Chicken Tzatziki Rice
Chicken Tzatziki Rice layers broth-simmered long grain rice with seasoned chicken and a cool Greek yogurt cucumber sauce. It works well for a fresh Mediterranean-style family dinner or prep-friendly leftovers when the sauce is stored separately.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan with lid
- Large skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Box grater
- Instant-read thermometer
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice jasmine or basmati if preferred
- 4 cups chicken broth or water for a lighter rice flavor
- 2 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt divided or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper divided or to taste
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup grated cucumber squeezed dry
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 cup diced zucchini or bell pepper optional fresh topping
Instructions
- Add rice and chicken broth to a saucepan, bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender.
- Remove the rice from the heat and let it stand covered for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
- Mix Greek yogurt, squeezed cucumber, minced garlic, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper on both sides.
- Cook the chicken in a hot skillet until golden outside and 165°F in the thickest part.
- Rest the chicken for 5 minutes, then slice it across the grain into strips.
- Divide the rice into bowls, add sliced chicken, spoon tzatziki over the top, and finish with fresh vegetables.
Notes
Storage: Keep chicken and rice in airtight containers for up to 4 days and store tzatziki separately.
Reheating: Reheat chicken and rice with a small splash of broth or water until steaming hot.
Freezing: Freeze chicken and rice for up to 2 months, but make the yogurt sauce fresh after thawing.
Best Tips: Squeeze the grated cucumber well and let the chicken rest before slicing for the best texture.
Variations: Swap in chicken thighs, brown rice, cauliflower rice, or extra chopped vegetables depending on what you have.
Meal Prep: Pack rice and chicken together, then keep tzatziki and fresh toppings in small separate containers.