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This easy one-pan Mediterranean chicken stir fry comes together in just 30 minutes. It's a simple yet flavorful weeknight meal that features staples of Mediterranean cuisine: tomatoes, spinach, lemon, oregano, smoked paprika, and feta cheese. It's healthy, gluten-free, keto, low-carb, and rich in protein and fiber. Serve it as is, or with roasted spaghetti squash, rice, orzo pasta, or cauliflower rice.
Mediterranean chicken stir-fry
In this recipe, the skinless boneless chicken thighs are first cooked with smoked paprika and oregano, and then combined with garlic cherry tomatoes, spinach, and feta cheese. It takes only 30 minutes and requires one cooking pan. The cleanup is minimal - perfect for busy weeknights. It's a very simple recipe, yet the flavors are rich and complex. This dish is gluten-free, keto, low in calories, low in carbs, and high in protein and fiber. The only dairy product is feta cheese, there is no cream and no butter. You can easily make it dairy-free by using dairy-free feta cheese. If you love this kind of Mediterranean chicken dinner inspiration, don't miss my other favorite 30-minute one-pan recipes: chicken Margherita skillet and pesto chicken with veggies (asparagus and tomatoes).
Why you'll love it
- Nutrient-dense dinner. This incredibly easy Mediterranean chicken stir-fry is a well-balanced meal that has everything: lots of veggies (tomatoes and spinach), protein (chicken), and healthy fats (feta cheese).
- Easy-to make. It's a simple dinner that a whole family will love! Easy enough to make it on a busy weeknight, yet the presentation is so appealing that you can serve it when you have company over.
Main ingredients
- Chicken. You can use skinless boneless chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or tenderloins. This recipe is also great for leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken!
- Spinach is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It's high in fiber and a good source of many vitamins and minerals. Spinach is a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as folic acid, iron, and calcium. I used fresh spinach, but frozen spinach can certainly be used! Make sure to thaw it and drain it from any liquid. I would even pat it dry with paper towels.
- Tomatoes. I used red cherry tomatoes.
- Feta cheese is quite nutritious, as well, and is a great source of calcium. This delicious cheese has a soft texture and briny flavor.
- Seasonings include smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Olive oil is used to cook the chicken.
Substitutions and variations
- Fresh spinach or frozen. I used fresh spinach but frozen spinach (thawed and drained well of all liquid) can be used, too.
- Use leftover chicken. This recipe works great with leftover cooked chicken, grilled chicken, or rotisserie chicken.
- Lime or lemon will work great. Freshly squeezed juice is always the best!
- Veggies. My favorite veggies for Mediterranean chicken are chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, green beans, cucumber, zucchini, arugula, and spinach. Choose any of these, and mix and match!
- Cheese. You can use grated Parmesan, Asiago, or Mozzarella cheese instead of the Feta cheese.
Storage and reheating tips
- Fridge. Store the leftover chicken stir fry in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer. You can freeze this dish for up to a month.
- Reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Check and reheat for 30 seconds more or longer.
- Reheat on the stovetop. You can also reheat the leftovers on medium heat, stirring regularly, in the skillet on the stovetop. When reheating, add a small amount of olive oil to the skillet.
What to serve with it
- Roasted spaghetti squash is a great alternative to regular pasta! It's healthy, gluten-free, low-carb, keto, and packed with fiber.
- Cauliflower rice is a delicious low-carb and keto alternative to regular rice.
- Quinoa will pair beautifully with this Mediterranean chicken stir-fry.
- Rice, such as long-grain jasmine or basmati rice.
- Orzo is a short-cut pasta shaped like rice.
Other Mediterranean chicken recipes
- Mediterranean Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Artichokes, and Capers
- Chicken Margherita with Cherry Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Basil Pesto, and Mozzarella
- Pesto Chicken with Veggies (Asparagus and Tomatoes)
Mediterranean Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables (30-Minutes, One-Pan)
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs or breasts
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Veggies
- 10 oz fresh spinach
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 8 oz cherry tomatoes halved
- 6 oz crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
Cook chicken
- In a large, high-sided skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Slice chicken thighs into smaller segments and season generously with smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and cook on medium heat on both sides for about 10 or 15 minutes until the chicken is completely cooked.
- Remove chicken from the skillet.
Make a veggie mixture
- To the same, now empty, skillet (with juices from chicken), add fresh spinach, half of the halved cherry tomatoes (saving the other half for later), and minced garlic. Cook the spinach on medium heat for about 5 or 10 minutes until it wilts.
