Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 10 minutes
• total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 ½ lb skinless boneless chicken thighs

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon olive oil

8 oz grape tomatoes (sliced in half)

5 cloves garlic (minced)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 oz fresh spinach (chopped)

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 cups cooked jasmine rice

15 oz chickpeas (canned)

6 oz feta cheese (diced into small cubes)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano (optional)

fresh oregano (for garnish)

Directions

How to cook chicken

Season the chicken thighs with dried oregano, paprika, salt, and red pepper flakes.

Heat an empty, high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet (such as a cast-iron or stainless steel pan) over medium heat for 2 minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add chicken thighs. Cook the chicken on medium heat for 5 minutes on one side, undisturbed. Important note: make sure the oil does not burn. If the skillet gets too hot (depending on your stovetop), reduce heat to low-medium. You don't want the juices from the chicken to be burnt, as you will use those juices to flavor the rice.

Flip the chicken thighs over, reduce heat to low-medium, and cook for about 5 more minutes or longer on the other side, without moving it, until it's cooked through.

The meat thermometer should register 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the chicken. Remove the chicken from the skillet.

How to make Greek lemon rice

Add half of the halved grape tomatoes, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same, now empty, skillet. Cook the tomatoes on medium heat for about 2 minutes until they soften and release juices.

Stir in fresh spinach until it wilts.

Add cooked rice and drained chickpeas.

Add 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and the remaining uncooked halved grape tomatoes. Reheat on medium heat, stirring everything to combine. Add 1 extra tablespoon of olive oil if you like.

How to make a feta cheese mixture

In a medium bowl, combine cubed Feta cheese with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon of dried oregano (add more to taste), 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh oregano (if using).

Mix so that the herbs and olive oil coat the cubed Feta cheese.

Assembly

Mix half of the feta cheese mixture into the skillet with lemon rice.

Add sliced cooked chicken to the skillet with rice and reheat on medium heat.

Top the Greek chicken and lemon rice with the remaining feta mixture. Sprinkle fresh oregano on top.

Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.

Nutrition

• Calories: 755 kcal
• Total Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0.03 g
• Cholesterol: 199 mg
• Sodium: 970 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 62 g
• Dietary Fiber: 12 g
• Total Sugars: 7 g
• Protein: 53 g