Mediterranean Chicken Salad
Updated Sep 06, 2025
This Mediterranean chicken salad is made with marinated chicken breast that has been seared and sliced on top of a bed of greens with homemade vinaigrette.
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My Mediterranean Chicken Salad is So Good!
This grilled Mediterranean chicken salad is delish and easy!
The first step is to make an easy red wine vinegar-based marinade, which tenderizes the chicken and keeps it juicy once it’s cooked. Then, you make a super-easy lemon dressing. The seared chicken is served on top of crisp romaine and a few of my favorite Mediterranean staples like tomatoes, feta, and olives.
When ready to serve, add your dressing and dig in. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s exactly what I want on a weeknight when I’m hungry but not trying to spend all night in the kitchen.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Mediterranean Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Chicken: Use boneless and skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. You can make this recipe with chicken thighs as well, but they will take a little longer to cook through.
- Romaine Lettuce: I enjoy the crispness of romaine, but if you prefer a peppery bite, use baby arugula.
- Tomatoes: Use ripe plum tomatoes or small grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes cut in half.
- Cucumbers: Persian cucumbers are small, and you don’t have to peel their skin. You can also use English cucumbers.
- Kalamata olives: This is a must in any Mediterranean-style salad! Use pitted ones to make it easier.
- Red onions: I use it mostly for the pop of color but if you’re not in the mood for raw onions, you can skip, or soak the onion in ice water then drain thoroughly to tame their bite.
- Feta cheese: Feta cheese is another must in any Mediterranean-style salad. You can swap it for your preferred cheese, or leave it out if you want the salad to be dairy-free.
- Fresh Dill: I love using fresh dill mixed into the salad to add a ton of freshness and flavor, but if you don’t have feel free to skip or use parley or fresh basil instead.
- For the Chicken Marinade: I use olive oil, garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, dill, salt and black pepper. The red wine vinegar helps to tenderize the chicken. Swap for whatever vinegar you have on hand or more lemon juice if needed.
- Salad dressing: I use olive oil, shallot, Dijon, more red wine vinegar, dried oregano, lemon zest, and lemon juice. The Dijon is key as it helps to emulsify the dressing. Use whole grain mustard or ½ teaspoon dried mustard if needed.
How to Make a Mediterranean Chicken Salad
Mediterranean Chicken Salad Recipe
This Mediterranean chicken salad is made with marinated chicken breast that has been seared and sliced on top of a bed of greens with homemade vinaigrette.
Video
Ingredients
For the chicken and dressing:
- ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon plus two teaspoons red wine vinegar divided
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoons oregano divided
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- ½ small shallot minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
To assemble:
- 3-4 cups Romaine lettuce chopped
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 3-4 Persian cucumbers diced
- 2 ripe plum tomatoes seeded and diced
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup pitted kalamata olives sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Make the chicken marinade. In a medium bowl, mix ¼ cup olive oil, garlic, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, dill, salt and black pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat. Let sit for 15 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Meanwhile, make the salad dressing. Mix shallot, Dijon, remaining 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, remaining 1 teaspoon dried oregano, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stream in remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high heat. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Cook chicken until lightly charred and the thickest part reaches 165°F internal temperature, 5-6 minutes per side. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Place chicken over greens with feta, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives and dill. Toss with dressing and serve immediately.
Notes
Make ahead: The grilled chicken will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Don’t dress the salad until you are ready to serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 470kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 33g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 21g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 89mg, Sodium: 804mg, Potassium: 1014mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 3708IU, Vitamin C: 30mg, Calcium: 199mg, Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Did You Make This Recipe?
If you try this Mediterranean Chicken Salad recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip the marinating time. Even if you just marinate the chicken for 15 minutes, it will really help to tenderize the chicken to make it more juicy. There’s also an added benefit of reduced cooking time!
- The chicken should be at room temperature when you add it to the pan. If you are only doing a short marinade (up to 1 hour) they can be left at room temperature. If you add cold chicken to a hot grill pan, it can result in a tough texture.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after you cook it. Remove it from the pan and tent it loosely with foil. This will allow the juices to redistribute so when you slice it, it’s nice and juicy and not dry at all.
- Invest in a good thermometer. No one likes to second guess if chicken is cooked through. Using an instant read thermometer will allow you get perfect grilled chicken every time. You want to remove it from the grill when it reaches 160˚F. As it rests it will rise to 165˚F.
Serving Ideas
Comments
Could this marinade be used on chicken thigh pieces (with skin and bones) and then grilled?
Yes, that sounds so good!
I’ve made this salad & dressing several times. Each time it comes out incredible. So filling and SO GOOD!
Yay, I love that you keep coming back to this recipe!! Makes me so happy to hear—thank you!
Easy and delicious! I keep coming back to make it again and again.
Thank you so much!
Definitely will be trying this. Is the nutritional value based on the whole recipe or pet serving?
Per serving. You’ll have to let me know what you think when you make it!
I was hesitant to make this recipe without dill because everyone was raving about its flavor in the reviews. However I decided to give it a try anyway. And holy moly was it ever good!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for sharing this recipe, i’ll be making it regularly as a summer meal!
