Healthy Grilled Mediterranean Bowl (Printable Version)

Charred vegetables and marinated chicken or halloumi over quinoa with tzatziki, olives, and feta.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein & Main

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1½ pounds) or 16 ounces halloumi, sliced into ½-inch pieces
02 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
07 - ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
08 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Grains

09 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 medium zucchini, cut into ½-inch rounds
12 - 1 red bell pepper, cored and quartered
13 - 1 small eggplant, cut into ½-inch rounds
14 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, whole
15 - ½ red onion, cut into eight wedges
16 - 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
17 - 1 medium cucumber, diced

→ Toppings

18 - ¼ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
19 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Tzatziki Sauce

21 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
22 - ½ cucumber, peeled, seeded, and grated
23 - 1 clove garlic, minced
24 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
25 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried dill
26 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
27 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Squeeze excess moisture from the grated cucumber using paper towels. In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, cucumber, minced garlic, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate while preparing remaining components.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add chicken or halloumi and toss to coat. Transfer half the marinade to a separate bowl and add zucchini, bell pepper, eggplant, tomatoes, onion, and chickpeas. Toss evenly to coat. Cover both bowls and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight for deeper flavor development.
03 - In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates or cooking surface to prevent sticking.
05 - Place marinated chicken or halloumi on the grill. Grill chicken 6 to 8 minutes per side until cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F, or grill halloumi 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden grill marks appear. Remove and rest for 5 minutes, then slice chicken if using.
06 - Using a grill basket or directly on the grates, cook zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, and chickpeas for 4 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender-crisp with charred spots.
07 - Divide cooked quinoa among four serving bowls. Top each with sliced chicken or halloumi, grilled vegetables, diced cucumber, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
08 - Drizzle each bowl with extra-virgin olive oil and a generous scoop of tzatziki sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and fresh lemon squeeze if desired. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like restaurant food but uses one pan, one pot, and a grill, so cleanup is shockingly fast.
  • You can swap chicken for halloumi or tofu without losing any of the smoky, tangy magic.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the quinoa soaks up all that garlicky oil and tzatziki.
02 -
  • Don't skip squeezing the cucumber dry, or your tzatziki will turn watery and thin.
  • Cut vegetables thick, not thin, or they'll fall through the grill grates and turn to mush.
  • Let chicken rest after grilling or all the juice will run out when you slice it.
  • Rinse quinoa before cooking or it tastes bitter and soapy.
03 -
  • Marinate overnight for the deepest flavor, especially if you're using chicken.
  • Don't flip the protein or vegetables too often, let them sit and char before turning.
  • Taste the tzatziki before serving and add more lemon or salt if it needs a boost.
  • Use a grill basket for the vegetables and chickpeas so nothing falls through the grates.
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