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Greek chicken bowls with marinated chicken, fresh vegetables, rice, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce

Greek Chicken Bowls

Greek Chicken Bowls combine marinated lemon-herb chicken with fresh vegetables, fluffy rice or quinoa, and homemade tzatziki sauce for a healthy Mediterranean-inspired dinner
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Calories: 590

Ingredients
  

  • 4 small chicken breasts about 1 1/4 pounds, will be pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
  • 1/4 cup olive oil for marinade, extra virgin preferred
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest from about 1 large lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt for marinade
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups cooked rice or quinoa from about 2/3 cup uncooked
  • 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2 cups cucumber diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 cups romaine lettuce shredded
  • 1 cup red onion thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt full-fat preferred for tzatziki
  • 1/2 cup grated cucumber squeeze out excess moisture
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice for tzatziki
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for tzatziki
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic about 1 clove
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt for tzatziki, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill

Equipment

  • Air fryer or skillet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Meat mallet
  • Plastic wrap
  • Kitchen towel or cheesecloth

Method
 

  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
  2. Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to exactly 1/2 inch thickness using a meat mallet. Transfer to a shallow bowl or ziplock bag, pour marinade over chicken, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
  3. While chicken marinates, prepare tzatziki sauce by grating cucumber and squeezing out excess liquid with a clean kitchen towel. In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and fresh dill. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate.
  4. Cook rice or quinoa according to package directions (usually 15-20 minutes). While rice cooks, prep vegetables by halving tomatoes, dicing cucumber, shredding lettuce, and slicing red onion.
  5. After chicken has marinated at least 30 minutes, preheat air fryer to 380°F. Place marinated chicken in basket and air fry for 7 minutes. Flip and cook 3-4 minutes more until internal temperature reaches 165°F and chicken is golden brown. If using a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat and cook 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
  6. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Assemble bowls by starting with rice or quinoa, adding vegetables, topping with sliced chicken, and finishing with tzatziki. Drizzle with extra olive oil and lemon juice if desired.

Notes

Store components separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Marinated uncooked chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months (do not freeze fresh vegetables). For vegetarian option, substitute with seasoned chickpeas or grilled halloumi. Pound chicken to even 1/2 inch thickness for accurate cooking time.