This Tzatziki Chicken Salad recipe is a flavorful make-ahead recipe that's delicious served as a sandwich, over greens as a salad, or as an appetizer.
There’s just something so satisfying about a salad that actually feels like a meal.
This chicken tzatziki salad is hearty, refreshing, and full of flavor. Basically, everything I want in a go-to lunch or weeknight dinner.
I’ve been obsessed with making this on repeat lately. It’s the kind of meal that works for everything—busy weeknights, laid-back weekend lunches, picnics, or even a summer barbecue spread.
Bonus: it’s super easy to prep in advance.
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🌟 Why this recipe works
Wanna know why I love this recipe, and think you will, too?
This recipe is:
- Packed with bold, fresh Mediterranean flavors
- Comes together fast with simple ingredients
- Great for meal prep or make-ahead lunches
- Cool and creamy from the tzatziki, but still protein-packed
- Delicious warm or cold
- Naturally gluten-free
- Totally customizable with your favorite toppings
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Chicken – shredded chicken meat adds lean protein and soaks up flavor like a champ. Use rotisserie chicken from your supermarket deli as an easy delicious shortcut.
- Cucumbers – bring the crunch and cool factor.
- Red onion – adds a sharp, zippy bite (or sub with shallots for something milder).
- Kalamata olives – salty and briny, they tie the whole salad together and add to that Mediterranean feel and flavor.
- Garlic – fresh and punchy; essential in the tzatziki.
- Feta cheese – tangy, creamy, and a little salty—perfection in crumbles. I use dairy-free feta crumbles to keep it dairy-free.
- Fresh parsley – for final pops of color and an herby finish.
- Greek yogurt – the base of the tzatziki; creamy and packed with protein. I use non-dairy plain Greek yogurt to keep it dairy-free.
- Lemon juice – brings brightness and a little zing.
- Salt + black pepper – to season everything just right.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
I'm including a few step-by-step photos so you can see just how easy it is to make this chicken tzatziki recipe. You'll find more detailed instructions along with measurements for ingredients in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- In a large bowl, stir together the tzatziki: greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, grated cucumber, salt, pepper, and parsley.
- Slice the chicken, toss everything together in a big bowl, and dollop with tzatziki and feta.
- Finish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. Done!
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! It’s a great shortcut.
Yes! It actually gets better as it sits. Just keep the tzatziki separate until you’re ready to eat.
Yes, I usually make this dairy free! Simply use a dairy-free yogurt and skip the feta or use a dairy-free cheese alternative.
Up to 3 days! Just store it in an airtight container.
🍽 Serving ideas
This tzatziki chicken salad is wonderful to serve for lunches, dinners, outdoor picnics, summer potlucks, meal prep lunches, and for anytime you want a light and healthy meal.
It plays so well with others, too. Serve it with:
- Warm pita or flatbread
- Cilantro Lime Brown Rice or quinoa
- Grilled asparagus or Instant Pot Broccoli
- A crisp green salad or tomato cucumber side salad
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
This Mediterranean chicken salad is best paired with a crisp, white wine. Here are my two top expert recommendations:
- Sauvignon Blanc – crisp, citrusy, and herby, it pairs beautifully with the lemon and parsley
- Assyrtiko (a Greek white wine) – dry, mineral-driven, and refreshing—perfect with Mediterranean flavors
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Large wooden spoon
- Box grater (for cucumber in the tzatziki)
More chicken recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Tzatziki Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Tzatziki
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup shredded cucumber, with excess liquid squeezed out between paper towels
- 3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Chicken salad
- 4 cups shredded chicken
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion
- ¼ cup chopped Kalamata olives
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, and salt.
- Add the chicken, red onion, olives, cheese, and parsley. Toss together to combine until the chicken is well coated in the Tzatziki dressing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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