I’ve got a big spring salad to kick the week off! It’s only mid-March, but I’m in salad mode at the moment. I’ve made a few in the last few days that I’m so excited to share. Today’s salad just might be my favorite though. This is definitely a dinner style salad, which is usually how I like to create my salad recipes. They’re always full of color and you won’t walk away hungry. My oldest brother loves anything with Greek flavors. A chicken or beef gyro is one of his favorite foods. I love a good gyro, too, and that was a bit of the inspiration for this recipe. This Greek-inspired salad is a hodgepodge of delicious ingredients, from the chicken to the dressing and, of course, the Tzatziki sauce. I really think you all will love it! Plus, the leftovers are great all week long! I’d serve fresh pita or naan alongside – yum!
Here are all the details
Step 1: begin with the chicken For the chicken, I wanted it to be crispy and have similar flavors to a chicken gyro. I seasoned the chicken breasts with smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili flakes for some heat. Oh, and a tiny drizzle of honey, too. Use olive oil to bake the chicken until it just begins to brown. The honey helps to balance the spices and brings on some caramelization too.
Step 2: mix the salad While the chicken is roasting, grab a giant salad bowl. Add all the salad greens, cucumbers, and sun-dried tomatoes. For the greens, my ideal mix is half kale and half romaine lettuce.
Step 3: the tahini dressing The tahini dressing is a mix of tahini, lemon or orange juice, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and honey. I wanted to keep this simple, but include an element of citrus and fresh garlic in a nice creamy dressing. It turned out really delicious!
Step 4: toss the salad Now we can bring all the layers of this delicious salad together. First, toss the greens with the tahini dressing to ensure they get evenly coated before adding everything else. Then add the hot chicken to the greens. Throw on the avocado, feta cheese, and fresh herbs. Next, take the Tzatziki sauce and add spoonfuls over the chicken and greens. The last ingredient I love to add is a handful of toasted sesame seeds—my obsession these days. Step 5: eat I love to serve this salad with warm chicken; I think it makes it feel more like a dinner. Extra Tzatziki on the side is standard as well. It’s great! If you don’t have fresh pita or naan, this is also a great salad to pair with a side of homemade fries! This is such a fun and bright dinner for any night of the week. What I love is that the leftovers are perfect for enjoying the next day for lunch! The sauce will last all week and can be used in multiple recipes.
Looking for other easy dinners? Here are some favorites: Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes 30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros with Feta Tzatziki Lastly, if you make this Chicken Tzatziki Avocado Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
