Chicken Salad Pita
Supercharge meal prep with our Chicken Salad Pita! Succulent chicken and crispy veggies loaded into pita pockets – with a tangy Greek dressing to finish. It’s such a tasty and fresh lunch spin on our spring chicken salad.
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Chicken Pita Pockets: Fast and Easy Lunches
Our Chicken Salad Pita is a delicious combo of juicy chicken and fresh veggies, nestled within a fluffy pita pocket with a zesty Greek dressing to finish.
If you haven’t used pita before, it’s a wonderfully airy bread originating from the Mediterranean. It opens up like a little pouch – perfect for stuffing with all sorts of yumminess.
Not only is this chicken salad recipe a cinch to put together, but it’s also a fantastic meal prep option for the busy week ahead, just like our orzo salad recipe with feta.. Prep the salad ahead, and each morning, fill a pita pocket for a fast, nutritious lunch.
It’s a great recipe for that leftover grilled chicken drumsticks from last night’s dinner. To make things even better, we’ve included plenty of customization ideas and add-ins for you to try – just take a look below.
Ingredients
Get to your local grocery store and gather these Chicken Salad Pita ingredients:
- Chicken: Our main source of protein. Use leftover meat from half roasted chicken or rotisserie chicken from the supermarket, or yogurt marinated chicken kebabs would be great!
- Whole-wheat pita pocket halves: These bread pockets house our salad, and have a wholesome, nutty flavor. White pita bread is fine if wholewheat isn’t your thing.
- Romaine lettuce: The salad’s crunchy base. We choose romaine as it has a nice crisp texture that works well inside the pita bread.
- Grape tomatoes: These juicy gems are great for salad, adding little bursts of sweetness.
- Cucumber: Cool and refreshing, cucumbers give that hydrating crunch – nicely balancing out the richness of the chicken.
- Feta: This tangy cheese adds a creamy contrast, keeping things exciting.
- Greek Salad Dressing: Drizzled over, it brings all our ingredients together with its zesty and herby notes. Try our easy recipe, or grab a bottle from the store.
- Hummus: This creamy delight adds depth and really brings the taste of the Mediterranean.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Optional Add-Ins
Change up your chicken stuffed pita pockets a little every day. Here’s a list of our fave add-ins:
- Spicy spicy: Turn up the heat with a sprinkle of chili flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper. If you’re feeling adventurous, a dollop of spicy salsa can bring a Mexican flair to your pita.
- Bean boost: For some added protein and fiber, add chickpeas or black beans. They not only enhance the nutritional value but also lend a delightful earthy flavor, making your pita even more filling.
- Go Greek: Add Kalamata olives for a distinct, briny kick. Pair with some finely diced red onions for a nice Mediterranean touch.
- Veggie variety: Add in some thinly sliced radishes or julienned bell peppers for a peppery bite.
Variations
Here are some ways you can tweak this simple chicken salad recipe to make it your own:
- Hummus heaven: Different flavored hummus can completely change the character of your pita. Experiment with roasted red pepper or garlic flavors. You can even use leftover layered hummus dip.
- Say cheese: If feta feels too routine, there’s a world of cheese out there. Consider the creamy decadence of crumbled goat cheese or the milky softness of mozzarella.
- Dress it up: Try Greek yogurt Caesar dressing if you desire a creamy, garlicky touch with a hint of umami. For a tangy and herbaceous zest, buttermilk ranch dressing is your go-to.
- Veggie voyage: Not a chicken fan? Replace it with grilled eggplant or zucchini for a vegetarian version.
- Leafy luxe: Swap out the romaine lettuce for a more peppery bite with arugula or the delicate, nutty notes of baby spinach.
How to Make
Now we’ve got our ingredients sorted, let’s jump right into the exciting part – making our easy Chicken Salad Pitas. Check the recipe card below if you need more help.
- First, in a medium bowl, toss together the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, chicken, and feta. Add a generous amount of Greek salad dressing and give it a good mix. Have a taste, and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Now prep the pita bread. Split each pita in half and open it up like a pocket, then spread hummus inside.
- Spoon your freshly made chicken salad into the pita pocket, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Ready to make the most mouthwatering chicken pita pockets? Let’s dive into some of our top expert tips:
- Stay crisp: Hold off on adding the dressing until you’re just about to eat. This keeps your veggies fresh and stops them from getting soggy.
