import shutil
 import yaml
 
 import constants
 import stateful_shell
 
+from typing import Sequence
 
 TermColors = constants.TermColors
 
@@ -164,11 +165,65 @@ def main(argv: Sequence[str]) -> None:
                       action="store_true", dest="do_rpc_console")
     parser.add_option("-y", "--tty", help="Enumerated USB tty/serial interface enumerated for your physical device. E.g.: /dev/ACM0",
                       dest="tty", metavar="TTY", default=None)
+    parser.add_option("", "--generate_zzz", help="Populates zzz_generated/chef/<DEVICE_TYPE>/zap-generated with output of ZAP tool for every device in examples/chef/devices. If this flag is set, all other arguments are ignored except for --bootstrap_zap.",
+                      dest="generate_zzz", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_option("", "--use_zzz", help="Use pre generated output from the ZAP tool found in the zzz_generated folder. Used to decrease execution time of CI jobs", dest="use_zzz", action="store_true")
 
     options, _ = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
     splash()
 
+    #
+    # ZAP bootstrapping
+    #
+
+    if options.do_bootstrap_zap:
+        if sys.platform == "linux" or sys.platform == "linux2":
+            print("Installing ZAP OS package dependencies")
+            shell.run_cmd(
+                f"sudo apt-get install sudo apt-get install node node-yargs npm\
+ libpixman-1-dev libcairo2-dev libpango1.0-dev node-pre-gyp libjpeg9-dev libgif\
+-dev node-typescript")
+        if sys.platform == "darwin":
+            print("Installation of ZAP OS packages not supported on MacOS")
+        if sys.platform == "win32":
+            print(
+                "Installation of ZAP OS packages not supported on Windows")
+
+        print("Running NPM to install ZAP Node.JS dependencies")
+        shell.run_cmd(
+            f"cd {_REPO_BASE_PATH}/third_party/zap/repo/ && npm install")
+
+    #
+    # Populate zzz_generated
+    #
+
+    if options.generate_zzz:
+        chef_zzz_root = os.path.join(_REPO_BASE_PATH, "zzz_generated/chef")
+        chef_devices_dir = os.path.join(_CHEF_SCRIPT_PATH, "devices")
+        print(f"Cleaning {chef_zzz_root}")
+        if not os.path.exists(chef_zzz_root):
+            print(f"{chef_zzz_root} doesn't exist; creating")
+            os.mkdir(chef_zzz_root)
+        else:
+            print(f"Deleting and recreating existing {chef_zzz_root}")
+            shutil.rmtree(chef_zzz_root)
+            os.mkdir(chef_zzz_root)
+        print(f"Generating files in {chef_zzz_root} for all devices")
+        for device_dir_item in os.listdir(chef_devices_dir):
+            target_file_ext = '.zap'
+            if device_dir_item.endswith(target_file_ext):
+                device_name = device_dir_item[:-len(target_file_ext)]
+                print(f"Generating files for {device_name}")
+                device_out_dir = os.path.join(chef_zzz_root, device_name)
+                os.mkdir(device_out_dir)
+                device_out_dir = os.path.join(device_out_dir, "zap-generated")
+                os.mkdir(device_out_dir)
+                shell.run_cmd(f"{_REPO_BASE_PATH}/scripts/tools/zap/generate.py\
+ {_CHEF_SCRIPT_PATH}/devices/{device_name}.zap -o {device_out_dir}")
+                shell.run_cmd(f"touch {device_out_dir}/af-gen-event.h")
+        exit(0)
+
     #
     # Platform Folder
     #
@@ -217,25 +272,6 @@ def main(argv: Sequence[str]) -> None:
         elif options.build_target == "linux":
             print("Linux toolchain update not supported. Skipping")
 
-    #
-    # ZAP bootstrapping
-    #
-
-    if options.do_bootstrap_zap:
-        if sys.platform == "linux" or sys.platform == "linux2":
-            print("Installing ZAP OS package dependencies")
-            shell.run_cmd(
-                f"sudo apt-get install sudo apt-get install node node-yargs npm libpixman-1-dev libcairo2-dev libpango1.0-dev node-pre-gyp libjpeg9-dev libgif-dev node-typescript")
-        if sys.platform == "darwin":
-            print("Installation of ZAP OS packages not supported on MacOS")
-        if sys.platform == "win32":
-            print(
-                "Installation of ZAP OS packages not supported on Windows")
-
-        print("Running NPM to install ZAP Node.JS dependencies")
-        shell.run_cmd(
-            f"cd {_REPO_BASE_PATH}/third_party/zap/repo/ && npm install")
-
     #
     # Cluster customization
     #
@@ -276,6 +312,13 @@ def main(argv: Sequence[str]) -> None:
     #
 
     if options.do_build:
+        if options.use_zzz:
+            print("Using pre-generated ZAP output")
+            zzz_dir = os.path.join(_REPO_BASE_PATH, "zzz_generated/chef", options.sample_device_type_name, "zap-generated")
+            if os.path.exists(gen_dir):
+                shutil.rmtree(gen_dir)
+            shutil.copytree(zzz_dir, gen_dir)
+
         print("Building...")
         if options.do_rpc:
             print("RPC PW enabled")
@@ -331,9 +374,10 @@ def main(argv: Sequence[str]) -> None:
         elif options.build_target == "linux":
             shell.run_cmd(f"cd {_CHEF_SCRIPT_PATH}/linux")
             with open(f"{_CHEF_SCRIPT_PATH}/linux/args.gni", "w") as f:
+                args_gni = os.path.join(_REPO_BASE_PATH, "config/standalone/args.gni")
                 f.write(textwrap.dedent(f"""\
                         import("//build_overrides/chip.gni")
-                        import("\\${{chip_root}}/config/standalone/args.gni")
+                        import("{args_gni}")
                         chip_shell_cmd_server = false
                         target_defines = ["CHIP_DEVICE_CONFIG_DEVICE_VENDOR_ID={options.vid}", "CHIP_DEVICE_CONFIG_DEVICE_PRODUCT_ID={options.pid}", "CONFIG_ENABLE_PW_RPC={'1' if options.do_rpc else '0'}"]
                         """))