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Chopped Greek Chicken Salad with Pita Croutons and Tzatziki Dressing
5 from 94 votes

Chopped Greek Chicken Salad with Pita Croutons and Tzatziki Dressing

This Chopped Greek Chicken Salad blends grilled marinated chicken with fresh vegetables, olives, feta cheese, pita croutons and a creamy tzatziki dressing. The chicken is marinated in lemon, garlic, and buttermilk before grilling, imparting tender, flavorful meat. The salad’s crisp romaine, cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes combine with briny olives and tangy feta.

Prep Time
12 hrs
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
13 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean

Ingredients

Tzatziki Dressing:
  • ½ English cucumber peeled and finely diced, seedless variety
  • ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • ½ cup yogurt plain, Greek
  • ½ cup mayonnaise light or regular
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon parsley dried
  • Pinch black pepper
Greek Chicken Marinade:
  • 1 ½ pounds chicken breast I like to use thin cut chicken
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice from about 2 large lemons, fresh
  • ⅓ cup buttermilk
  • 4 cloves garlic finely minced or pressed (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 2 teaspoons oregano dried
  • 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper I use coarsely ground; use less if finely ground
Pita Croutons:
  • 4 to 5 to 5 pita bread or flatbread, see note for recipes
Salad:
  • 3 romaine lettuce chopped (about 8 cups, small to medium heads
  • ½ to 1 to 1 English cucumber peeled and diced, seedless variety
  • 1 bell pepper red, yellow or orange, cored, seeded and diced, medium
  • 1 cup kalamata olives or black olives; chopped or sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes or roma tomatoes; chopped
  • ¼ to ½ to ½ red onion sliced into thin slivers
  • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled, amount to taste

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. For the dressing: place the cucumbers in a colander or fine mesh strainer and sprinkle with the 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss. Let the cucumbers sit and drain for 15-20 minutes (this helps the dressing not turn watery). Place the drained cucumbers and remaining dressing ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The dressing can be made up to a week in advance.
  2. For the chicken: place the chicken in a shallow dish or gallon-size ziploc bag. Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, buttermilk, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken, cover (or seal the bag) and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. Grill the chicken on medium-high, discarding excess marinade, until cooked through or an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F at the thickest part. Let the chicken rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving. The chicken can be marinaded, grilled and stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before assembling the salad.
  3. For the pita croutons: cut the pita breads into small squares, about 1/4- to 1/2-inch in size. Place them in an even layer on a baking sheet and toast in a 375 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes (watch closely so they don't burn) until they are golden and crunchy on the outside. The pita croutons can be made 2-3 days in advance and stored in a sealed bag at cool, room temperature (they'll probably keep ahead best in a dry climate vs a humid climate).
  4. For the salad: in a large serving bowl, add the chopped romaine, cucumber, bell peppers, olives, and onion. You can toss all the ingredients together (salad + chicken + dressing + croutons + feta), but if you plan on having leftovers, I suggest tossing only the chopped veggies together and adding chicken, dressing, croutons and feta to each serving (so the leftovers don't get soggy).

Notes

  • Make the tzatziki dressing ahead; it stores well refrigerated for up to one week.
  • Marinate the chicken for at least 8 hours to ensure it stays tender and flavorful after grilling.
  • Pita croutons can be made from store-bought pita or homemade flatbread for added texture in the salad.
  • This salad combines multiple components but comes together quickly if prep is done in advance.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Serving Calories 441kcal (22%) Carbohydrates 33g (11%) Protein 33g (66%) Fat 19g (29%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 89mg (30%) Sodium 1570mg (65%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 6g (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 Serving
Calories 441kcal 22%
Carbohydrates 33g 11%
Protein 33g 66%
Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 1570mg 65%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 6g 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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