Feta Brined Roast Chicken Recipe for One

Need something simple, yet elegant for dinner? This feta brined roast chicken is easy to make, but looks like something from a fancy restaurant.  Brine the chicken, let it sit overnight, and then mix a few ingredients together and bake.

The brine helps infuse the chicken with flavor, and (as a bonus) keeps it from drying out. It works just like the brine for a turkey, except this will taste much better! Feta cheese is particularly effective as a brine since it is packed in water, so it’s already moist. Blending it together creates a smooth, creamy brine that penetrates the chicken, keeping it tender and moist, even under high heat. The finished chicken doesn’t have a strong feta taste, but it will be rich, tender, and delicious.

Once the chicken is brined, you create a quick and easy spice rub from lemon zest, pepper, and oregano, blend that together, and spread it all over the chicken.  The feta cheese adds salty savor, the lemon a hint of tartness, and the oregano and spinach give the dish a fresh, bright flavor.  The original dish called for arugula, but I’m not a fan, so I used spinach instead.

Taking the chicken out early before you cook it helps it dry out and allows the skin to become crisper when the chicken is roasted.

Add pan-friend potatoes, or oven roasted Greek potatoes for a full meal.

You could eat this all by yourself, or increase the recipe and serve it for company.




Feta Brined Roast Chicken Substitutions and Variations

  • swap the oregano for rosemary
  • add a clove of minced garlic to the spice rub
  • try it with chicken breasts
  • use whole cloves of garlic and let them roast and caramelize
  • want more of a bite? double the amount of black pepper

More Feta and Chicken Recipes

penne with feta cheese and sundried tomatoesPenne with Feta Cheese, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Olives

Sweet, salty, and pantry-friendly too. This dish delights both the eyes and the taste buds with its medley of flavors.

 

spinach and feta cheese omeletteSpinach and Feta Cheese Omelette

Just the thing when you want something quick (without sacrificing flavor). Think spinach and feta pie with a lot less work.

 

homemade chicken shawarmaHomemade Chicken Shawarma with Yogurt Sauce

Why get takeout when you can make your own? It’s easier, cheaper, and faster. You don’t need any special equipment either; just make this right in your oven.

 

Vietnamese baked chicken with limeVietnamese Chicken with Lime and Ginger

Ginger and garlic add warmth and a gentle kick, balanced by a citrusy lime tang.  Perfect for a weeknight, as it takes only about 30 minutes to cook.

 




Penne with Feta Cheese Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives

This penne with feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives recipe is fairly hands-off, simple, and delicious. And, of course, it’s just one serving!

It also allowed me to make some progress using the enormous jar of sun-dried tomatoes that’s been in the back of my fridge forever! Add some pasta, a bit of feta cheese, olives, and a few leaves of fresh basil, and you get a tasty lunch with only a few minutes of real work. (I have a basil plant growing in my window, so that basil was really fresh).

The feta was leftover from making a feta and spinach omelette, so it also helps toward my goal of not wasting anything. I just hate having a couple of tablespoons of sauce, or a few random bits of fruit or vegetables turning into a science experiment.

Now, on to more tasty mental pictures.

If you get plain, dried tomatoes (without any oil), you’ll have to start by heating them and softening them up a bit.  You can do this overnight (if you’re organized), or just start them a few minutes before you start boiling the water for the pasta. If you get the kind in oil, you can skip this step.

Once the tomatoes are soaked and the pasta is cooked, the rest of the recipe takes only a few minutes to prepare.  Just cook the garlic, toss the remaining ingredients in the saucepan you used to cook the penne and heat them up with the pasta.

Since the entire meal only uses one pot, it’s also easy to clean up afterwards. I don’t have a dishwasher, so easy cleanup is good!




 

Substitutions and Variations for Penne with Feta Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Olives

  • add a handful of fresh spinach (maybe half a cup of torn leaves) at the end, after you drain the pasta; cooking it just a minute or two until it wilts
  • add 1/4 chopped eggplant, a couple of mushrooms, and a few slices of red bell pepper
  • put in some leftover cooked chicken, this makes it more substantial and suitable for dinner
  • try a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bit of extra kick

Ingredients and Tools for This Recipe

sun-dried tomatoes

Roland Sun-Dried Tomatoes

The nice thing about sun-dried tomatoes is that they do last a long time (if you happen to have bought a giant jar because the price was great).  In addition to pasta, you can toss them on pizza, mix them in with eggs, add them to pesto, or put them in meatloaf.

 

olives

Jeff’s Naturals Whole Castelvetrano Olives

My mom only eats black olives and my dad only liked green ones. I never really liked olives of any kind that much until I tried these. They were set out as a bar snack (of all things). They are bright green, mild, and don’t taste sour or briny like most olives do. They’re great with this pasta dish, and also marinated in olive oil with slivers of garlic and rosemary (which is how the bar served them). Delicious and great for a wine and cheese cocktail hour (either just for you or for company).

