Greek Chicken Pasta Bowl (Print Version)

Mediterranean pasta with lemon chicken, fresh vegetables, olives, and feta cheese.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken Marinade

01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Pasta Base

08 - 10 ounces short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rotini)

→ Vegetables & Add-ins

09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
11 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
12 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 3.5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Lemon Herb Dressing

15 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
16 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
17 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
18 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Combine olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add chicken breasts and marinate for at least 15 minutes, up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
02 - Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
03 - Heat grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced olives, and thinly sliced red onion.
05 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Pour over pasta mixture and toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
06 - Arrange sliced chicken on top of pasta mixture. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley. Lightly toss to distribute ingredients or serve layered presentation-style.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The lemon marinade makes the chicken impossibly tender without any fancy techniques
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon cooking
  • Cold pasta means no timing stress between components
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water or the residual heat will wilt the vegetables
  • Let the chicken rest before slicing or all the juices will run out onto the cutting board
  • The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits, so taste before adding more salt at the end
03 -
  • Use a microplane to get the most flavorful lemon zest without any bitter pith
  • If your feta is too salty, rinse it under cold water before crumbling
Go Back