Grilled Chicken with Herbed Yogurt Sauce, Rice & Cucumber-Tomato Salad
This dish features smoky grilled chicken paired with a creamy, tangy herbed yogurt sauce, fluffy rice, and a refreshing cucumber-tomato salad. It’s light yet satisfying, packed with protein, and full of classic Mediterranean flavors.
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus marinating)
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Servings:4
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1 lb (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
Salt & black pepper
For the Herbed Yogurt Sauce:
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 tbsp olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 garlic clove, grated
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh dill or mint, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
For the Rice:
1 1/2 cups basmati or jasmine rice
3 cups water or chicken broth
1 tbsp olive oil or butter
Pinch of salt
For the Cucumber-Tomato Salad:
1 cucumber, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Salt & black pepper
Optional garnish:
Crumbled feta
Fresh mint leaves
Instructions
Marinate chicken
Mix olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Coat chicken and marinate for at least 20 minutes (up to overnight).
Cook rice
Rinse rice, then cook with water/broth, olive oil/butter, and salt until fluffy.
Grill chicken
Heat grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high.
Cook chicken 5–6 minutes per side (depending on thickness) until golden and cooked through.
Rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
Make herbed yogurt sauce
Mix yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, dill/mint, salt, and pepper.
Make cucumber-tomato salad
Toss cucumber, tomatoes, onion, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper.
Assemble plate
Serve grilled chicken over rice, drizzle with herbed yogurt sauce, and add cucumber-tomato salad on the side.
Garnish with feta or mint if desired.
Notes & Tips
For extra flavor, grill lemon halves alongside the chicken and squeeze over before serving.
You can swap rice with quinoa, bulgur, or couscous.
The yogurt sauce doubles as a dip for veggies or pita.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 520 kcal
Protein: 40g
Carbs: 50g
Fat: 18g
Fiber: 5g