Spiced Grilled Chicken Salad (Printable)

Aromatic grilled chicken with crisp vegetables and creamy yogurt dressing inspired by Middle Eastern flavors.

# What You’ll Use:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tsp ground cumin
04 - 2 tsp ground coriander
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1 tsp ground turmeric
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
09 - 1 tsp salt
10 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
11 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Salad

12 - 1 large cucumber, diced
13 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
14 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 3.5 oz mixed salad greens
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Yogurt Dressing

17 - 7 oz plain Greek yogurt
18 - 1 tbsp olive oil
19 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
20 - 1 garlic clove, minced
21 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
22 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How-To:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, ground cinnamon, ground black pepper, salt, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Whisk until well blended.
02 - Add the chicken to the marinade and toss thoroughly to coat all surfaces. Marinate for a minimum of 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor development.
03 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked through with light charring. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - In a large bowl, combine diced cucumber, diced tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, mixed salad greens, and chopped fresh parsley. Toss gently to combine.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
06 - Divide the salad mixture among serving plates. Top each plate with sliced chicken and drizzle generously with the yogurt dressing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spice blend makes your kitchen smell like a bustling spice market without any complicated techniques.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, yet it tastes like you spent all day preparing.
  • The yogurt dressing cools down the warm spices in a way that feels perfectly balanced.
  • Leftovers actually get better the next day when the flavors have time to mingle.
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest after cooking or the juices will run out the moment you slice it, leaving the meat dry.
  • Slice the onion as thin as possible, thick slices will overpower the salad with sharpness.
  • Taste your yogurt dressing before serving, some yogurts are tangier than others and may need extra lemon or a pinch of salt.
03 -
  • Use a meat thermometer to check the chicken, 75 degrees Celsius in the thickest part means it's perfectly done.
  • If you're grilling outdoors, the charred bits from real flames will make this taste even closer to street food.
  • Double the marinade and freeze half with raw chicken for an ultra-fast weeknight meal later.
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