I pull together juicy ground chicken, briny Kalamata olives, and creamy feta into a one-pan Mediterranean skillet that stays keto-friendly, fast, and ridiculously satisfying. It’s weeknight-easy and packs sunshiney flavor in every bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I keep everything to one skillet, so cleanup is simple. I season the chicken with oregano, smoked paprika, and cumin for warmth, then brighten it at the end with lemon and parsley. I love how the cherry tomatoes soften into a light, saucy base while feta melts just enough to get creamy. This is the kind of 30-minute dinner I repeat on busy nights and meal-prep for lunches.
Ingredients
(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 pound ground chicken
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1 small onion, finely chopped
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 bell pepper, chopped (red or green)
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1 teaspoon dried oregano
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1 teaspoon smoked paprika
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1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
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Salt and black pepper, to taste
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1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
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1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
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1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
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2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
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Juice of half a lemon
Directions
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I heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. I add the ground chicken and cook, breaking it up, until browned, about 6–8 minutes.
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I stir in the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion turns translucent, 2–3 minutes.
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I add the bell pepper, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper, and cook 3–4 minutes to soften the pepper and bloom the spices.
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I mix in the cherry tomatoes and olives and let the tomatoes cook down 5 minutes to get lightly saucy.
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I sprinkle feta over the top and let it soften.
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I take the skillet off the heat and finish with parsley and lemon juice, then taste and adjust seasoning before serving warm.
Servings and timing
I get 4 hearty servings as a main course from this skillet. I keep timing to about 10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cook time, for a total of roughly 30 minutes start to finish.
Variations
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I swap ground turkey or beef for the chicken when that’s what I have.
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I toss in quick-cooking veggies like zucchini or spinach during step 3 for extra color and fiber.
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I make it spicier with red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne.
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I go dairy-free by skipping feta and finishing with extra olives and a drizzle of good olive oil.
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I change the vibe with different olives for buttery, green brightness) or add a few capers for tang.
storage/reheating
I cool leftovers, then store them airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days. I reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave until hot. For longer storage, I portion and freeze up to 1 month; I thaw overnight in the fridge and refresh with a squeeze of lemon and a little olive oil before serving. If I want the cheese extra fresh, I hold back some feta and add it after reheating.
FAQs
Can I make this non-keto without changing the method?
I can—when I’m not counting carbs, I serve it over orzo, couscous, or rice and keep the cooking steps exactly the same.
How do I keep the chicken juicy?
I avoid overcooking in step 1 and keep heat at medium; I also let the tomatoes release their juices before finishing with lemon and parsley.
What skillet size works best?
I use a large, wide skillet (10–12 inches). The extra surface helps the chicken brown instead of steam.
Can I prep components ahead?
I chop the onion, pepper, and garlic a day ahead and crumble the feta; then dinner comes together even faster.
What can I serve it with and stay low-carb?
I like it over cauliflower rice with a side salad; it also works tucked into lettuce cups for handhelds.
Conclusion
I love how this skillet turns simple pantry staples into a bright, Mediterranean dinner in half an hour. I get lean protein, briny pops of olive, creamy feta, and a fresh lemon-herb finish—all in one pan and all weeknight-friendly. It’s exactly the kind of meal I feel great about making on repeat.
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Mediterranean Keto Ground Chicken Skillet with Olives and Feta
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- Author: Evee
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
A bright and satisfying Mediterranean one-pan dish featuring ground chicken, cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta, seasoned with herbs and finished with lemon and parsley—keto-friendly and ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground chicken
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper (red or green), chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add ground chicken and cook, breaking it up, until browned, 6–8 minutes.
- Stir in onion and garlic; cook 2–3 minutes until translucent.
- Add bell pepper, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook 3–4 minutes to soften peppers and bloom spices.
- Mix in cherry tomatoes and olives. Let tomatoes cook down about 5 minutes until slightly saucy.
- Sprinkle feta over top and let it soften slightly.
- Remove from heat and finish with parsley and lemon juice.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving warm.
Notes
Swap in ground turkey or beef if preferred.
Add spinach or zucchini for more veggies.
Make it dairy-free by omitting feta and finishing with extra olives and olive oil.
Store leftovers in fridge up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.
Serve over cauliflower rice or in lettuce cups to stay keto.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg