Description
This Mediterranean Ground Chicken Pitas recipe is a flavorful and wholesome dish featuring seasoned ground chicken cooked with aromatic spices, nestled inside warm pita bread, and topped with fresh cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta, and a tangy lemon-yogurt sauce. Perfect for a quick and healthy dinner, it combines protein-rich chicken with bright Mediterranean ingredients for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 pita breads
Toppings & Sauce
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatics: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and finely chopped red onion, cooking for 2–3 minutes until they soften and become fragrant.
- Cook the chicken: Stir in the ground chicken along with dried oregano, ground cumin, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Cook the mixture, breaking apart the meat with a spatula, until the chicken is browned and thoroughly cooked, about 7–8 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and simmer: Stir in the tomato paste and 1/4 cup water, mixing well to combine. Reduce the heat slightly and let it simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken nicely.
- Make the yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, combine the plain Greek yogurt with the juice of one lemon, stirring until smooth and tangy. Set aside.
- Warm the pita breads: Lightly warm the pita breads in a dry skillet or microwave to make them pliable and soft for filling.
- Assemble the pitas: Open each pita and fill with the cooked ground chicken mixture. Top generously with chopped cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and fresh parsley.
- Serve with sauce: Drizzle the lemony yogurt sauce over the fillings. Serve immediately while warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute ground chicken with ground turkey or beef based on preference.
- For extra flavor, consider adding kalamata olives or a spread of hummus inside the pitas.
- The yogurt sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
