Description
This Tzatziki Chicken Salad is a refreshing twist on a classic dish, featuring tender chicken and a creamy homemade tzatziki dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or meal prep, it’s packed with flavor and Mediterranean charm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 cup grated English cucumber
- 1/4 cup freshly chopped dill
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: If your chicken isn't already shredded, now's the time! Use two forks to pull apart the cooked chicken until you have nice, bite-sized shreds. Place the shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl.
- Prepare the Cucumber: Grate your English cucumber using the large holes of a box grater. Transfer the grated cucumber to a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towels. Squeeze out as much excess water as you possibly can. This step is critical to prevent a watery chicken salad. You'll be surprised how much liquid comes out! Add the squeezed, grated cucumber to the bowl with the chicken.
- Mince Garlic and Chop Dill: Peel and mince your garlic cloves very finely. Chop your fresh dill. Add both to the bowl.
- Dice Red Onion: Finely dice the red onion. If you want to temper its sharpness, you can rinse it under cold water after dicing, then pat it very dry before adding it to the bowl.
- Combine the Dressing Base: Add the full-fat Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, and olive oil to the bowl with the chicken, cucumber, garlic, dill, and red onion.
- Season and Mix: Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Start with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, then adjust to your taste. Using a spatula or large spoon, gently mix all the ingredients together until everything is well combined and the chicken is thoroughly coated in the creamy tzatziki dressing.
- Chill (Optional but Recommended): For the best flavor, I highly recommend covering the bowl and refrigerating the Tzatziki Chicken Salad for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and deepen, making the salad even more delicious.
- Serve: Give it a final stir before serving. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: This salad is incredibly versatile! Serve it in lettuce wraps, pita pockets, or as a dip with crackers. You can also enhance the flavor with feta, olives, or cherry tomatoes. Remember to squeeze out the water from the grated cucumber for the best texture.