Mediterranean Bowl

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe has several components, but each one is easy to prepare. You can also make the rice, chicken, sauce, and onions at different times and assemble the bowls when you are ready to eat.

• Yellow rice: Jasmine rice is toasted in butter and seasoned with garlic, onion powder, turmeric, chicken broth, salt, and fresh cilantro. You can also use our full Yellow Rice recipe.
• Lemon pepper chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are cut into bite-size pieces and cooked with lemon pepper seasoning, kosher salt, and cooking oil. You can also slice up our Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken.
• Tzatziki sauce: Plain Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper make a cool, creamy sauce. You can also prepare our Homemade Tzatziki Sauce separately.
• Spinach: Fresh spinach adds color and gives the bowls another layer of fresh flavor. Baby spinach works especially well because it is tender and easy to eat.
• Tomatoes: Halved grape or cherry tomatoes add a juicy, slightly sweet bite.
• Cucumbers: English or Persian cucumbers are my first choice because they have thin skins, fewer seeds, and a crisp texture.
• Feta cheese: Crumbled feta adds creamy, salty flavor that goes well with the lemon pepper chicken and tzatziki.
• Pickled red onions: These add tanginess, color, and a little sweetness. Make our easy Pickled Red Onions ahead of time or use store-bought onions.
• Fresh garnishes: Fresh dill, cilantro, parsley, and lemon wedges are all good choices for finishing the bowls.

Ingredient Additions and Substitutions

One of the best things about a Mediterranean Bowl is how easily you can change it. Think of this recipe as a starting point, then add your favorite grains, proteins, vegetables, and sauces.

• Change the rice: Use quinoa, brown rice, couscous, cauliflower rice, or farro. Our Lemon Rice, Orzo Rice, and Jasmine Rice are all good bases.
• Use another protein: Try chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, salmon, shrimp, steak, lamb, ground turkey, falafel, or meatballs. Our Frikadeller Danish Meatballs are also good in these bowls when served without the gravy.
• Make it vegetarian: Leave out the chicken and add chickpeas, lentils, falafel, tofu, or extra vegetables. Roasted chickpeas are especially good when you want a little crunch.
• Add more vegetables: Try roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, shredded carrots, red onion, avocado, roasted cauliflower, zucchini, eggplant, beets, corn, or sun-dried tomatoes.
• Change the sauce: Use Hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, tahini sauce, whipped feta, lemon vinaigrette, or Balsamic Vinaigrette. You can also keep it simple with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
• Add something crunchy: Top the bowls with toasted pita, pita chips, chopped almonds, pistachios, or roasted chickpeas.
• Make it dairy-free: Leave off the feta and replace the tzatziki with Hummus, tahini sauce, or a dairy-free yogurt sauce.
• Adjust the herbs: Parsley can be used in place of cilantro. One reader made this change and loved the results.

How to Make a Mediterranean Bowl

I like to start the rice first, then prepare the chicken and tzatziki while it cooks. Once everything is ready, set out the toppings and let everyone build their own bowl.

Recipe Tips

• Start the rice first. You can cook the chicken and prepare the other ingredients while the rice simmers.
• Toast the uncooked rice. Stirring the rice in butter before adding the broth adds flavor and helps the grains cook up fluffy.
• Cut the chicken evenly. Similar-size pieces will cook at the same rate and are less likely to become dry.
• Do not crowd the skillet. Use a large skillet so the chicken browns instead of steaming. Cook it in two batches when necessary.
• Check the chicken with a thermometer. Chicken is safely cooked when the thickest pieces reach 165°F.
• Remove moisture from the cucumber. After dicing the cucumber for the tzatziki, pat it dry or gently squeeze out excess liquid so the sauce does not become watery.
• Use English or Persian cucumbers. Their thin skins and smaller seeds make them especially good for fresh bowls.
• Keep warm and cold ingredients separate. Warm the chicken and rice before adding the spinach, vegetables, feta, onions, and sauce.
• Put out the toppings separately. This lets everyone build their own bowl and works especially well for families or dinner guests.
• Use shortcuts when you need them. Rotisserie chicken, store-bought tzatziki, microwaveable rice, and prepared pickled onions can turn this into a very quick lunch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Make Ahead and Storage

These Mediterranean Bowls are one of my favorite meal-prep lunches because nearly every component can be made ahead.

Cook the rice and chicken, prepare the tzatziki, chop the vegetables, and make the pickled red onions in advance. Store each component in a separate airtight container so the vegetables and spinach stay crisp.

For individual meal-prep containers, place the rice and chicken together on one side. Keep the vegetables in a separate compartment when possible, and pack the tzatziki in a small covered container.

Store the prepared ingredients in the refrigerator and use them within 3 to 4 days. When you are ready to eat, microwave the rice and chicken for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the cold vegetables, feta, onions, and sauce.

The cooked chicken and rice can also be frozen separately. Let them cool completely, transfer them to freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. I do not recommend freezing the cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, feta, or tzatziki because their texture can change.

For even more lunches you can prepare ahead, see our collection of Easy Lunch Ideas.

Pairing Ideas

These bowls are a complete meal on their own, but they are also good with a fresh Greek Salad, Mediterranean Flatbread Pizza, or Greek Pasta Salad. Serve with Homemade Hummus and Tzatziki Sauce on the side. For an easy appetizer, add warm pita bread and our Jalapeno Greek Yogurt Dip. Then some easy Baklava for dessert.

More Greek Inspired Recipes

Create a full Mediterranean feast with your Mediterranean Bowl by making a few of these bright and fresh recipes:

Salads

Greek Tortellini Salad

Crockpot

Crockpot Chicken Gyros

Dinner

Lemon Salmon

Dinner

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

• Greek Chicken Foil Packets
• Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki
• Easy Lemon Rice
• Baked Lemon Chicken
• Lemon Orzo Salad
• Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade