Chicken Tzatziki Rice: A Flavorful Greek-Inspired Bowl

This Chicken Tzatziki Rice recipe is your new weeknight dinner hero. Imagine perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken served over a bed of fluffy lemon-herb rice, all brought together with a generous dollop of creamy, homemade tzatziki sauce. It’s a complete, satisfying meal in one bowl that delivers incredible Greek-inspired flavor without the fuss. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting out, this dish is surprisingly simple to make and destined to become a family favorite.

We’ve designed this recipe to be straightforward and packed with helpful tips to ensure your success. From marinating the chicken for maximum tenderness to whipping up the best tzatziki you’ve ever had, we’ll guide you every step of the way. Get ready to create a healthy, vibrant, and delicious chicken rice bowl that tastes like it came from a Mediterranean restaurant.

Why This Chicken Tzatziki Rice Recipe Works

You’ll fall in love with this recipe for its fresh flavors and simple preparation. It’s the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and fresh, making it a standout dish for any occasion.

• Incredibly Flavorful: The simple chicken marinade infuses every bite with garlic, oregano, and lemon, creating a classic Greek flavor profile that is simply irresistible.
• The Perfect Tzatziki: Our recipe focuses on the key steps to a thick, creamy, and non-watery tzatziki sauce. It’s the cool and refreshing element that ties the entire bowl together. For another amazing Greek-inspired meal, try our Greek Chicken Gyros.
• Customizable and Versatile: This bowl is a fantastic base for your favorite toppings. Add feta cheese, Kalamata olives, or fresh tomatoes to make it your own. It’s also perfect for meal prep!
• Healthy and Balanced: Packed with lean protein from the chicken, wholesome carbs from the rice, and healthy fats from the olive oil, this is a well-rounded meal you can feel good about serving.

Key Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

For the Greek Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes for quick and even cooking.
• Olive Oil: The base of our marinade, adding flavor and helping to keep the chicken moist.
• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential for that bright, tangy flavor that tenderizes the chicken.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides a pungent, aromatic depth.
• Dried Oregano: A cornerstone of Greek cooking, oregano adds an earthy, robust flavor.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To season the chicken and enhance all the other flavors.

For the Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

• Greek Yogurt: Use full-fat, plain Greek yogurt for the creamiest, thickest consistency.
• Cucumber: An English cucumber is ideal as it has fewer seeds and a thinner skin. Grating and squeezing the water out is the most important step!
• Fresh Dill: Provides a fresh, slightly tangy flavor that is characteristic of tzatziki.
• Lemon Juice & Garlic: More fresh lemon and garlic to brighten and sharpen the sauce’s flavor.

For the Lemon Herb Rice & Assembly

• Basmati Rice: Long-grain Basmati rice cooks up fluffy and light, perfect for this bowl.
• Chicken Broth: Cooking the rice in broth instead of water adds a significant layer of flavor.
• Toppings (Optional): Sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese are all excellent additions. If you love flavorful vegetable sides, our Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes are a must-try.

How to Make Chicken Tzatziki Rice Step-by-Step

Follow these simple steps to create a delicious and impressive meal. We’ll break it down into preparing the components and then assembling the bowls.

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

In a medium bowl, combine the bite-sized chicken pieces with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Cover the bowl and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for a deeper flavor.

Step 2: Prepare the Tzatziki Sauce

While the chicken marinates, make the tzatziki. Grate the cucumber and place it in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. Squeeze firmly to remove as much excess water as possible—this is the secret to a thick sauce! In a separate bowl, combine the strained cucumber, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, chopped dill, and lemon juice. Season with salt, stir to combine, and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Allowing it to sit lets the flavors meld.

Step 3: Cook the Lemon Herb Rice

Rinse the Basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the rinsed rice, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 15 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and chopped fresh herbs like parsley or dill if desired.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

Heat a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat with a touch of olive oil. Add the marinated chicken to the hot skillet in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan (work in batches if necessary). Cook for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.

Step 5: Assemble Your Bowls

Now for the fun part! To assemble your Chicken Tzatziki Rice bowls, start with a generous scoop of the fluffy lemon herb rice. Top it with the cooked Greek chicken. Add a large dollop of your homemade tzatziki sauce. Garnish with your favorite toppings like sliced tomatoes, red onions, olives, and a sprinkle of feta cheese.

Expert Tips and Variations

• Don’t Skip the Marinade: Even 30 minutes makes a huge difference in the flavor and tenderness of the chicken.
• Squeeze That Cucumber: For truly thick and creamy tzatziki, you must squeeze out the excess moisture from the grated cucumber. Don’t rush this step!
• Rinse Your Rice: Rinsing the rice removes excess starch, which is key to achieving a fluffy, non-sticky texture.
• Meal Prep Like a Pro: This recipe is perfect for meal prep. Store the chicken, rice, and tzatziki in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Assemble the bowls just before eating. This makes a fantastic lunch, much like our Coconut Chicken and Rice Bowl.
• Low-Carb Option: To make this a low-carb meal, simply substitute the rice with cauliflower rice or a fresh Greek salad base.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoyed this Chicken Tzatziki Rice, be sure to explore more of our delicious and easy dinner recipes. Your next favorite meal is just a click away!

Chicken Tzatziki Rice: A Flavorful Greek-Inspired Bowl

This Chicken Tzatziki Rice recipe features juicy, marinated Greek chicken and fluffy lemon rice, all topped with a creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. It's a healthy, easy, and delicious one-bowl meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean

Calories: 550

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Greek Chicken

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon juiced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

For the Homemade Tzatziki

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt full-fat recommended
• 1/2 English cucumber grated and squeezed dry
• 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic minced

For the Lemon Herb Rice & Assembly

• 1.5 cups Basmati rice
• 3 cups chicken broth
• Optional Toppings: cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, olives

Equipment

• 1 Large Skillet
• 1 Medium saucepan
• 3 Mixing Bowls

Instructions

 

1. In a medium bowl, combine the cubed chicken with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to coat, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
2. Grate the cucumber and use a clean kitchen towel to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. In a separate bowl, mix the strained cucumber with Greek yogurt, dill, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Season with a pinch of salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Rinse the rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Let it stand, covered, for 5 more minutes before fluffing with a fork.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Assemble the bowls by layering the lemon herb rice, followed by the cooked chicken. Top with a generous dollop of tzatziki sauce and your favorite optional toppings.

Notes

Tip 1: For the best flavor, let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours.
Tip 2: Don't skip squeezing the cucumber; it's the most crucial step for thick, creamy tzatziki.
Tip 3: Store leftovers in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for easy meal prep.

Save and Share This Recipe!

We know you’ll love this simple and flavorful recipe. Don’t forget to save it for later! Pin it to your favorite dinner board on Pinterest so you can easily find it when you need a quick and healthy meal idea. Your shares help us bring more delicious recipes to home cooks like you!