Spiced Grilled Chicken Salad (Printable)

Middle Eastern-inspired salad featuring spiced grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy yogurt dressing. Gluten-free and ready in 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken Marinade

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
04 - 2 teaspoons ground coriander
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon 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 ounces mixed salad greens
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Yogurt Dressing

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

# How To Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The spice blend makes your kitchen smell like a street market in the best possible way.
  • It feels indulgent but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the flavors have mingled.
  • You can prep the chicken ahead and toss the salad together in minutes.
02 -
  • If you skip the resting time after cooking, the chicken will be dry no matter how perfectly you grilled it.
  • Marinating for less than 15 minutes means the spices sit on the surface instead of soaking in.
  • Overcrowding the pan lowers the temperature and steams the chicken instead of giving it that charred edge.
03 -
  • Toast your ground spices in a dry pan for 30 seconds before mixing the marinade to unlock even more flavor.
  • If your grill pan isnt hot enough, the chicken will stick and the spices will burn before the meat cooks through.
  • Let the dressing sit for 10 minutes before serving so the garlic mellows and the flavors blend.
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