- Pocket perfection: Warm up your pita bread slightly before stuffing. It makes them easier to work with and less prone to tearing.
- Chicken choice: Rotisserie chicken is a handy shortcut, but it can sometimes be a tad salty. Roast your own bone-in chicken breast to help keep the sodium levels down.
- Make-ahead magic: If meal prepping, keep the salad, dressing, and pita separate and assemble when you’re ready to go for maximum freshness.
Recipe FAQs
Chicken pitas work well with many side dishes. Try pairing it with a side of
chopped Greek salad and tzatziki yogurt sauce for a delicious Mediterranean feast.
Our crispy oven-baked fries are another great option, especially for the young ones.
When it comes to the best lettuce to use in a pita salad, we think romaine works well as it adds a lovely crunch.
But, of course, there are others you can try if romaine isn’t available, such as iceberg or butter lettuce. If you’re feeling ultra-healthy, you could even use spinach.
Wondering about the cheese if you’re going vegan? Try visiting your local health food store – they usually stock vegan feta.
Alternatively, you can make your own feta substitute using crumbled tofu seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt.
Rotisserie chicken is super convenient, but it’s not easily available to everyone. Luckily, chicken breast is super quick to cook up.
Season well, give it a quick sear in a hot skillet till golden and cooked inside, then let it rest before slicing.
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If you try Chicken Salad Pita, please leave a star rating and let me know how you like the recipe in the comments below.
PrintChicken Salad Pita Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Chopped
- Cuisine: Greek
Description
Greek chicken pita made with delicious fresh chicken salad that is tossed in Greek vinaigrette. It’s such a tasty and fresh lunch idea!
Ingredients
Greek Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- salt & fresh pepper
Chicken Salad
- 4–5 cups shredded romaine lettuce (or 10 oz. bag chopped romaine)
- 1/2 cup chopped grape tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 cup chopped cooked chicken, leftovers, or rotisserie
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta
- 6 oz. hummus
- 6 whole-wheat pita pocket halves
Instructions
Greek Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl, whisk together vinaigrette ingredients and set aside.
Chicken Salad
- In a medium bowl, toss the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, chicken, and feta with Greek Vinaigrette.
- Split the pita in half to form a pocket. Spread about 2 tablespoons of hummus inside of the pita pocket. Fill the pocket with Chicken Salad. Enjoy!
Notes
- Meal Prep: To meal prep, prepare the dressing and salad, and refrigerate separately. Assemble right before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pita halve with salad
- Calories: 332
- Sugar: 2.4 g
- Sodium: 330.7 mg
- Fat: 16.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 25.1 g
- Protein: 23.1 g
- Cholesterol: 62.6 mg
This recipe was super easy and delicious 😋! Instead of humus we used Bubagoush. My husband really enjoyed them.
Made this recipe ad it a easy, quick, and very filling. just what the doctor ordered.
I look forward to making this salad. I was wondering if you have the nutritional facts for this recipe? Thank you.
Hi Josephine: I am working on adding that information but as of right now I do not have it.
This is a great meal to pack for lunch, so good!
I can not wait to try thesr recipes out. They all look so good. Where to start……..
Thanks so much! Hope you find something to try.
What kind of hummus do you use?
I used plain hummus.
Wow! These are amazing!!! Guests loved them. They were gone and I only got one piece. Will be making many more for sure. Thank you ????
That’s so great! Glad you enjoyed them 🙂 Thank you for the feedback.
Very good
WOW thanks for this recipe, it turned out wonderfully. I just threw the chicken breast in the crock pot with some spices and some chicken broth for about three hours on high. It made a lovely shredded chicken. The spices in your recipe worked perfectly together! I only added three cups of lettuce and a little extra chicken. THANKS again, you are a great cook!
Hi Christa! I like your idea of throwing chicken in the crockpot for easy homemade shredded chicken. Good thinking 🙂 Thank you for your sweet words and leaving your feedback. Have a great night!
Looks perfect, love this type of recipe, this time of year.
Thanks
Simon
nice healthy lunch!
These actually sound (and look) really good to me right now. Guess I need to go eat some breakfast! XO