More Single Serving Feta Cheese Recipes

strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheeseStrawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

Perfect for long, hot summer days, this recipe requires no actual cooking. Crisp, refreshing, salty, and sweet, all at once.

feta brined roast chickenFeta Brined Roast Chicken Recipe for One

Easy enough for a weekend, fancy enough for company. The feta brine helps keep the chicken moist and adds flavor too.

 

summer pasta with green olives and feta cheeseSummer Pasta with Green Olives and Feta Cheese

Sweet, juicy tomatoes, plus salty olives and feta, equals an easy summer meal. The feta cheese and olives are slightly salty, while the tomatoes add sweetness. Add a squirt of lemon juice for a citrusy burst. Works either hot as dinner, or cool as a pasta salad.

 

spinach and feta cheese omeletteSpinach and Feta Cheese Omelette

Spinach and feta pie flavors, with a lot less effort. Make this for breakfast, brunch, or lunch.

 

 

 




Blueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts

I was so pleased with last week’s spinach and feta salad with strawberries that I decided to try another variation, this time with blueberries. Plus, the spinach and the blueberries at the market looked so fresh that I couldn’t resist buying them. So now, we end up with blueberry spinach salad with feta cheese and walnuts.

I changed the dressing from balsamic vinaigrette to a lemony vinaigrette made with olive oil, vinegar, and lemon peel. I topped it all off with a mixture of nuts, raisins, and sunflower seeds.

I bought the nut/seed combination already mixed, you can add some, or all of the ingredients, depending on what you have in your pantry, your personal taste, or whether you feel like going to the store to get anything you haven’t got handy.  You definitely don’t have to add all of them!

The resulting blueberry spinach salad with feta cheese and walnuts is crispy, a little salty (from the feta), tangy from the lemon, and sweet from the blueberries.

And, it’s even red, white, and blue. It would be great for a Fourth of July picnic or party.  Just throw it together ahead of time and add the dressing when it’s ready to serve.  Gotta have something healthy in-between all those hot dogs!




Substitutions and Variations for Blueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts

  • Don’t have spinach? Try mixed greens or arugula instead
  • Or, add some mushrooms
  • Try adding some carrots or zucchini
  • Swap out different kinds of nuts (or nut mixtures)

More Spinach and Feta Recipes

spinach and feta cheese omeletteSpinach and Feta Cheese Omelette

The flavors of spanakopita (spinach feta pie) in an omelette. Much easier to make, and simply delicious.

 

spinach and egg frittataSpinach and Egg Frittata for One Person

Perfect for brunch or a light lunch and packed with herby and savory flavor from spinach, eggs, nutmeg, coriander, and fresh dill.

 

strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheeseStrawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

Sweet local strawberries balanced against tangy balsamic vinegar and feta cheese.  Great for a hot summer day (no cooking!)

 

penne with feta cheese and sundried tomatoesPenne with Feta Cheese, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Olives

The intense sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes is a perfect foil for briny olives and salt feta.  The recipe comes together quickly and is a great summer meal.

 




Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

Strawberry season has finally arrived! They’re wonderful just right out of the box, but much as I love strawberries, they’re not a complete meal.  This strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheese is easy to make, delicious, and even healthy (all those greens and Vitamin C). And the colors look pretty too.  The tartness of the balsamic vinegar, and the saltiness of the feta cheese complements the sweetness of the strawberries. The almonds on top add a bit of extra crunch.

Since I wanted more veggies than just spinach, I added carrots, red cabbage, and tomatoes for extra color and more nutrition (I was trying to make up for indulging at a party!).

Make the dressing first, and let the flavors blend together while you fix the rest of the salad.

This is a great quick lunch or dinner. Just double the spinach, and add more tomatoes. You might want to increase the dressing recipe too (I like less dressing than most people).




 

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese Substitutions and Variations

  • Try mixed greens instead of the spinach
  • Use goat cheese rather than feta
  • Swap the strawberries for blueberries
  • If you’re wary of the balsamic, try a lemony vinaigrette dressing instead
  • Top it all with some mixed nuts or walnuts

More Entree Salad Recipes

smoked salmon artichoke saladSmoked Salmon Artichoke Salad

Colorful and delicious, this salad has bright and sweet citrus,  earthy spinach, crispy veggies, and plenty of flavor,  all topped with a savory dressing.

 

chili citrus avocado chicken saladChili Citrus Avocado Chicken Salad

A great summer salad with leftover chicken, tangy lime, and rich, smooth avocado.  The chicken comes with a kick, so it’s a festival of sweet//spicy flavors.

 

cottage cheese yogurt and fruitCottage Cheese Yogurt and Fruit Salad

Healthy and easy to make. I used mango, but you can use strawberries, nectarines, peaches, or blueberries if you like. Or mix them all up.  Just pour everything into a bowl. Done!

cold leftover steak saladCold Leftover Steak Salad with Goat Cheese and Red Wine Vinaigrette

Forget the classic steak sandwich for a minute and use your leftovers to make this salad instead.  Chop some veggies, add goat cheese, and make a quick red wine vinaigrette. A full meal with no cooking! Ta da!




