Description
Delight in vibrant Mediterranean flavors with lemon-dill marinated chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy tzatziki served over fluffy basmati rice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1¼ lb chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1½ tbsp lemon zest
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2½ tbsp honey
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1½ tsp oregano
- 1½ tsp basil
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 2 cups diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chopped cucumber
- 4 cups chopped lettuce
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup crumbled feta
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (Fage preferred)
- ½ cup grated cucumber, squeezed dry
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp finely chopped dill
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a mixing bowl or zip-top bag, mix together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add the cubed chicken, ensuring it gets fully coated. Seal or cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight for the best flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the marinated chicken in batches, cooking for 5 to 6 minutes, or until it turns golden brown and is cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Prepare the rice: While the chicken cooks, prepare the basmati rice according to the package directions. Fluff the rice with a fork and keep it warm.
- Chop the vegetables: Dice the tomatoes, chop the cucumber, slice the lettuce and red onion, chop the parsley, and crumble the feta. Arrange them beautifully on a platter for easy serving.
- Make the tzatziki sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and dill until smooth and well-combined. Let it rest in the fridge during the last cooking phases for enhanced flavor.
- Assemble the bowls: Start with a generous scoop of warm rice at the base of each bowl. Layer on the chopped lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and feta.
- Top with chicken and tzatziki: Place the cooked chicken atop the vibrant vegetable layer. Finish with a generous spoonful of tzatziki sauce, inviting those flavors to mingle.
- Serve or store: Enjoy immediately for a hearty, satisfying meal or store in airtight containers for meal prep, keeping each ingredient separate until serving.
Notes
Marinate the chicken for maximum flavor. Feel free to customize vegetables based on the season.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Mediterranean, Chicken, Healthy, Meal Prep, Tzatziki, Lemon, High Protein