Greek Chicken Bowls (Printable)
Marinated chicken over rice with fresh Mediterranean toppings and tangy yogurt sauce
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken Marinade
01 - 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp dried oregano
06 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Rice Base
09 - 1 cup uncooked basmati or jasmine rice
10 - 2 cups water
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Fresh Toppings
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
14 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
16 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
17 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
→ Yogurt Sauce
18 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
19 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
20 - 1 tbsp olive oil
21 - 1 clove garlic, minced
22 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
23 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Add chicken pieces and coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes to 2 hours.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes before fluffing with fork.
03 - Combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped dill, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Mix until smooth and well blended. Refrigerate until serving.
04 - Heat grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and place in hot pan. Cook 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to cutting board and rest 5 minutes before slicing.
05 - Divide cooked rice among 4 serving bowls. Arrange sliced chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and feta over rice. Drizzle generously with yogurt sauce and garnish with fresh parsley.
06 - Serve bowls immediately while chicken is warm. Offer additional lemon wedges on side for squeezing over finished dish.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day planning it
- The yogurt sauce creates this incredible cooling contrast against the warm spiced chicken
- You can prep most components ahead and assemble when hunger strikes
02 -
- Letting the chicken rest after cooking prevents all those juices from running onto your cutting board
- The yogurt sauce thickens up in the fridge, so stir in a teaspoon of water if it needs thinning
03 -
- Pat the chicken dry before adding to the marinade for better sear marks
- Room temperature yogurt blends more smoothly into the sauce