23 Mediterranean Diet Chicken Recipes That Are Full of Flavor By Ally Sorrells Ally Sorrells Ally Sorrells is a former EatingWell editorial fellow who loves to write about health and nutrition news in publications such as Food & Wine, Real Simple and U.S. News and World Report. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 24, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD Reviewed by Dietitian Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD Christa Brown is a registered dietitian and business owner with a practice focus on diabetes management and content development for brands and fitness influencers. She is a licensed dietitian with a Master of Science in Nutrition Education and a certification in gut health by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Packed with healthy fats, whole grains and veggies, the Mediterranean diet has been named the best overall diet by the U.S. News & World Report. This is partly due to its lack of restriction, overall diet quality and long-term sustainability. In other words, it's an eating pattern you'll feel full and satisfied with and can sustain for a lifetime if you so choose. The Mediterranean diet is full of fresh ingredients like lemon, feta cheese, basil and olive oil. Recipes like Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta and Hasselback Caprese Chicken are packed with flavor and will make following this diet achievable and delicious. Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. 01 of 23 Chicken, Feta & Cucumber Couscous Bowls View Recipe Save Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This dish combines nutrient-rich vegetables such as cucumber and tomato with protein sources like juicy chicken. It's quick, adaptable and reduces food waste, making it perfect for busy schedules. With couscous as a light and fluffy base, it offers a satisfying and nutritious meal option. 02 of 23 Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta View Recipe Save This rustic stew cooks all day in the slow cooker so you can come home to a comforting, hot dinner. Not a fan of polenta? Try this healthy chicken dinner over pasta instead. 03 of 23 Chicken with Spinach & Tomato Orzo Salad View Recipe Save Baked chicken breasts cook in the oven while you mix together a Mediterranean-inspired salad—packed with veggies, whole-wheat orzo and an easy homemade vinaigrette—for a weekend-worthy dinner on the table in under an hour. The leftovers from this healthy 400-calorie meal make a delicious packable lunch for the next day. 04 of 23 Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts & Gnocchi View Recipe Save In this healthy dinner recipe, chicken thighs, Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes and packaged gnocchi are all roasted on the same sheet pan for a complete meal that couldn't be easier to make. And though it's simple, this dish gets tons of flavor from seasonings, including garlic, oregano and red-wine vinegar. It all adds up to a dish that's ready to go into heavy weeknight rotation in your house. 05 of 23 Chicken & Spinach Soup with Fresh Pesto View Recipe Save This fragrant, Italian-flavored soup takes advantage of quick-cooking ingredients—boneless, skinless chicken breast, bagged baby spinach and canned beans. It features a simple homemade basil pesto swirled in at the end to add a fresh herb flavor. If you are pressed for time, you can substitute three to four tablespoons of store-bought basil pesto. 06 of 23 One-Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta with Asparagus View Recipe Save This healthy chicken pesto pasta is easy to make thanks to convenience ingredients like rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto. The addition of fresh asparagus brightens up the look and the flavors of this family-friendly and easy one-pot dinner. Fresh basil, if you have it on hand, is a nice finishing touch. 07 of 23 Kale Salad with Quinoa & Chicken View Recipe Save Toss the cooked chicken into this healthy salad recipe while it's still warm to lightly wilt the kale, making it softer and easier to eat. Using store-bought salad dressing saves time, but you could also make your own tangy vinaigrette. 08 of 23 Hasselback Caprese Chicken View Recipe Save Using the hasselback technique—cutting crosswise slits every half-inch along the chicken breast—cooks the chicken faster and ensures you get a burst of flavorful gooey filling with each bite. This quick one-pan high-protein and veggie-packed dinner is easy to make and the whole family will love it. 09 of 23 Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Olives & Cucumber View Recipe Save Olives, cucumber, roasted red peppers and spices come together magically in this healthy chicken quinoa bowl recipe. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and a glass of cold Italian white wine. 10 of 23 Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan View Recipe Save This one-pan pasta that combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal is garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. It's a quick and easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love. 11 of 23 Slow-Cooker Chicken & Chickpea Soup View Recipe Save This set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker recipe simmers away all day so you come home to a warm and healthy dinner the whole family will love. Using bone-in chicken is the key to making rich soup without adding broth. 12 of 23 Sheet-Pan Chicken with Roasted Spring Vegetables & Lemon Vinaigrette View Recipe Save This Greek-inspired chicken and vegetable sheet-pan meal is bursting with flavor. The chicken is coated in a mayonnaise and breadcrumb mixture, roasted alongside asparagus, cremini mushrooms and grape tomatoes then served with a lemon-feta vinaigrette. 13 of 23 Slow-Cooker Chicken & Orzo with Tomatoes & Olives View Recipe Save Perk up basic chicken breast and whole-wheat orzo with the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean, like lemon and olives. This load-and-go recipe makes a complete and satisfying meal; just add a green salad. 14 of 23 Cauliflower Rice Bowls with Grilled Chicken View Recipe Save These healthy Greek-inspired cauliflower rice bowls topped with feta, olives, veggies and grilled chicken are impressive, yet take just 30 minutes to make. 15 of 23 Chicken & Cucumber Pita Sandwiches with Yogurt Sauce View Recipe Save Cucumbers do double duty in this healthy Greek-inspired chicken pita recipe—they're grated to lend a refreshing flavor to the quick cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced to provide cool crunch tucked into the pita. Serve these sandwiches for a healthy dinner or light lunch. 16 of 23 Chicken Cutlets with Tomatoes & Olives View Recipe Save This saucy one-skillet chicken dish is full of tomatoes, spinach, olives and capers. Try Kalamata olives in place of the green Castelvetranos or a combination of both. Serve over whole-wheat egg noodles with a mixed green salad on the side. 17 of 23 Loaded Chicken-Quinoa Salad View Recipe Save Turn simple precooked ingredients into a delicious one-dish meal that's high in fiber and offers plenty of protein to keep you feeling satisfied. 18 of 23 Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale View Recipe Save This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup. 19 of 23 Skillet Chicken with Orzo & Tomatoes View Recipe Save Victor Protasio In this one-skillet chicken recipe, chicken thighs are infused with lemon, garlic and herbs and paired with orzo that's perfectly al dente. Charred tomatoes and onions add full flavor to complete this easy dinner. 20 of 23 Herb-Roasted Chicken with Vegetables & White Beans View Recipe Save Herb-coated roasted chicken is served with a bounty of roasted vegetables and beans in this Mediterranean-inspired main dish. Serve with a slice of crusty bread. 21 of 23 Garlic Chicken Thighs with Olives & Potatoes View Recipe Save Bright-green Castelvetrano olives hail from Sicily and have a buttery flavor and meaty texture that pair perfectly with the Italian seasoning and salty capers in this one-skillet chicken dinner. Look for them on your supermarket olive bar or in jars with Italian ingredients. 22 of 23 Feta & Roasted Red Pepper Stuffed Chicken Breasts View Recipe Save Feta cheese, roasted peppers, spinach and more, provide amazing flavor to these Mediterranean-inspired stuffed chicken breasts. Browning the chicken in a skillet before baking gives it a beautiful golden color, and finishing it in the oven ensures that this healthy baked chicken recipe cooks evenly throughout. 23 of 23 Slow-Cooker Chicken & Vegetable Noodle Soup View Recipe Save This slow-cooker chicken noodle soup fits nicely into the Mediterranean diet thanks to plenty of vegetables, lean chicken breast and whole-wheat pasta. Pair it with a salad and toasted whole-grain bread for an easy, healthy dinner. Explore more: Healthy Recipes Regional Mediterranean Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit