I get it. By the time work is done, the kids are hungry, training's out of the way and everyone's a little bit feral, dinner needs to be simple. It cannot be a project. But we're also prioritising protein over here, because it's what keeps everyone full and stops the grazing that somehow starts twenty minutes after we've eaten.

This is the one I come back to when I want all of that at once. Big on flavour, big on protein, and the whole family will actually eat it. Meet the Chicken Yiros Bowl.

Why this one earns its spot

• It's fast. From start to finish its on the table 30 minutes (less if you've marinated the chicken)
• It's properly high in protein that fills you. 
• Build your own bowl is a hit with everyone.
• Leftovers are gold. Any extra chicken becomes tomorrow's lunch wrap.

The recipe

Serves four.

For the chicken:

• 600g chicken thigh or breast, sliced into strips
• A good glug of olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Juice of half a lemon
• Salt and pepper

For the garlic yoghurt:

• 1 cup thick Greek no fat yoghurt
• 1 small garlic clove, crushed or finely grated
• A squeeze of lemon
• A pinch of salt

To build:

• Cooked rice, or warm pita torn into pieces (or both)
• Tomatoes, chopped
• Cucumber, chopped
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Lettuce or cabbage, shredded
• Optional extras: feta, olives, fresh parsley or mint

Method:

1. Toss the chicken with the oil, garlic, oregano, paprika, lemon, salt and pepper. Even fifteen minutes sitting in that is great, but if you can do it in the morning or the night before, even better.
2. Heat a pan until it's nice and hot, and cook the chicken in a single layer until golden and cooked through. Don't crowd the pan. You want colour on it, not steam.
3. While that cooks, stir the garlic, lemon and salt through the yoghurt. This is the bit that makes the whole thing, so don't skip it.
4. Build your bowls. Rice or pita on the bottom, chicken on top, then pile on the salad. Finish with a big spoon of garlic yoghurt and one more squeeze of lemon.

Make it easier on yourself

• Marinate the chicken in the morning or the night before. Two minutes then, and dinner basically cooks itself later.
• Double the chicken. Cold yiros chicken in a wrap the next day is one of the better desk lunches going.
• Prep the salad and sauce earlier in the day, then just cook and assemble at dinner.

Make it yours

• Swap the protein: lamb or beef strips work beautifully, and crispy chickpeas or falafel make it an easy vegetarian night.
• Swap the base: rice, quinoa, couscous, warm pita, or skip it and go big on salad if you want it lighter.
• Load the veg: roasted capsicum, grated carrot, whatever needs using up in the fridge.

Healthy dinners don't need to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest ones are exactly what you come back to again and again. Whether you're chasing a bit more protein, trying to get more organised through the week, or you just want dinner to stop being the hardest part of your day, this one is a proper win.

Love, Leah x

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