A delicious high protein dinner loaded with Mediterranean flavors! These tzatziki chicken bowls are made with spicy yogurt marinated chicken thighs, homemade tzatziki sauce + a refreshing cucumber-avocado salad. Serve everything over rice & garnish with crumbled feta for a healthy meal the entire family will love! (Great for meal-prep too!)
If you’re like me and trying to add more protein to your diet – you HAVE to try these tzatziki chicken bowls! (I like to call them “power bowls” because they’re loaded with 3x the protein.) My husband and I can’t get enough of them!
I just love all the flavors in this dish. This chicken is marinated in a mix of Greek yogurt, lemon juice and smoky spices giving it the perfect balance of savory with a touch of heat. It’s then cooled down by a vibrant cucumber-avocado salad that brings so much freshness to the dish.
But what really ties these bowls together is my homemade tzatziki. It’s a zesty Mediterranean sauce made up of plain Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, garlic and fresh herbs. We love it’s creamy consistency and garlicky flavor!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Chicken thighs: Use boneless skinless chicken thighs for the best results. They’re juicy, tender and perfect for soaking up all those bold Mediterraneaan flavors.
Plain Greek yogurt: The main component in your chicken marinade! (Using Greek yogurt helps tenderize the chicken and infuses it with a touch of tang.) I always use 0% plain Greek yogurt for ours.
Olive oil: We use Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil in all of our marinades. (It’s lighter in flavor and won’t overpower the other ingredients.) Adding a little olive oil to the marinade helps keep the chicken moist while deeply flavoring the meat.
Garlic: A neccesity for every great marinade! You’ll need 5 minced garlic cloves for this Mediterranean-style chicken marinade.
Cucumbers: Use mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers for the best results. (They have less seeds and a thinner skin than regular cucumbers making them perfect for this salad.)
Avocado: Adds a creamy component to your salad along with healthy fats to balance the dish.
Fresh herbs: Fresh dill and chives add herby freshness to the salad.
Lemons: Fresh lemon juice helps liven up the chicken marinade along with the dressing for your cucumber salad.
White rice: Steamed white rice is used as the base for these healthy chicken bowls.
Pickled onions: An optional ingredient but we LOVE the tang it adds!
Tzatziki: I love using my homemade tzatziki recipe! (It’s ridiculously simple to make and so flavorful.) Feel free to use your favorite store-bought tzatziki instead.
Spices: Smoked paprika, dried oregano, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper infuse the chicken with subtle smoky flavors and a pinch of heat.
How To Make Tzatziki Chicken Bowls
1. Marinate the chicken. Mix the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl then add the chicken thighs and toss until they’re fully coated. Cover and let marinate for 30 minutes – 1 hour.
2. Cook the chicken. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Remove the chicken from the bowl and place them in your prepared dish. (I’ll usually spoon any leftover marinade over the chicken.) Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Alternatively you can sear the chicken on both sides before baking them.) Slice or dice the chicken once done.
3. Make the tzatziki (if using homemade tzatziki). Mix the tzatziki ingredients together in a bowl then cover and keep it chilled in the refrigerator.
4. Make the cucumber salad. Mix the salad ingredients together and season with black pepper, to taste. (Taste again and adjust seasonings if needed.)
5. Assemble & serve. Add a scoop of white rice to the bottom of each bowl. Layer the diced chicken, cucumber salad, tzatziki, pickled onions, and tomatoes (if using) over the top. Garnish with feta cheese and serve.
Toppings & Serving Suggestions
We like to keep the toppings pretty simple for these chicken bowls. Fresh veggies, pickled condiments and fresh herbs are all fantastic ideas! (Anything with a little Mediterranean flare is fair game in my opinion.😉) Try serving them with crispy pita chips for a fun “chips and dip” style meal too! Below are a few of our favorite toppings and some yummy substitutions:
- Sliced cherry tomatoes
- Sliced pepperoncini
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Pita chips
- Warm pita bread
- Replace the rice for cauliflower rice! (Sometimes I’ll do a mix of the two.)
Serving these bowls for a group? Turn it into a fun “build it yourself” bar! Provide a variety of toppings for your guests to mix and match. It’s like a burrito bar but Mediterranean-style!
Why you’ll love this tzatziki chicken bowl recipe!
- Healthy & satisfying! This bowl is loaded with lean protein & fresh veggies making it a nourishing meal you can feel good about!
- Customize it! Make these bowls your own by using all your favorite ingredients – there’s so many options for toppings!
- A high protein meal! Chicken marinated in Greek yogurt + a Greek yogurt-based tzatziki sauce means 3x the protein!
- Perfect for meal prep! Prep all the components beforehand then divide them into your favorite to-go containers. These bowls are perfect for an easy lunch during the week!
More healthy bowl recipes you might like:
- Easy Hummus Chicken Bowls
- Chili Lime Shrimp Bowl with Mango-Avocado Salsa
- BBQ Salmon Bowls with Mango-Avocado Salsa
[Made one of my recipes? Tag my Instagram @kalefornia_kravings & leave a review in the comments – I love seeing what you create!]
Tzatziki Chicken Bowls with Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
For the chicken bowls:
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Steamed white rice, for the bowls
- Crumbled feta cheese, for garnish
- Pickled red onion, for garnish (optional)
- Sliced cherry tomatoes, for garnish (optional)
For the cucumber-avocado salad:
- 3 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 2 small avocados, diced
- 2 Tbsp fresh chives, sliced
- 2 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1½ tsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
For the homemade tzatziki* (optional):
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2-3 mini cucumbers, grated
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried dill)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken. Mix the greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, cumin and black pepper together in a large bowl. Add the chicken thighs and toss until they're fully coated.Cover and let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes- overnight.
- Make the tzatziki (if using homemade tzatziki). While the chicken marinates, prepare the tzatziki by adding the greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, fresh dill, olive oil, salt and black pepper to a bowl.Wrap the grated cucumber in a few paper towels (or place it in a cheese cloth) and wring out as much liquid as possible. Add it to the bowl with the rest of your ingredients and stir until fully combined. (Taste and adjust the pepper if needed.) Cover and keep the tzatziki stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.
- Cook the chicken. Once the chicken is done marinating, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.Remove the chicken thighs from the bowl and place them in your prepared dish. (I'll usually spoon any leftover marinade on top of the chicken before baking.)Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Alternatively you can sear the chicken on both sides before baking them.) Slice or dice the chicken once done.
- Make the cucumber salad. Mix all the salad ingredients together and season with black pepper, to taste. (Taste again and adjust seasonings if needed.)
- Assemble & serve. Add a scoop of white rice to the bottom of each bowl. Layer the diced chicken, cucumber salad, tzatziki, pickled onions, and tomatoes (if using) over the top. Garnish with feta cheese and serve.
This was delicious! The chicken had such great flavor and that was the easiest tzatziki I’ve ever made. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Omg Jill, that makes me so happy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
This was so delicious. The flavor was amazing and it was exactly what I was looking for in a recipe. The entire family loved it.
Hi Brittany! I’m so happy to hear that – so glad it was a hit! 🙂