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Tzatziki Chicken Salad puts a fresh and healthy Greek-inspired twist on the classic chicken salad recipe. It has the bright flavors of lemon and dill, salty feta, and it’s lightened up with Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Stuff cucumber dill chicken salad into pitas or make lettuce wraps for a gluten free and keto-friendly meal.
I have a bad habit when I go to Costco. And no, I’m not talking about spending $300 every time I walk in the door, or picking up a new rug or pack of 72 granola bars that I really didn’t need.
My bad habit is that I look at everything and think that I could totally make it. And I could make it healthier and cheaper and in a more reasonable quantity so I don’t have to buy a vat of hummus or ten pounds of spinach salad.
Or 72 granola bars.
And then I don’t actually make it. Until now. I saw a package of Tzatziki Chicken Salad and it sounded tasty. But I just couldn’t commit to that big box of little containers that would expire if every member of my family didn’t love them and just cost way too much.
I could spend that money on individual containers of mashed avocado.
And it contained my culinary nemesis. Mayo. Hard pass.
This was a time when I needed to take the Costco inspiration and make my own versus just tossing the oversized container into my cart. And my version was totally a winner.
Tzatziki Greek Chicken Salad Recipe
Yes, it’s inspired by a traditional Greek recipe, but this healthy chicken salad gets its name because it is also made with Greek yogurt. Just like my Chicken Salad with Grapes and Walnuts, this swap for mayo lightens it up and adds even more protein.
However, since it is based on classic Tzatziki Sauce, this also keeps it true to its original bright and refreshing flavors of lemon, dill, and cucumber balanced against the slight tartness and creaminess of the yogurt. Besides the chicken, the only other addition is feta cheese for an extra punch of salty flavor that enhances the other ingredients.
What is in Tzatziki chicken salad?
- Cucumber – you can use a regular cucumber or English seedless cucumber, but in either case, you’ll want to scrape out the seeds to get rid of excess moisture
- Plain Greek yogurt – you can use nonfat, low fat, or whole milk yogurt, depending on whether you want to cut fat and calories or want to make a keto chicken salad.
- Lemon juice – I recommend freshly-squeezed lemon juice, as bottled lemon juice can be too strong and bitter
- Garlic – make sure to mice it very finely or crush with a garlic press so you don’t end up with big chunks of raw garlic.
- Dill – fresh dill really adds that nice, fresh flavor. But if you only have dried, that can be used. In that case, I recommend making it in advance so the flavor has time to combine and mellow out.
- Cooked and cooled chicken – shredded or cubed, depending on how you prefer your chicken salad
- Feta cheese
- Salt and pepper – to taste
How to make Tzatziki Chicken Salad:
- Peel the cucumber, cut out the seeds, and dice.
- In a large bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and dill.
- Fold in the cucumber, chicken, and feta cheese.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Can you use leftover tzatziki to make this chicken salad?
Yes, if you’ve made an extra-large batch of homemade Tzatziki sauce, you could use about 2 cups with the chicken and feta called for in this recipe. If you only have a cup or so left, then just cut the quantities in half.
What kind of chicken do you use for chicken salad?
You can use any cooked and cooled chicken, but preferably one with mild or neutral seasoning, or a flavor that matches the recipe for chicken salad you are using.
- Rotisserie chicken – there are so many uses for leftover rotisserie chicken, so I always grab one at Costco. They are usually big enough to have some for a meal and have leftovers to make chicken salad.
- Roast chicken – if you are making roasted chicken for Sunday dinner, it is almost no extra work to throw an extra one in the oven. You can even make a crockpot roast chicken while you sleep so it is ready in the morning.
- Cooked chicken breasts – if boneless, skinless breasts go on sale at the grocery store, buy in bulk and cook them in the oven, crockpot, or Instant Pot to chop or shred for use in recipes. You can even make a few extra lemon herb grilled chicken breasts.
What else can you add to Greek chicken salad?
While this recipe is full of flavor on its own, the backdrop of lemon, garlic, and herbs does lend itself to adding in additional ingredients if you want to really punch up the flavors and colors. Try some of these:
- Roasted red peppers
- Chopped artichoke hearts
- Sundried tomatoes
- Diced tomatoes
- Toasted pine nuts
- Red onion
- Pepperoncini
- Kalamata olives
How do you serve Tzatziki Chicken Salad?
Make a big batch to meal prep lunches for the week, or pack it in the kids’ lunches. And if you use leftover chicken, you can have a quick and easy dinner with no cooking required. Cucumber dill chicken salad is so versatile that each member of the family can enjoy it their favorite way, like:
- Sandwiches, Wraps, or Pita Bread – with lettuce, tomato, sliced red onion, or any other favorite sandwich fixings.
- Lettuce Wraps – leaf lettuce such as Boston, Bibb, or Butter lettuce work well for lettuce wraps. Romaine and iceberg can add a nice crunch, but are not as easy to wrap up.
- Salad – serve your chicken salad over a bed of salad greens with your favorite salad toppings. If you need additional dressing, try Creamy Balsamic Dressing.
- Veggies – stuff it into celery, mini bell peppers, or little tomatoes, or scoop it up with carrot or cucumber slices.
- Crackers and chips – use your favorite, even gluten free ones.
Tomato Cucumber Salad with Feta or Zoodles Greek Salad would make a great side dish. Or serve your Tzatziki Chicken Salad Sandwich with Greek Chicken Zoodle Soup.
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What else can you make with leftover chicken?
- Skillet Keto Chicken Enchiladas
- Mediterranean Chicken Pinwheels
- Barbecue Chicken Tostadas
- Chicken Corn Chowder
More Greek-inspired recipes you might like…
- Air Fryer Falafel
- Greek Beef Kabobs
- Mediterranean Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Roasted Greek Potatoes
Greek Cucumber Dill Chicken Salad Recipe
Greek yogurt chicken salad inspired by classic Tzatziki sauce adds bright and fresh flavors to your lunch or dinner. And by swapping the mayo out, not only does it match the authentic cucumber dill dip, but it also makes it a healthy option. Be sure to add this recipe to your meal prep plans so it can be on your menu next week.
Tzatziki Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced or crushed
- 1 Tablespoon fresh dill, minced, or 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 4 cups shredded, cooked chicken (about 1-1 1/3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cut the end off of the cucumber, peel, and cut in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scrape the seeds out of the center and discard. Then dice into about 1/4-inch pieces. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and dill.
- Add the chicken, feta, and reserved cucumber, and fold together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve on a sandwich, salad, lettuce wraps, celery, crackers, pita, etc.
Did you make this?
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Enjoy!