So glad you liked it, Viv!
Your chicken salad sounds delicious, looking forward to preparing
Thank you! Let me know what you think once you’ve given it a try!
I tried it and was sooooooo goood!!! The dill seasoning makes all the difference!.. It’s a must try👌
Thank you so much! It really does!!
Love this Mediterranean Chicken Salad – it’s so flavorful and easy to make!
Thank you so much! I love that!!
This chicken salad is the base for all the chicken salads i make! I throw all what i have of veggies in the refrigerator, add the chicken to it(I prefer using Shish Tawook marination from feelgoodfodie), and Enjoy!
That’s amazing to hear! I love it!!
I’d like to know if I can print your recipes if there’s a way to do it I have not seen it but also I want to say thank you I am a newbie and I just saw your Mediterranean chicken salad and I thoroughly enjoyed watching you you seem like the nicest person and so down to earth so thank you for being yourself
Aww, thank you so much! And, yes, you can print the recipe! If you scroll to the recipe card, there’s a printer icon. When you click on it, I have it formatted in a way to print on 1-2 pages maximum with no images, no large font or anything that takes up too much ink. Can you try that? It should work fine.
I have done this amazing salad twice in a week! Even requested by children! Got confused on your recipe format. You are greatly appreciated!
That’s amazing! Thank you!!
I’ve never been one to follow a food blog loyally, I’m more of a serial Pinterester, always just searching and scrolling and saving new recipes in my feed. But once I tried one recipe from Feel Good Foodie and then had a look around at her page, I was hooked and now I come straight here for recipes and inspiration. My advisor in college was Lebanese and her homemade food was to die for, so I appreciate the homage to the Mediterranean and the feel-good, healthy dishes. Tried the Mediterranean salad tonight….YUM. love the vibrancy the fresh dill brings to the dish.
That makes me so happy to hear that you’re enjoying my recipes! Thank you!!
I could eat this salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner without complaining, I made this and was sooo good. Thanks for all you do Yumna.
Honestly, that wouldn’t be a bad idea! Thank you so much!! You’re so welcome.
This was yummy and easy in a pinch (had everything on hand), and the chicken was juicy, but next time I’ll try fresh herbs in the marinade & dressing. I think it would really make the flavors pop! I found the dried herbs to be a bit underwhelming, but otherwise loved the flavor profile & recipe!
That’s great to hear! Let me know what you think with the fresh herbs.
Great recipe
Thank you!
Hi, thanks for this recipe, it tastes great and was a hit with the whole family. We definitely will be making this again!
I swapped out half of the red wine vinegar for some good balsamico and this made it slightly sweeter for our taste.
You’re so welcome! Love that the entire family enjoyed it!!
This Mediterranean salad was so easy and delicious to make! It’s a light and healthy meal option but filling at the same time. I didn’t have shallots so i used red onions but it was still a tangy dressing I enjoyed instead of using the same store bottled dressing I use every day. I’m definitely going to add this to my dinner rotation options. Thanks for sharing Yumna!
That’s great to hear! Thank you!! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Its amazingly good. All those flavors and the tenderness of the chicken. Yayyy 😋😋😋 triple yum
Thank you! Exactly what I was going for!!
How can you make this without a grill or grill pan??
You can add the chicken to a regular pan; you just won’t get the grill marks effect.
Is the kind of dish you don’t want it to end, you eat it slowly and enjoying every bite 😄
That’s how you know it’s an extra good meal!
Just prepared ir!! It’s So good. Apple vinegar instead. The chicken marinated is toooo delicious!! Loved it!
I love that so much! Yay!!
Looks delish! I might add some spinach so that my athletic kids think it has superfood!
Thank you! Great idea!!
This was so simple and delicious. I found the dressing too lemony so I added a bit of honey. Ill definitely make this again.
That’s perfect! Definitely adjust it to your liking. Yay!!
Yum! Made this for dinner and it was so good! love dill this was def going to be my favorite!
That’s amazing! Makes me so happy to hear it!!
I made this for my lunch today, and it was delicious! The chicken was moist and flavorful. I loved the dressing as well. A perfect summer salad!
That’s perfect! I love that!
Oooo this sounds and looks so good. Def going to be making this, this week. Can’t wait!
Thank you so much! Definitely a recipe to look forward to!!
Love love love your recipes and all the flavors you create!
Unfortunately I just tried pinning the Mediterranean grilled chicken recipe and I keep getting a “ the perimeters are invalid “ message. Just a heads up!
Thanks for all your wonderful ideas!!
Wow, thank you so much! And thank you for letting me know – I will get that fixed right away!
Hi, Tracy! It has been fixed, so you should be able to pin the recipe now.
One of fav as well… that you for sharing the receipt. Your amazing
That’s amazing! Thank you!!
I just so happened to have all of these ingredients and was looking for dinner inspiration for tonight. Very refreshing, thank you for the recipe!
That’s perfect! You’re welcome!!
Thanks!I might try adding avocado too😍
Love that idea!
❤️🙏