Refreshing Tzatziki Chicken Salad: A Zesty Summer Staple (Print Version)

Refreshing Tzatziki Chicken Salad brightens any meal! Creamy, zesty, and packed with fresh flavors, it's perfect for light lunches or easy meal prep.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Dietary: Gluten-Free (if chicken is GF)

# Ingredients:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
02 - 1 English cucumber, grated or finely diced
03 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced

→ Creamy Tzatziki Dressing Essentials

04 - 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
05 - 1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get your cooked chicken ready! If you're using a rotisserie chicken like me, pull all that lovely meat off the bone. I like to shred it by hand, but if you're feeling fancy, two forks work too. Aim for bite-sized pieces; we want texture, not giant chunks. This is where the magic begins for our Refreshing Tzatziki Chicken Salad base.
02 - Next up, the fresh bits! Finely dice your red onion – remember, we're aiming for a subtle kick, not an overpowering bite. For the cucumber, I usually grate it or finely dice it. This is CRITICAL: once it's prepped, give it a good squeeze in a clean kitchen towel to get rid of excess water. Trust me, I learned this the hard way with a watery salad once upon a time!
03 - In a medium bowl, combine your Greek yogurt, minced garlic, finely chopped fresh dill, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk it all together until it's beautifully smooth and creamy. Take a little taste – this is your chance to adjust the seasonings! Maybe a little more lemon? A pinch more salt? Make it perfect for *your* palate.
04 - Now for the fun part! Add your shredded chicken, drained cucumber, and diced red onion to the bowl with the tzatziki dressing. Gently fold everything together until all the chicken and veggies are thoroughly coated in that gorgeous, creamy dressing. I love seeing all the vibrant colors come together.
05 - This step is essential for the flavors to really meld and deepen. Cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Honestly, an hour is even better! The chill time allows all those zesty, garlicky, dilly notes to truly infuse into the chicken, making our Refreshing Tzatziki Chicken Salad extra special.
06 - Once chilled, give it a final stir and a taste test. Adjust any seasoning if needed. Now, it's ready! Serve your Refreshing Tzatziki Chicken Salad however you like – piled high on lettuce, tucked into pita bread, with crackers, or just straight from the bowl with a spoon (no judgment here, I've done it!). Enjoy that fresh, vibrant flavor!

# Notes:

01 - Always, always drain your cucumber really well after chopping or grating it. Otherwise, you'll end up with a watery salad, and nobody wants that!
02 - Fresh dill makes a huge difference here. I tried dried once, and it just lacked that vibrant punch. Stick with fresh if you can!
03 - Taste the dressing before you mix everything in. It's much easier to adjust the lemon, garlic, and salt then!
04 - For an extra pop of flavor and texture, stir in some crumbled feta cheese or a handful of chopped Kalamata olives just before serving.

# Tools You'll Need:

01 - Large mixing bowl
02 - whisk
03 - sharp knife
04 - cutting board
05 - measuring cups and spoons
06 - clean kitchen towel

# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

Calories: 350
Total Fat: 20g
Total Carbohydrate: 12g
Protein: 30g

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