Spiced Grilled Chicken Salad (Printable)

Aromatic grilled chicken with fresh vegetables and creamy yogurt dressing, inspired by Middle Eastern flavors.

# Components:

→ 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 oz mixed salad greens
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Yogurt Dressing

17 - 7 oz 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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chicken stays juicy and tender because the yogurt marinade does half the work for you.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, which means you can have dinner ready even on a busy weeknight.
  • The spices create layers of warmth without any actual heat, so even picky eaters tend to love it.
  • Leftovers taste incredible the next day, stuffed into pita or eaten cold straight from the fridge.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time after cooking the chicken, cutting it too soon will make all the juices run out onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat.
  • If your spices are old, they won't deliver the same punch, so check the dates and replace anything that smells faint or dusty.
  • The yogurt dressing thickens as it sits, so thin it out with a splash of water or extra lemon juice if you're making it ahead.
03 -
  • Marinate the chicken in the morning before work and it'll be ready to cook the moment you get home, dinner on the table in twenty minutes.
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat beautifully and gives you those perfect charred edges.
  • Double the spice mix and keep it in a jar, it's incredible on roasted vegetables or stirred into rice.
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