🥗 Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 cucumber
- 2 tomatoes
- 1/2 red onion
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- Kalamata olives
- 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp olive oil (pantry staple)
- Salt & pepper (pantry staple)
Instructions
- Season chicken and grill or pan-sear 5–6 min per side; rest and slice.
- Chop cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion; toss with olives, oil, lemon juice, salt.
- Top with sliced chicken and crumbled feta.
Tips
- Salt the tomatoes and cucumber and let them sit 10 minutes, then drain. They release a lot of water that would otherwise dilute the dressing.
- Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes if raw onion tastes harsh to you. It takes the edge off without cooking it.
- Rest the chicken 5 minutes before slicing. Cutting straight away pushes the juices onto the board instead of keeping them in the meat.
Substitutions
- Chicken breasts
- Thighs are juicier and more forgiving. Prawns work, or chickpeas for a vegetarian version — a traditional Greek salad has no chicken at all.
- Feta
- Block feta in brine, not pre-crumbled, which is drier and often has anti-caking agents. Ricotta salata is a milder substitute.
- Kalamata olives
- Any brined black olive. Rinse them if they're very salty.
- Lemon
- Red wine vinegar is the more traditional acid here — use about half as much as lemon juice.
Storage & reheating
Dressed salad goes limp within a few hours. The components keep separately for 3 days and the chicken is good cold. Keep feta in its brine.
Common questions
Is this an authentic Greek salad?
A traditional horiatiki has tomato, cucumber, onion, pepper, olives and a slab of feta — no lettuce and no chicken. This is a fair adaptation, but worth knowing the difference.
Can I make it ahead for lunches?
Yes, if the dressing stays separate. Chop everything into one container and dress just before eating.
What's the best way to cook the chicken?
A grill or grill pan gives the best flavour, but a hot skillet works. The key is not moving it for the first 5 minutes so it develops a crust.