Greek Chicken Bowls with Tzatziki Sauce

Shawarma spiced chicken, turmeric rice, tomatoes, olives and a creamy tzatziki sauce come together for yummy Greek Chicken Bowls!

Ingredients:

For the chicken:

• 1 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp pepper

• dash of cayenne pepper

• 3 raw chicken breasts, thawed

• 1 Tbsp oil

For the turmeric rice:

• 1 cup rice

• 2 cups water

• 1/4-1/2 tsp turmeric

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp pepper

• 1 bay leaf

For the tzatziki sauce:

• 1 medium cucumber

• 1 1/2 cups plain greek yogurt

• 1 Tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp minced garlic

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1/4 tsp dill weed

• pinch of black pepper

Other ingredients:

• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced

• 1/2 red onion, diced

• Sliced olives

• Feta cheese

Directions:

For the chicken:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and mix the spices in a small bowl.

2. Pat the chicken dry and place on a foil-lined pan.

3. Pour the oil on the chicken and rub on both sides. Divide the seasoning blend between the chicken breasts, rubbing evenly on both sides.

4. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

5. Move the chicken to a cutting board and chop once it has cooled.

For the rice:

1. Instant Pot: Stir all of the ingredients together and cook in the Instant Pot for 5 minutes with 10 minutes of natural release. Discard the bay leaf before serving.

2. Stovetop: Stir together all of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaf before serving.

For the tzatziki sauce:

1. Grate the cucumber using the large holes of a box grater or finely dice with a knife. Use paper towels to squeeze the cucumber dry. It's important to get rid of excess liquid or the sauce will be too runny.

2. In a bowl, stir together the cucumber with all of the remaining ingredients. Store in an airtight bowl for up to 7 days.

Assembly:

1. Combine all of the ingredients together and enjoy!

Notes:

• I’ve really enjoyed substituting the chicken with chickpeas! Drain 1 can of chickpeas and toss with the seasonings and oil. Pour into a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees.

• Hummus would also be really yummy if you wanted to sub out the tzatziki sauce! Try my hummus recipe here.

• If you notice your tzatziki sauce is really watery, make sure you are squeezing out a lot of the liquid or try just doing half of a grated cucumber (and chop up the rest to add to the bowls).

Love this recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment or messaging me on Instagram! I'd love to hear what you think.