- Add crumbled feta cheese, the remaining half of the cherry tomatoes, and 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix to combine.
- Return cooked chicken back to the skillet and reheat gently.
- Season the veggie mixture with salt and pepper.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Plan on making this tonight. If I wanted to make this w/creamy sauce, at what point do I add the cream?
I am sorry for my late response! Add cream at the same time as the first half of halved cherry tomatoes + spinach. Wilt the spinach together with cream.
Easy to prepare with minimal, common ingredients. Delicious!!!
Excellent. Flavorful. I doubled the spinach. Definitely save this one.
So happy you loved it, Susan!
We made this tonight and it was delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you, Angus, for taking the time to share your review!
I am so encouraged by Julia's 30-minute healthy recipes! I threw this one together with variations and my husband and I loved it!
I tossed 4 frozen chicken tenders into the olive-oil skillet...covered them with the smoked paprika, a light sprinkling of dried basil, oregano, some garlic salt (my garlic clove was dead!), salt & pepper.
Used "power greens" salad, some fresh cut-up tomatoes & some Italian stewed tomatoes, And cut two fresh zucchinis & one yellow squash from the garden. Threw in some chickpeas too.
We're not Feta fans -- I had crumbled goat cheese as an add on to sample. This mix didn't need it. But did squeeze in fresh lemon (which gave the whole dish a nice flavor) -- and we squeezed in some Sriracha Sauce for a little heat.
We poured into warmed pasta bowls on top of brown rice and topped with some fresh cut basil. Delicious!! Thank you!! Looking forward to whipping up another one of Julia's recipes!!
Heather, I love all your delicious changes, thank you for sharing! I am sure other readers (including me!) will find that helpful!
This is DELICIOUS! My whole family loves it- even my picky daughter!
Aww, thank you, Colleen, so glad to hear that! 🙂
This dish was quick, easy, healthy and delicious. I would like to make this for a friend who had cardiac surgery. Can this meal be frozen
Hi Deb! Yes, this can be frozen - it's meal-prep friendly! 🙂
Delicious and easy. I added a little white wine and chicken broth after browning the chicken for a nice sauce for chicken and orzo pasta
Jennifer, I love the addition of white wine to deglaze the pan!
We enjoyed this! I had about a half cup of heavy cream so I added that. I doubled the seasonings and lemon juice. I topped it with grated Parmesan cheese. I especially liked the feta in this recipe.
Peggy, I love your adjustments - they sound so delicious, thank you for sharing! 🙂
Very yummy, and a nice combination of ingredients. Thank you!
I am so happy you enjoyed this dish! 🙂
Easy to make simple dinner. My husband loved it.
It is on his make again please list.
So happy to hear that, Moira! ❤️ Thank you for your review!
I tried this recipe and it worked out well. I forgot to add the garlic but added it in near the end and it was fine. We had it for lunch with some pasta but actually it was so filling that we didn't need the pasta - it would have been a good low carb meal just on its own.
Kirstie, I am so glad you tried it and loved it! It's a great low carb meal on its own for sure. It also goes well with roasted spaghetti squash or "cauliflower rice" as a lower carb alternative to pasta.
What is the best way to warm this dish up the next day?
Thanks.
Lisa, just microwaving should work fine. Or, reheat on the stove top in a high-sided skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil added to prevent the food sticking to the bottom of the pan.
I would highly recommend a cream sauce. The recipe doesn’t call for it but we found the dish to be too dry without it.
Lisa, yes, this will definitely taste even better with the cream sauce! I just kept this recipe simple and on a very lean, healthier side.
This recipe was excellent. Easy and very full of flavor. I especially liked the large quantity of veggies in this dish. I substituted a different cheese ( an Italian blend) because I don't like Feta but it was still really good and I will make it again. The only thing that cost this recipe a star was the quantity. I made this just for myself with thought of freezing some portions for later. It says it feeds 4 but I found that had I divided this up for 4 that the servings would have been pretty skimpy especially for folks with a good appetite like teenagers. However, that being said , I had a great meal last night and will have a very tasty leftover for tonight's dinner!
Arleen, thank you for your thoughtful feedback! ❤️❤️ This dish will definitely benefit from adding more chicken, I agree! 🙂 And, so glad this recipe worked well with other kind of cheese!