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Are you craving a delicious, healthy meal that’s quick, full of flavor, and keeps you on track with your keto diet? Look no further than this Mediterranean Keto Ground Chicken Skillet with Olives and Feta. This dish is everything you want in a low-carb, high-protein meal: succulent ground chicken, tangy feta, and the bold flavors of olives, garlic, and Mediterranean spices—all cooked in one skillet for maximum convenience.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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🥘 Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes with just one skillet.
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🧀 Keto-Friendly: Low in carbs and high in healthy fats and protein, perfect for a keto lifestyle.
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🍽 Flavor-Packed: With ingredients like feta, olives, garlic, and Mediterranean spices, the flavors are bold and vibrant.
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🍳 Meal-Prep Friendly: Can be made in advance and stored for easy lunches or dinners throughout the week.
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🥗 Customizable: Add or swap vegetables, herbs, or protein sources based on your preferences or what you have in your kitchen.
How to Make Mediterranean Keto Ground Chicken Skillet with Olives and Feta
Step 1: Sauté the Onion and Garlic
Start by heating 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until the onion becomes soft and translucent. This creates the perfect base for the flavors to develop.
Next, add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can become bitter.
Step 2: Cook the Ground Chicken
Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks. Continue stirring and cooking for about 6-8 minutes, until the chicken is browned and fully cooked through. The chicken should lose its pink color and become nicely seared.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Once the chicken is cooked through, it will release a little moisture, which will help the spices blend into the meat.
Step 3: Add the Spices
Now, it’s time to bring in the Mediterranean flavors. Sprinkle the chicken with the ground cumin, ground paprika, dried oregano, ground cinnamon, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir the spices into the chicken and let them toast in the pan for about 1-2 minutes, which will enhance their aroma and flavor.
This combination of cumin, paprika, and oregano is classic in Mediterranean cooking and gives the dish its signature warm and earthy flavor profile.
Step 4: Add the Cherry Tomatoes and Chicken Broth
Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. The tomatoes should begin to soften and release their juices, creating a slight sauce to coat the chicken.
Pour in the chicken broth and stir everything together. The broth will help deglaze the pan, lifting any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom. Let everything simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to break down a little more and the flavors to meld.
Step 5: Add the Olives and Feta
Stir in the sliced Kalamata olives and let them warm through. These olives bring a salty, briny flavor that pairs beautifully with the ground chicken and spices.
Once everything is combined, sprinkle the skillet with crumbled feta cheese. The cheese will melt slightly and add a creamy, tangy richness to the dish. If you want the feta to be extra melty, cover the skillet with a lid for 1–2 minutes.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Once everything is cooked and the feta has melted into the dish, remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and added freshness.
For an extra layer of flavor, squeeze some lemon juice over the dish before serving. This brightens up the savory notes and balances the richness of the feta and olives.
If you want to add a little crunch, you can sprinkle toasted pine nuts over the top just before serving.
Serve the dish immediately on its own or with a side of zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or a fresh Greek salad for a complete Mediterranean keto meal.
Serving Ideas and Variations
While this dish is fantastic on its own, there are several ways to serve or tweak it to fit your needs and preferences.
🥗 Serve with a Side Salad:
Pair this skillet with a simple Greek salad made with cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and a lemon-oregano dressing. It will complement the Mediterranean flavors and give you some extra greens.
🥒 Zucchini Noodles:
For a keto-friendly option, serve the chicken skillet over zucchini noodles (or zoodles). The zucchini will absorb the savory juices from the skillet while keeping the meal low in carbs.
🌾 Cauliflower Rice:
For a grain-free and low-carb side, cauliflower rice works perfectly. You can either sauté it in a little olive oil or use it as a base for this hearty chicken skillet.
🥔 Sweet Potato (for non-keto):
If you’re not following keto or want to add a heartier side, roasted sweet potatoes can bring a lovely balance to the rich flavors of the chicken.
🧄 Add More Veggies:
Feel free to add other Mediterranean vegetables such as spinach, artichokes, bell peppers, or zucchini. Just toss them into the skillet in step 4 along with the tomatoes and chicken broth.
Tips for the Best Mediterranean Keto Ground Chicken Skillet
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Use quality chicken: Choose free-range or organic chicken if possible. It tends to be leaner and more flavorful.
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Season generously: Mediterranean dishes rely on bold flavors, so don’t skimp on the spices. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
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Feta cheese: Opt for full-fat feta for the creamiest texture and best flavor. Goat cheese is also a great alternative if you prefer it.
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Customize the olives: Kalamata olives are the classic choice, but you can experiment with other varieties such as green olives, Castelvetrano olives, or even black olives for a different flavor.
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Make it spicy: If you enjoy heat, add some chopped jalapeños or extra red pepper flakes to the skillet.
Make-Ahead and Storage
This Mediterranean Keto Ground Chicken Skillet can be made in advance for meal prep or stored as leftovers.
Make-Ahead:
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Cook the chicken up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to eat, reheat the skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave and finish with fresh parsley and feta.
Freezing:
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While the dish can be frozen, the texture of the feta may change upon thawing. If freezing, store the chicken portion in a freezer-safe container. Reheat on the stovetop and add fresh toppings like feta and parsley after reheating.
Leftovers:
Final Thoughts
This Mediterranean Keto Ground Chicken Skillet with Olives and Feta is the perfect weeknight meal for anyone on a keto or low-carb diet. It’s packed with protein, healthy fats, and all the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or looking for a satisfying dinner, this dish checks all the boxes—quick, easy, delicious, and nourishing.
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) ground chicken
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup green olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 medium tomato, diced (optional for more freshness)
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (or more to taste)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
- Optional: A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil before serving for extra richness
Instructions
1. Cook the Ground Chicken
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon until fully browned and cooked through. Season with salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
2. Sauté Aromatics
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the skillet (if needed) and toss in the diced onion. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Add Olives and Feta
- Stir in the green olives, black olives, and diced tomato (if using). Cook for another 3 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
- Lower the heat and stir in the crumbled feta cheese and lemon juice. Cook for 1 more minute to allow the feta to soften slightly.
4. Taste and Adjust
- Taste the skillet and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
5. Garnish and Serve
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil.
- Optionally, drizzle with a bit of extra virgin olive oil for extra richness and flavor.
Notes
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