Description
These 30-Minute Mediterranean Chicken Bowls are a vibrant, protein-packed meal featuring spiced ground chicken seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, served over fluffy rice with a spicy roasted red pepper feta dip, crisp cucumbers, roasted chickpeas, pickled red onions, and garnished with fresh herbs and warm pita bread. Perfect for a quick, flavorful, and wholesome dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip
- ½ batch of Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip (prepared separately)
Spiced Ground Chicken
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken (or turkey, beef, or lamb as alternatives)
- ½ medium to large yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For Serving
- 2 cups cooked rice (jasmine or brown rice preferred)
- 1 cup roasted chickpeas (Biena brand preferred) or regular rinsed and drained chickpeas
- 4 Persian cucumbers, halved lengthwise and sliced
- Pickled red onion, to taste
- Warm torn pita bread for scooping
To Garnish
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Extra crumbled feta cheese
- Fresh mint leaves
- Fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Feta Sauce: Make the sauce according to its recipe, using only half the batch for this dish. Save the remaining sauce for snacking or future meals.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely diced onions and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until softened. Push the onions to the edges and add the ground chicken, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or meat masher while mixing it with the onions. Season the meat with kosher salt, garlic powder, cumin, dried oregano, paprika, turmeric, dried thyme, and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is no longer pink and fully cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
- Assemble the Bowls: In shallow bowls, spoon a generous amount of the spicy roasted red pepper feta sauce onto one side. On the opposite side, add half a cup of cooked rice. Top part of the sauce with a quarter cup of roasted chickpeas, and place a scoop of the spiced ground chicken in the center. Add sliced cucumbers and pickled red onions over the chicken and rice.
- Garnish and Serve: Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the assembled ingredients. Sprinkle with additional crumbled feta cheese, fresh mint leaves, and chopped parsley. Serve each bowl with warm torn pita bread for scooping and enjoy this flavorful, Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Notes
- This recipe yields 4 servings and is perfect for meal prepping lunches or dinners.
- The chicken can be substituted with ground turkey, beef, or lamb based on preference.
- Using roasted chickpeas adds a delightful crunch and extra protein, but canned chickpeas work well too.
- Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip can be made ahead of time to speed up meal prep.
- Warm the pita bread just before serving to enhance softness and flavor.
- Cook the chicken thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (without pita bread)
- Calories: 637 kcal
- Sugar: 7.6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 59.1 g
- Fiber: 10.8 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
