Description
A quick and easy Mediterranean dinner featuring tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a creamy, tangy tzatziki sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this one-pan recipe is perfect for busy evenings.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup (190g) long-grain white rice
- 2 cups (480ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240g) Greek yogurt (full-fat or 2%)
- ½ medium cucumber, finely grated and excess water squeezed out
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or paprika
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: chop chicken into bite-sized pieces, mince garlic, grate cucumber and squeeze out excess water, chop dill and mint.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces seasoned with salt, pepper, and optional paprika. Sauté until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same skillet and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add rice, stirring to coat in oil and toast lightly for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in 2 cups chicken broth, season with a pinch of salt, and bring to a simmer. Cover with lid, reduce heat to low, and cook undisturbed for about 15 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid absorbed.
- While rice cooks, mix Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, chopped dill and mint, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Once rice is done, fluff gently with a fork. Stir cooked chicken back into the skillet with rice and mix well to combine and warm through for 1 minute.
- Serve by scooping a generous portion onto plates and topping with a big dollop of tzatziki sauce. Garnish with extra herbs if desired.
Notes
[‘Squeeze excess water from grated cucumber to avoid watery tzatziki.’, ‘Toast rice before adding broth for nuttier flavor and fluffier texture.’, ‘Use chicken broth instead of water for richer flavor.’, ‘Let rice rest covered for 5 minutes after cooking to finish steaming.’, ‘Mix chicken and rice gently to keep chicken pieces intact.’, ‘Avoid overcooking chicken to keep it juicy.’, ‘Fresh dill and mint are essential for authentic flavor.’, ‘Adjust tzatziki seasoning after combining all ingredients.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 420
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: chicken tzatziki rice, creamy chicken rice, Mediterranean dinner, easy chicken recipe, one-pan dinner, Greek yogurt sauce