Healthy Grilled Mediterranean Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Charred vegetables and grilled chicken or halloumi over quinoa with tzatziki, olives, and feta.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein & Main

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds) or 16 ounces halloumi, sliced into 0.5-inch pieces
02 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
08 - 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Grains

09 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 medium zucchini, cut into 0.5-inch rounds
12 - 1 red bell pepper, cored and quartered
13 - 1 small eggplant, cut into 0.5-inch rounds
14 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, whole
15 - 0.5 red onion, cut into eight wedges
16 - 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
17 - 1 medium cucumber, diced

→ Toppings

18 - 0.25 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
19 - 0.25 cup crumbled feta cheese
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Tzatziki Sauce

21 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
22 - 0.5 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and grated
23 - 1 clove garlic, minced
24 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
25 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried dill
26 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
27 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Direction Steps:

01 - Squeeze excess moisture from the grated cucumber using paper towels. In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, cucumber, minced garlic, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate while preparing the remaining components.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add chicken or halloumi and toss to coat. Transfer half the marinade to a separate bowl and add zucchini, bell pepper, eggplant, tomatoes, onion, and chickpeas. Toss to coat evenly. Cover both bowls and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight for enhanced flavor development.
03 - In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates or pan to prevent sticking.
05 - Place marinated chicken or halloumi on the grill. Grill chicken 6 to 8 minutes per side until cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F. Grill halloumi 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden grill marks appear. Remove and rest for 5 minutes, then slice chicken if using.
06 - Using a grill basket or directly on the grates, cook zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, and chickpeas for 4 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender-crisp and charred in spots.
07 - Divide cooked quinoa among four bowls. Top each with sliced chicken or halloumi, grilled vegetables, diced cucumber, olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
08 - Drizzle each bowl with extra-virgin olive oil and a generous scoop of tzatziki sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon if desired. Serve immediately while warm and fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks on the grill so your kitchen stays cool and cleanup is almost nonexistent.
  • The tzatziki can be made days ahead and tastes better after sitting in the fridge overnight.
  • You can swap chicken for halloumi or tofu without losing any of the richness or satisfaction.
  • Leftovers actually improve because the quinoa soaks up all the oils and juices from the grilled vegetables.
02 -
  • Don't skip squeezing the moisture out of the grated cucumber for the tzatziki or you'll end up with a runny sauce that pools at the bottom of your bowl.
  • If you're using wooden skewers or a grill basket, soak them in water first to prevent burning and sticking.
  • Let the chicken rest after grilling; cutting into it too soon releases all the juices onto your cutting board instead of keeping them inside the meat.
  • Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water or it will taste bitter and soapy no matter how well you season it.
03 -
  • Pat the chickpeas completely dry before tossing them in the marinade so they crisp up on the grill instead of steaming.
  • Use a grill basket for the vegetables and chickpeas to keep them from falling through the grates, and shake it every few minutes for even char.
  • If you're grilling for a crowd, double the tzatziki recipe because people will use more than you expect.
  • Save any leftover marinade (that hasn't touched raw chicken) and toss it with the cooked quinoa for extra flavor.
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