Description
A balanced and elegant bowl featuring spicy, herb-scented ground chicken, tangy yogurt sauce, and crisp vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked quinoa or brown rice (fluffy, warm)
- 1 lb ground chicken (preferably 93% lean)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1–2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil for cooking
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, drained slightly
- 1/2 cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup diced cucumber (for crunch)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/3 cup chopped Kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the base grains so they are warm and fluffy; keep covered.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent and golden (about 4–5 minutes).
- Add garlic, oregano, cumin, and smoked paprika; stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Push aromatics to the side, add another 1 tbsp olive oil if needed, then add the ground chicken. Cook until well-browned and no longer pink (6–8 minutes).
- Deglaze the pan with a splash of water or a squeeze of lemon to lift browned bits; scrape them into the chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, make the yogurt sauce: combine Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth; refrigerate briefly.
- Assemble bowls: mound warm grains, spoon a generous portion of ground chicken, arrange cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and feta around the meat. Drizzle yogurt sauce over the chicken and finish with chopped parsley and a lemon wedge.
Notes
For meal prep, store components separately. Avoid adding yogurt until serving to preserve texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg