Greek Salad with Chicken (Printable Version)

Mediterranean salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olives, and grilled chicken in a zesty olive oil dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grilled Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
04 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
05 - 1 garlic clove, minced
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Salad

08 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
09 - 1 large cucumber, sliced into half-moons
10 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
11 - ¾ cup Kalamata olives, pitted
12 - ¾ cup feta cheese, cut into cubes or crumbled
13 - ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

→ Dressing

14 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
15 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
16 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
17 - ½ teaspoon salt
18 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - In a bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Add chicken breasts and marinate for at least 15 minutes.
02 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and juices run clear. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
05 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss gently to mix. Top with grilled chicken slices and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
06 - Serve immediately, offering extra dressing on the side if preferred.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, making it perfect for those nights when you want something nourishing without the fuss.
  • The chicken stays juicy and tender when you respect the marinating time, and suddenly you have a meal that feels restaurant-quality but entirely your own.
  • Everything tastes better the next day, so leftovers become an even better lunch than the dinner you originally planned.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step; I learned this the hard way when I tried to rush and ended up with bland chicken that tasted like it was just cooked instead of seasoned.
  • The salad components can be prepped ahead of time, but don't dress it until you're ready to serve, or the tomatoes will release their liquid and turn everything soggy.
  • If your tomatoes aren't flavorful, the whole dish suffers; there's nowhere to hide when everything is this simple.
03 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before adding it to the marinade; excess moisture prevents the seasoning from sticking properly and creates steam that prevents browning.
  • Keep the dressing at room temperature so it coats the cold salad vegetables evenly instead of congealing when it hits something chilled from the refrigerator.
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