These Feta Brined Grilled Rooster Bowls function juicy, flavorful rooster breasts marinated in feta brine and served over rice with contemporary Shirazi salad for a simple, protein-packed summer time dinner.

Feta Brined Rooster
If you happen to’ve ever purchased a block of feta, don’t throw away the brine. It makes one of many best brine for rooster breasts, including moisture, tangy taste, and a refined creaminess that transforms lean rooster from boring to scrumptious. I construct on these Mediterranean flavors by serving the grilled rooster over rice with a crisp salad Shirazi, a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad that retains the bowls gentle and refreshing. It’s a simple, high-protein summer time dinner that’s simply nearly as good for meal prep as it’s for any evening of the week.
Why Marinate Rooster in Feta Brine?
In case you have my Skinnytaste Air Fryer Dinners cookbook, you could bear in mind the feta brine I utilized in my Feta-Brined Stuffed Rooster Breasts. Feta brine is full of taste. It’s salty and tangy from the cheese, which helps season the rooster whereas protecting it moist and tender. Marinating rooster within the brine can also be an effective way to make use of an ingredient that might in any other case be thrown away.
If you happen to get pleasure from experimenting extra with brine marinades, attempt my juicy Air Fryer Rooster Breast recipe or my Pickle-brined Baked Rooster Tender, which makes use of pickle juice.
What Is Salad Shirazi?
Salad Shirazi is a well-liked Persian salad made with finely diced cucumbers, tomatoes, purple onions, and contemporary herbs. It makes use of a easy dressing of salt, pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil so as to add taste.

Elements You’ll Want
The primary group of substances is for the feta-marinated rooster breasts, adopted by every thing you’ll have to make the easy salad Shirazi recipe. Verify the recipe card under for the precise measurements.

- Rooster breasts: You should buy rooster cutlets, additionally referred to as “thin-sliced rooster breasts,” on the grocery retailer, or you’ll be able to minimize your personal through the use of sharp kitchen shears to chop a rooster breast in half vertically. You’ll find yourself with 2 skinny, lengthy cutlets.
- Feta cheese brine is the liquid within the container of a block of feta. Don’t purchase crumbled feta for this recipe.
- Additional virgin olive oil for moisture
- Spices: Cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, turmeric, dried oregano
- Lemon zest for brightness
- Basmati rice is the bottom of those grilled rooster bowls.
Salad Shirazi Elements
- Persian cucumbers are small, seedless cucumbers with skinny pores and skin.
- Roma tomatoes are candy and juicy in the course of the summer time.
- Purple onion for crunch
- Recent herbs: I find it irresistible with basil, mint, and parsley.
- Kosher salt for seasoning
- Salad Shirazi dressing: Additional virgin olive oil and lemon juice create a easy French dressing.
The way to Make Feta-Marinated Grilled Rooster Bowls
I like to make use of this meals chopper to get completely diced greens for the salad Shirazi. It saves loads of time, too. If you happen to don’t have one, simply make certain to make use of a pointy knife for the best cube. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.




- Marinate the rooster: Combine all of the marinade substances and toss with the cutlets. Cowl and refrigerate for half-hour or as much as 24 hours.
- Grill the rooster over medium-high warmth for 3 to 4 minutes on either side. When the middle reaches 165°F, take away the cutlets from the grill and allow them to relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing.
- Put together the Shirazi salad: Mix all of the greens and different salad substances.
- The way to serve: Divide the rice amongst 4 bowls, then high every with 1 / 4 of the rooster and salad. Serve it with tzatziki sauce or white sauce, if desired.
Ideas for Juicy Grilled Rooster Breasts
- Cook dinner it at room temp. Let the rooster sit out for half-hour earlier than grilling so it cooks extra evenly.
- Don’t overcook the rooster. Since these cutlets are so skinny, they prepare dinner quick. Control them!
- Verify for doneness with an instant-read thermometer. Take away the rooster from the grill as soon as it hits 165°F.
- Allow them to relaxation. Don’t minimize into them for at the very least 5 minutes to forestall the juices from operating out.

Variations
- Preserve it low-carb: Swap rice with blended greens for a grilled rooster salad.
- No feta brine? Mix 1 cup of water with 1 ounce (1/4 cup) of crumbled feta in a blender or mini meals processor.
- Dairy-free rooster marinade: Omit the brine and use the juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange as an alternative. For the reason that marinade will comprise acid, don’t marinate the cutlets for greater than 5 hours to keep away from it from breaking down the rooster.
- Rooster: Swap breasts for boneless skinless rooster thighs.
- Cucumbers: Substitute an English cucumber. If you happen to solely have an everyday one, peel it, slice it in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds with a spoon earlier than dicing.
- Tomatoes: Use Campari, grape, or cherry tomatoes. If utilizing grape or cherry tomatoes, quarter them.
- Rice: Exchange basmati rice with any type of white or brown rice, quinoa, farro, or couscous.


Yield: servings
Serving Dimension: 1 bowl
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In a big bowl, mix the feta brine, olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, turmeric, oregano and lemon zest. Whisk till nicely mixed.
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Add the sliced rooster and toss completely to coat every bit evenly within the marinade. Cowl and refrigerate for at the very least half-hour, or as much as 24 hours for deeper taste.
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Warmth a grill, giant skillet, grill pan, or flat-top griddle over medium-high warmth.
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Add the marinated rooster in a single layer, working in batches if essential to keep away from overcrowding. Cook dinner for 3 to 4 minutes per aspect, or till the rooster reaches an inner temperature of 165°F (74°C) and develops gentle golden-brown colour. Permit to relaxation for minimal 5 minutes earlier than slicing to retain moisture.
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Make the salad in a bowl by combining cucumbers, tomatoes, purple onion, contemporary herbs, lemon, salt and olive oil.
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Serve rooster over rice with salad.
Final Step:
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- If you happen to don’t have any (or sufficient) feta brine able to go, make your personal by mixing a ratio of 1 cup water to 1 oz (¼ cup) crumbled feta.
- If you happen to don’t have the brine, or need to create a dairy free model– use the juice from the lemon & orange.
- Thinly sliced rooster cooks shortly; keep away from overcooking to take care of tenderness.
Serving: 1 bowl, Energy: 411 kcal, Carbohydrates: 40.5 g, Protein: 30.5 g, Fats: 14 g, Saturated Fats: 2 g, Ldl cholesterol: 83 mg, Sodium: 619 mg, Fiber: 2.5 g, Sugar: 3 g, Vitamin A: -1 IU
Meal Prep Ideas
- The way to retailer: Pack the rooster and rice in an hermetic glass container, leaving some house for the salad. Retailer the salad in a separate container. Word: It should launch water the longer it sits, and the greens will soften, nevertheless it’s nonetheless good to eat.
- The way to reheat: Place an ice dice on high of the rice and microwave for a couple of minute till heat. Then, high with the salad.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate the rooster and rice for as much as 4 days and the salad for as much as 2 days.
- Freeze the grilled rooster for as much as 3 months. Then, thaw within the fridge.
- Reheat the rooster within the microwave or air fryer at 350°F till heated via.
FAQs
I like to recommend marinating the rooster within the feta brine for at the very least half-hour however not more than 24 hours. The longer you marinate, the extra taste the rooster can have.
If you happen to don’t have a grill, prepare dinner the rooster breasts in a big skillet, grill pan, or flat-top griddle over medium-high warmth for 3 to 4 minutes per aspect. If all of the cutlets gained’t slot in a single layer, prepare dinner them in batches.




