Chicken & Cucumber Pita Sandwiches with Yogurt Sauce

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Cucumbers do double duty in this healthy Greek-inspired chicken pita recipe—they're grated to lend a refreshing flavor to the quick cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced to provide cool crunch tucked into the pita. Serve these sandwiches for a healthy dinner or light lunch.

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Prep Time:
45 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr 45 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • 5 teaspoons olive oil, divided

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried

  • 2 ¾ teaspoons minced garlic, divided

  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • 1 pound chicken tenders

  • 1 English cucumber, halved, seeded and grated, plus 1/2 English cucumber, halved and sliced

  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided

  • ¾ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper

  • 2 (6 1/2 inch) whole-wheat pita breads, halved

  • 4 lettuce leaves

  • ½ cup sliced red onion

  • 1 cup chopped plum tomatoes

Directions

  1. Combine lemon zest, lemon juice, 3 tsp. oil, oregano, 2 tsp. garlic, and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours.

  2. Meanwhile, toss grated cucumber with 1/4 tsp. salt in a fine-mesh sieve. Let drain for 15 minutes, then squeeze to release more liquid. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in yogurt, mint, dill, ground pepper, and the remaining 2 tsp. oil, 3/4 tsp. garlic, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

  3. Preheat grill to medium-high.

  4. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 165 degrees F, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

  5. To serve, spread some of the sauce inside each pita half. Tuck in the chicken, lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, and sliced cucumber.

Tip

To oil the grill rack, soak a paper towel with vegetable oil, hold it with tongs and rub it over the grates. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)

To make ahead

Refrigerate yogurt sauce (Step 2) for up to 2 days. For leftover sandwiches, prepare through Step 4, but only assemble what you'll eat immediately. Store the leftover sauce, sliced vegetables, and grilled chicken separately and assemble just before serving for lunch or dinner the next day.

Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019; updated September 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

353 Calories
9g Fat
33g Carbs
38g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 1 stuffed pita half
Calories 353
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 38g 75%
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Vitamin A 1139IU 23%
Vitamin C 15mg 17%
Folate 31mcg 8%
Sodium 559mg 24%
Calcium 85mg 7%
Iron 2mg 9%
Magnesium 54mg 13%
Potassium 459mg 10%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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