Easy Flavor-Packed Dinner Salad

Mediterranean salads are loaded with flavor and heart-healthy nutrients. For this reason, these salads are ideal for a family dinner.

What’s nice about this salad is you can easily personalize the ingredients on each family member’s plate. I have one daughter who doesn’t care for cheese, so when she was younger and still living at home, I left off the feta on hers.

I love having soup and salad together as a meal. For example, we’re likely to have this homemade bean soup with a Mediterranean salad.

Best Mediterranean Salads in Florida

My family used to live in Pinellas County, Florida, close to the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs. One of the things we loved about the area was the strong Greek culture … and of course, the food. I love all Greek food—especially the Mediterranean salad.

Since there are so many restaurants in Tarpon Springs, we tried to sample a variety. However, there was one place we kept going back to because we liked their delightful surprises in every recipes.

One of the things we enjoyed was the spoonful of deliciousness they buried beneath the vegetables. Surprisingly–at least the first time we had it–there was a mound of potato salad smack dab in the middle.

What Goes in Mediterranean Salads?

Mediterranean salads can be made up of a variety of vegetables, meats, olives, and cheeses. Some might even have potato salad.

That said, some of the most popular and common items include lettuce (of course), tomatoes, black olives, and chicken. I like to top mine with feta because that adds depth to the flavor.

To me, it’s not an authentic Mediterranean salad without Greek dressing and pepperoncini. I also enjoy anchovies, but because my husband doesn’t care for them I leave them off. Most of the time, I add sliced bell peppers, but I didn’t have any for this salad. Sometimes I use these roasted tomatoes.

How to Make Mediterranean Salads with Chicken

Since I always have some sort of lettuce on hand, I use whatever I have. I like chopping it into smaller pieces because I don’t like flinging oily Greek dressing around with a too-big bite.

Secondly, cut boneless skinless chicken breast into bite-size pieces. Then season it with thyme, oregano, and basil, and a little bit of salt and pepper. After that, cook it in a pan with olive oil.

While the chicken is cooking, put all of the other ingredients in wide salad bowls. As soon as the chicken finishes cooking add it to the top.

It’s good as is, but I just happened to have some feta cheese crumbles. Bam! That immediately elevated it to the highest level of Mediterranean salads.

If you have leftover rotisserie chicken, you may add that instead. However, you’ll have to steam the chicken pieces in the seasonings if you want the Mediterranean flavors.

Main Course or Side Dinner Salad

Although this Mediterranean salad is a great main course, it can also be served as a side salad.

Please feel free to share!