Name: Healthy Grilled Chicken Greek Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: PT-491161H3M38S
Total time: PT-491161H3M38S
Cuisine: mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6-8 oz each); 1 tablespoon olive oil (for chicken); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced; 2 ripe tomatoes, diced; 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced; 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved; 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (for dressing); 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (for dressing); Salt and black pepper to taste (for dressing); optional: Fresh parsley for garnish

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Enjoy a healthy and flavorful Greek salad with tender grilled chicken breast, perfect for a light lunch or dinner.

Healthy Grilled Chicken Greek Salad Recipe 16

This easy Greek salad with chicken is a delicious way to incorporate Mediterranean-inspired meals into your routine. It’s a fantastic option for busy weeknights or a refreshing weekend meal.

This recipe is designed for home cooks who want to create a vibrant, satisfying dish without spending hours in the kitchen. We’ll walk you through each step, ensuring your grilled chicken is perfectly seasoned and your salad is bursting with classic Greek flavors.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This Healthy Grilled Chicken Greek Salad is a true winner for so many reasons. First, it’s incredibly versatile, making it ideal for a light lunch, a satisfying dinner, or even meal prep for the week ahead. It’s perfect for anyone looking to eat healthier without sacrificing flavor, fitting beautifully into Mediterranean-inspired diets. Families will appreciate how customizable it is; picky eaters can easily pick out their favorite components while others enjoy the full, vibrant medley of ingredients. It’s also an excellent choice for entertaining, as it looks impressive but comes together with minimal fuss. This recipe shines when you need something fresh, filling, and flavorful that won’t weigh you down, making it a go-to for warmer weather or when you simply crave something bright and nutritious.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients before you start cooking makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable. This recipe uses readily available items you can find at any grocery store, ensuring a stress-free cooking experience. We’ll focus on fresh produce and lean protein to build a balanced and delicious meal.

INGREDIENTS:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6-8 oz each)
1 tablespoon olive oil (for chicken)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (for dressing)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (for dressing)
Salt and black pepper to taste (for dressing)
Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish

For simple substitutions, if you don’t have red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar can work in a pinch, though the flavor will be slightly different. If Kalamata olives aren’t your favorite, any black olive variety will do, but Kalamata offers that signature Greek taste. For a dairy-free option, you can omit the feta cheese or use a plant-based feta alternative. Feel free to adjust the amount of red onion to your preference; if you find raw onion too strong, you can soak the slices in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow their flavor before adding them to the salad.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed for efficiency, making it perfect for busy schedules.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes (for grilling chicken)
Total Time: 25-27 minutes

This quick turnaround means you can have a healthy, homemade meal on the table in under half an hour, even on your busiest days.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating this delicious Greek salad with grilled chicken is straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfect result every time.

Prepare the Chicken for Grilling: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Rub this mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts. This seasoning will create a flavorful crust when grilled.
Grill the Chicken to Perfection: Preheat your grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat. Once hot, place the seasoned chicken breasts on the grill. Cook for 5-6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the chicken is no longer pink in the center. You’ll see nice grill marks forming on the outside. Remove from heat and let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes. This resting period helps the chicken stay juicy.
Dice the Vegetables for the Salad: While the chicken is grilling and resting, prepare your vegetables. Dice the cucumber and tomatoes into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion. Halve the pitted Kalamata olives. Place all these prepared vegetables into a large salad bowl.
Whisk Together the Simple Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, combine 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, and salt and black pepper to taste. Whisk vigorously until the dressing is well combined and slightly emulsified. The Dijon mustard helps to bind the dressing.
Slice the Grilled Chicken: After resting, slice the grilled chicken breasts against the grain into 1/2-inch thick strips or dice them into cubes, depending on your preference. Cutting against the grain ensures tender pieces of chicken.
Assemble and Serve the Salad: Add the sliced or diced grilled chicken to the bowl with the prepared vegetables. Crumble the feta cheese over the top. Pour the dressing over the entire salad. Toss gently to combine all the ingredients, ensuring everything is evenly coated with the dressing. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This Healthy Grilled Chicken Greek Salad is incredibly adaptable, making it easy to fit into various preferences and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can serve the grilled chicken on the side and offer the salad components deconstructed, allowing children to choose what they want. They might prefer plain cucumber and tomato slices rather than mixed into a salad. You could also add a side of warm pita bread for dipping.

For swaps, consider adding other fresh vegetables like bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange work wonderfully) or even some crisp romaine lettuce for added crunch and volume. If you prefer a different protein, grilled shrimp or even chickpeas can be excellent alternatives to chicken. For a heartier meal, you can serve this salad over a bed of quinoa or alongside some whole-wheat couscous.

When serving for a party or buffet, arrange the salad components separately on a platter and let guests build their own, with the dressing on the side. This allows for dietary restrictions and personal preferences. Optional toppings that elevate the experience include a sprinkle of fresh dill, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the finished salad, or even a few toasted pine nuts for added texture. You can also add a dollop of hummus on the side for an extra Mediterranean touch.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for can help you achieve perfect results every time with your Grilled Chicken Greek Salad.

One frequent mistake is overcooking the chicken. Overcooked chicken breast becomes dry and tough, losing its tender texture. To avoid this, always use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Remove the chicken from the heat as soon as it reaches this temperature, as it will continue to cook slightly while resting. Resting the chicken for 5 minutes after grilling is also crucial for juicy results; cutting it too soon allows the juices to escape.

Another common error is overdressing the salad. While a good dressing is key, too much can make the salad soggy and overpower the fresh flavors of the vegetables. Start by adding about two-thirds of the dressing, toss, and then add more only if needed. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away.

Not patting the chicken dry before seasoning and grilling is another oversight. Excess moisture on the surface of the chicken will steam rather than sear, preventing those delicious grill marks and a flavorful crust. Always pat the chicken thoroughly with paper towels.

Finally, using dull vegetables can diminish the salad’s appeal. Ensure your cucumbers and tomatoes are firm and ripe, and your red onion is fresh. Old or soft vegetables will lack the crispness and vibrant flavor essential for a great Greek salad.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

Proper storage is key to enjoying your Healthy Grilled Chicken Greek Salad for longer, and with a few tricks, you can even prepare components ahead of time.

To store leftover salad, it’s best to keep the dressing separate from the main salad if possible. If the salad is already dressed, it will still keep, but the vegetables might become a bit softer over time. Store the dressed salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. The cucumber and tomato can release some water, so you might notice a little liquid at the bottom of the container; this is normal.

For make-ahead convenience, you can grill the chicken up to 3 days in advance. Once cooked and cooled, slice or dice it and store it in an airtight container in the

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.

Healthy Grilled Chicken Greek Salad Recipe

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