Healthy Grilled Mediterranean Bowl (Printable)

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

# What You Need:

→ Protein & Main

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds) or 16 ounces halloumi, sliced into 0.5-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 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
08 - 0.25 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 0.5-inch rounds
12 - 1 red bell pepper, cored and quartered
13 - 1 small eggplant, cut into 0.5-inch rounds
14 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, whole
15 - 0.5 red onion, cut into eight wedges
16 - 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
17 - 1 medium cucumber, diced

→ Toppings

18 - 0.25 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
19 - 0.25 cup crumbled feta cheese
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Tzatziki Sauce

21 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
22 - 0.5 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

# Steps:

01 - Squeeze excess moisture from grated cucumber using paper towels. In a bowl, combine yogurt, cucumber, 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, 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 to coat evenly. Cover both bowls and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight for enhanced flavor.
03 - In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or 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 pan surface.
05 - Place marinated chicken or halloumi on the grill. Grill chicken 6 to 8 minutes per side until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F), or 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 and charred in spots.
07 - Divide cooked quinoa among four bowls. Top each with sliced chicken or halloumi, grilled vegetables, diced cucumber, olives, and crumbled feta.
08 - Drizzle each bowl with extra-virgin olive oil and a generous scoop of tzatziki sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon if desired. Serve immediately while warm and fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything gets better with char marks, and this bowl proves you can grill your way to a complete, colorful meal without turning on the oven.
  • The homemade tzatziki takes five minutes but tastes like you spent an hour in a sun-drenched Greek kitchen.
  • You can swap chicken for halloumi or tofu and the bowl holds its own, making it perfect for mixed company or Meatless Monday.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the quinoa soaks up all those smoky, garlicky juices.
02 -
  • If you skip squeezing the grated cucumber for the tzatziki, you'll end up with a watery sauce that slides off everything instead of clinging to the warm quinoa.
  • Marinating for at least 30 minutes makes a noticeable difference, the chicken stays juicier and the vegetables develop deeper flavor instead of just tasting like char.
  • Don't crowd the grill or everything steams instead of searing, work in batches if you need to and keep the heat high.
03 -
  • Let your protein rest after grilling, it keeps the juices inside instead of spilling all over the cutting board.
  • Make extra tzatziki and keep it in the fridge for up to a week, it's perfect on sandwiches, roasted potatoes, or eaten straight with pita.
  • If you're meal prepping, store the quinoa, protein, and vegetables separately and assemble bowls just before eating so nothing gets soggy.
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