Summer Pasta with Green Olives and Feta Cheese

After a rather chilly spring, summer is suddenly here in full force. It’s hot, it’s sticky and I do not want to stand over a hot stove for one second longer than I have to. That means it’s time for salads, pasta, eggs, and other quick meals that require as little cooking time as possible.  So, with that in mind, today’s dish is a simple, but delicious summer pasta with green olives and feta cheese. This is sometimes called Greek spaghetti (their name for pasta is makaronia).

The feta cheese and olives are slightly salty, while the tomatoes add sweetness.  And really, fresh summery tomatoes (and strawberries) are the best!

I ate my pasta hot, because I was hungry and didn’t want to wait for it to cool, but I suspect it would work just as well as a cold pasta salad. It would probably be great for a picnic. Since there’s no mayonnaise it will travel well to a park or the beach.

It’s easy to make too. Just boil the water, cook the pasta, and chop up a few ingredients. Perfect when you don’t want to cook, but you still have to eat. And it’s a lot easier and cheaper than going out or ordering in to get something.

I kept it simple with just the olives and tomatoes, but you can change that if you want. Don’t fuss too much about measuring the vegetables. It’s hard to mess this up!

 




Summer Pasta with Green Olives and Feta Substitutions and Variations

  • Add extra vegetables like spinach, bell pepper, or mushrooms
  • Try goat cheese or Boursin instead of the feta
  • Use sun-dried tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes for an extra burst of flavor

More Pasta Recipes

pasta olives tomatoes capersPasta with Olives Tomatoes and Capers Puttanesca

Spicy sauce, briny olives, and sweet tomatoes, a classic combination that’s flavorful and ready quickly too.

 

quick and easy summer pastaQuick and Easy Summer Pasta

Summer in a bowl, with fresh veggies, tomatoes, and pasta. This works hot or cold too.

 

spaghetti with green olives and lemon pankoSpaghetti with Green Olives and Lemon Panko

A dish packed with zesty garlic, earthy fresh spinach, tangy capers, briny olives and a burst of citrus. Crispy, golden-brown panko crumbs mixed with dill and lemon zest add a finishing touch.

pasta with tomato artichoke saucePasta with Tomato Artichoke Sauce Recipe

A fresh change from the usual tomato sauce, this dish has marinated artichokes, a generous helping of oregano, and red pepper flakes. Spicy, fresh, and delicious.

 




Spinach and Feta Cheese Omelette

This spinach and feta cheese omelette has salty feta, tender spinach, and a mild oniony bite from scallions.  I had a craving for spanakopitas (spinach and feta triangles, wrapped in phyllo dough), but unfortunately, I had no phyllo dough handy.

I suppose I could have gone out to get some, but believe me, when you have to go up and down (or maybe down and up) all those steps, all 56 of them, you think twice before running out to the store for just one ingredient!

So, I decided to improvise.  While I didn’t have phyllo dough, I did have the other ingredients, and plenty of eggs.

I figured with the eggs, the spinach, some feta cheese, some scallions, and a little creativity, I could get a similar flavor in an omelette without any phyllo dough. It was delicious!  And, I admit it was also a lot easier to prepare than spanikopitas!  The spanakopitas take quite a bit of time and effort to make (all that dough rolling). Unlike spanakopitas, this spinach and feta cheese omelette is ready in about fifteen minutes, which is much faster (and easier) gratification!

You can make it for breakfast on a weekday (since it doesn’t take long to prepare), or have it for a weekend brunch or quick lunch.  Just add some fruit or a chunk of crusty bread.




Omelette Cooking Tips

Omelette making can seem a bit intimidating, but it’s not that hard to master.  And, while you’re practicing, you still get to eat the results (even if they don’t look perfect, they will still taste good).

I’ve explained this in more detail in the recipe, but the idea is to coat the pan with the oil first. There’s a lot of talk about using seasoned cast iron pans, but an ordinary frying pan is just fine. Then add the eggs, and tilt the pan to spread the egg mixture evenly over the bottom. Use a fork (or a spatula) to move the uncooked (and still liquid) eggs around in the pan.  Then, once the edges firm up (and are no longer liquid), add the filling on one side.  Flip the empty half over the filling, cook it, and then slide (or flip) the omelette onto your plate.

Since it’s a bit easier  to explain omelette preparation with video and pictures, rather than words (and because I can’t hold the pan, the fork, and the camera all at once), here’s a video from the BBC that demonstrates the basic technique for making a plain omelette.

More Single Serving Egg and Spinach Recipes

fried egg burritoEgg Chili Cheese Burrito Recipe

A super-quick and easy meal that’s good any time of day.  Just a few basic ingredients, but still lots of spicy cool flavors.

 

frittata recipe for one personFrittata Recipe for One Person

Think part omelette and part quiche. It’s super-versatile too;  use broccoli, spinach, ham, peppers, or whatever veggies you like.

 

eggs with spinach and chili pepper

Eggs with Spinach and Chili Peppers

A light meal with a touch of heat from garlic and ginger (and the peppers). Only one pot.

 

spinach and egg frittataSpinach and Egg Frittata for One Person

Eat this hot out of the pot, or let it cool and wrap it to go. The spinach, eggs, nutmeg, coriander, and fresh dill add lots of herby and savory flavor.