Description
Mediterranean flavors dance in this Zesty Tzatziki Chicken Salad, blending Greek yogurt, cucumber, and herbs with tender chicken. Crisp greens and tangy dressing make you crave each refreshing bite of summer’s coolest lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
Vegetables and Produce:
- 1 head green leaf lettuce, torn into pieces
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cucumbers (1 sliced, 1 grated and drained)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dill, chopped
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh dill
- Lemon zest
Instructions
- Chop crisp lettuce into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a spacious mixing vessel.
- Dice cooked chicken into uniform, tender chunks and scatter over lettuce.
- Thinly slice red onion into delicate rings and sprinkle across the salad.
- Cut cucumber into petite cubes and distribute evenly throughout the mixture.
- Halve cherry tomatoes and gently fold into the salad components.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine creamy Greek yogurt with finely grated cucumber.
- Mince fresh garlic cloves and incorporate into the yogurt base.
- Drizzle extra virgin olive oil into the yogurt mixture, creating a smooth tzatziki dressing.
- Finely chop fresh dill and add to the dressing, releasing aromatic herbaceous notes.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice into the dressing, balancing the creamy texture with bright acidity.
- Season the tzatziki dressing with a pinch of salt and a crack of black pepper.
- Pour the vibrant dressing over the salad and toss gently to ensure even coating.
- Garnish with additional dill fronds and delicate lemon zest for a final flourish.
- Serve immediately to preserve the salad’s crisp texture and fresh flavors.
Notes
- Pat chicken dry before cooking to ensure a crispy exterior and prevent steaming, resulting in better texture and flavor absorption.
- Strain grated cucumber for the tzatziki dressing to remove excess water, preventing a watery consistency and maintaining a creamy texture.
- Make the salad low-carb by replacing lettuce with mixed greens or spinach, and swap regular yogurt with full-fat Greek yogurt for added protein and richness.
- Prepare chicken in advance and chill to enhance the salad’s refreshing quality, making it perfect for meal prep or quick summer lunches.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 227 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg