Spiced Grilled Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Middle Eastern-inspired salad with aromatic spiced grilled chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy yogurt dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
04 - 2 teaspoons ground coriander
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
11 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Salad

12 - 1 large cucumber, diced
13 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
14 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 3.5 ounces mixed salad greens
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Yogurt Dressing

17 - 7 ounces plain Greek yogurt
18 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
19 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
20 - 1 garlic clove, minced
21 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
22 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How-To:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Whisk until well incorporated.
02 - Add chicken to the marinade and toss thoroughly to coat all surfaces. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, preferably up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor development.
03 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet to medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through with light charring. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - In a large bowl, combine diced cucumber, diced tomatoes, sliced red onion, mixed salad greens, and chopped fresh parsley.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
06 - Divide the salad mixture among individual serving plates. Top each portion with sliced chicken and drizzle generously with yogurt dressing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spice blend smells like a spice market but uses pantry staples you probably already own.
  • It tastes indulgent but keeps you feeling light, even on the hottest days.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the chicken soaks up more lemon and garlic.
  • You can prep the chicken in the morning and have dinner on the table in fifteen minutes.
02 -
  • Do not skip resting the chicken after cooking, cutting it too soon releases all the juices onto the cutting board instead of into your mouth.
  • If your spices smell flat or dusty, they are too old and will make the dish taste dull, fresher spices make all the difference.
  • Pat the chicken dry before marinating so the spices stick instead of sliding off.
03 -
  • Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness instead of cutting into the chicken, that way you keep all the juices locked in.
  • If you want char marks without a grill, crank your oven broiler to high and cook the chicken on a wire rack for the last two minutes.
  • For meal prep, keep the chicken, salad, and dressing in separate containers and assemble each serving fresh so nothing gets soggy.
Go Back