Greek Chicken Salad Feta (Printable)
Grilled chicken over crisp veggies with creamy whipped feta dressing. Mediterranean flavors in every bite.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
08 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
→ Salad
09 - 6 cups romaine or mixed salad greens, chopped
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
12 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
14 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
15 - 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
→ Creamy Whipped Feta Dressing
16 - 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
17 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
18 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
19 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
20 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
21 - 2 tablespoons water (as needed, for thinning)
22 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, dried oregano, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat evenly. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature.
02 - Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the marinated chicken breasts for 6 to 7 minutes per side, until fully cooked through and juices run clear. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
03 - Combine the crumbled feta, Greek yogurt, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and a pinch of black pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add water one tablespoon at a time until the dressing reaches a pourable consistency.
04 - Arrange the chopped salad greens on a large serving platter or in individual bowls. Layer the cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, and green bell pepper evenly over the greens.
05 - Arrange the sliced grilled chicken over the assembled salad vegetables.
06 - Drizzle the whipped feta dressing generously over the salad and chicken. Garnish with chopped fresh dill. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The whipped feta dressing is so velvety and tangy that you will want to put it on everything from roasted vegetables to toasted pita.
- It comes together in about half an hour which makes it perfect for warm evenings when you want something satisfying without heating up the whole house.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step after grilling because cutting into the chicken immediately lets all those delicious juices escape onto the board instead of staying inside the meat.
- Block feta whipped in a food processor achieves a completely different texture than crumbled feta stirred by hand and once you try the whipped version you will never go back.
03 -
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel before marinating so the oil and spices adhere directly to the meat instead of sliding off on a wet surface.
- Taste your feta before adding salt to the dressing because some feta is significantly saltier than others and you cannot fix an over salted dressing once it is blended.