Vibrant Mediterranean & Greek Recipes That Taste Like a Great Escape
15 Easy Greek and Mediterranean-Inspired Recipes that are easy, healthy, satisfying, and taste like you went on a global adventure!
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Spotlight on Healthy, Easy, Flavorful: Greek and Mediterranean Recipes
There’s something about Mediterranean food that just feels like a mini escape even with dreary winter weather afternoons when you’re still in your work clothes and wondering what to make for dinner?
These are the Mediterranean recipes I come back to over and over when I want dinner to feel special without any fuss because every single one of these recipes is designed for real life!
Sheet pan dinners that do all the work, pasta salads that are satisfying and taste even better the next day, fresh salads that you can easily add shredded chicken to for extra protein, and skillet dinners that come together in 30 minutes or less.
If you want dinner to taste like a sun-kissed Mediterranean meal without any fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients these are my 15 easy go-to recipes for satisfying lunches of busy weeknights!
1. Greek Sheet Pan Chicken
This is my weeknight Mediterranean hero when I want maximum flavor with the least amount of dishes. The lemon-Dijon, oregano, and thyme marinade soaks into the chicken and then drips down onto zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and onions so the whole pan is loaded with Greek-inspired flavor. I just scatter on feta and olives at the end and dinner is done, plus I feel great knowing everything is naturally gluten-free, high in protein, and packed with veggies.
2. Greek Chicken Kabobs
I had grilled chicken kabobs just like these on a trip to Greece, and every time I make them I’m instantly transported back to those warm summer nights. The Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic, and oregano marinade keeps the chicken incredibly tender and juicy with almost no work on my part. I love that I can grill them, use a grill pan, or even bake them, then tuck the chicken into pitas, throw it on salads, or just eat it right off the skewer for an easy Mediterranean dinner.
3. Lemon Basil Greek Orzo Salad
🍋🌿🍅 This satisfying salad is EASY, ready in 25 minutes, and lemon and basil give it such a FRESH taste! It’s great for parties, picnics, and potlucks, and doubles as meal prep for weekday lunches and HEALTHY diners!
4. Greek Lemon Chicken and Orzo
When I want a Mediterranean meal that feeds a crowd fast, this lemony chicken and orzo is my go-to. Juicy, well-seasoned chicken, tender orzo, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, and plenty of lemon and feta make every bite bright and satisfying. I love that it’s just as good slightly warm as it is chilled, so I can serve it for potlucks, make-ahead lunches, or an easy dinner with built-in leftovers.
5. Mediterranean Baked Crispy Chicken and Pasta
When I really want to impress people with a Mediterranean-style dinner, this is the recipe I pull out. You get crispy-skinned baked chicken nestled into tender pasta with a luxurious sauce made from melted feta, crushed tomatoes, peppers, olives, white wine, and garlic. It tastes like something from a cozy bistro, but it’s still very approachable and weeknight-friendly, and my family always fights over the last piece of chicken.
6. Mediterranean Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is what happens when you take all your favorite Mediterranean ingredients and turn them into a full meal. There’s lemon pepper chicken, chickpeas, cucumbers, spinach, bell peppers, basil, feta, and a lemony, garlicky kick in every bite. I make this when I want a big bowl that can do double duty for dinner and lunches, and I love that it’s mayo-free so it’s perfect for warm-weather picnics and potlucks.
7. Mediterranean Pasta Salad
If you’re a pasta salad lover like I am, this one checks all the boxes: fast, easy, and bursting with Mediterranean flavor. Juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, two kinds of olives, creamy feta, and a punchy balsamic-lemon vinaigrette cling to every piece of pasta. I reach for this recipe when I need a big-batch side that can also stand on its own as a light vegetarian meal with tons of texture and tang.
8. Mediterranean Quinoa and Chickpea Salad
This quinoa salad makes me feel so virtuous but still totally satisfied. It’s packed with chickpeas, artichokes, Kalamata olives, spinach, goat cheese or feta, and plenty of lemon and apple cider vinegar, so there’s tons of Mediterranean zing in every forkful. I love that it’s naturally gluten-free, comes together in about 20 minutes, and keeps beautifully for days, which means easy lunches and meatless dinners are already handled.
9. Lemon Chicken Soup (Greek Avgolemono)
This silky lemon chicken soup is my nod to the Greek avgolemono I fell in love with at little diners in Chicago. It’s creamy and comforting without any actual cream, thanks to tempered eggs, lots of fresh lemon, shredded chicken, and orzo or rice. I love that it all happens in one pot in about 30 minutes, and it somehow manages to taste cozy and light at the same time.
10. Easy Chicken Shawarma Salad Bowls
These salad bowls are my easy, at-home shortcut to those fragrant chicken shawarma plates I crave. The chicken is loaded with warm spices, garlic, and lemon, the chickpeas soak up all the pan juices, and everything gets piled with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and a cooling Greek yogurt sauce. I make this when I want something that feels restaurant-level but still fits into a 30-minute, busy-night window.
11. Chicken Gyro Salad with Tzatziki Sauce
Instead of wrapping gyros in pita, I turned all those classic flavors into a big, crunchy salad that’s perfect for Mediterranean-style dinners or meal prep. Juicy oregano, lemon, and vinegar-kissed chicken is layered over lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers, pita chips, feta, and a super tangy dill tzatziki that I can’t stop drizzling over everything. It comes together in about 20 minutes and hits that refreshing-but-filling sweet spot every single time.
12. 30-Minute Chicken and Vegetable Mediterranean Soup
An EASY soup that’s both HEALTHY and HEARTY!! Loaded with tender chicken, vegetables, garbanzo beans, and more! Ready so fast and it’s perfect for busy chilly winter weeknights!
13. Marinated Mediterranean White Bean Salad
🌿🍋🫒 This salad is layered with texture and flavor galore! Hearty butter beans, crisp-tender asparagus, capers, green olives, garlic, lemon juice, fresh mint, and more comprise this simple yet satisfying vegetarian and gluten-free salad. EASY, HEALTHY, ready in 20 minutes, and makes a great side dish or lighter main dish! Serve it over hummus, whipped feta, or whipped ricotta to take it next-level!
14. Loaded Greek Salad
🥗 An amped up version of a classic Greek salad with avocado, artichokes, garbanzo beans, and more!! The tangy Greek salad dressing is ready in seconds and is a major flavor booster! Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian!
15. Tahini Chicken with Cucumber, Tomato, and Mint Side Salad
🍵 Juicy chicken coated in a flavorful TAHINI sauce with a zesty MINT salad on the side! EASY, ready in 20 minutes, HEALTHY, and so tasty!