Greek recipes
Greek food is sunny, simple and full of flavor from lemon, olive oil, oregano, garlic and good feta. This page brings together quick dishes like souvlaki-style skewers, Greek salads, pita wraps, gyro-inspired bowls, shrimp saganaki, spanakopita shortcuts and tzatziki. Every recipe is ready in 20 minutes or less.
9 recipes, quickest first.
10 minGreek salad (horiatiki)
13 minWhipped feta dip with hot honey and chili
16 minTzatziki with crispy pita chips
18 minGreek chicken pitas with tzatziki
18 minLemon herb lamb chops
18 minShrimp saganaki
19 minAvgolemono soup with orzo
20 minChicken souvlaki with tzatziki
20 minGreek lamb keftedes
Most ingredients are easy to find in US supermarkets: feta, Kalamata olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, plain Greek yogurt and pita. Many recipes work well for meal prep, with sauces and salads that keep for a day or two. See the tips for swapping chicken, lamb and chickpeas, and for vegetarian options.
Common questions
How do I make tzatziki?
Grate a cucumber, squeeze out as much water as possible in a clean towel, then mix it with thick Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and dill or mint. Removing the water keeps it thick. It tastes better after 15 minutes in the fridge and keeps for about three days.
What is in a traditional Greek salad?
A traditional horiatiki salad uses chunks of tomato, cucumber, red onion, green bell pepper and Kalamata olives, topped with a slab of feta, dried oregano and plenty of olive oil. It usually has no lettuce. A splash of red wine vinegar is common, and capers are added in some regions.
What is the difference between a gyro and souvlaki?
Souvlaki is small pieces of marinated meat grilled on a skewer. A gyro is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie and shaved off in thin slices. Both are often served in pita with tzatziki, tomato and onion. At home, quick-seared thin strips of chicken or pork make a good gyro-style wrap.