25 Best Mediterranean Dinner Recipes That Will Transport You to the Coast
Falafel, fish, and feta are the trio you've been craving.
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Craving clear blue seas, sun-drenched days, and a table full of tzatziki, falafel, and warm pita? Even if you're staying close to home this summer, these Mediterranean dinner recipes will bring the flavors of the coast straight to your kitchen! Rooted in the age-old culinary traditions of places like Italy, Greece, and Turkey, these dishes highlight the region's freshest ingredients: think juicy tomatoes, briny olives, crisp herbs, and creamy cheeses. These flavorful gems make their way into crisp summer salads, chicken dinners, and pasta dishes that are bright, balanced, and made to be shared.
The key ingredient of many of these recipes is fruity, bitter olive oil, so make sure you have a quality version of the cooking staple on hand! No Mediterranean feast can commence without delicious summer dips paired with pita, like creamy whipped feta and red pepper hummus. And of course, you can't end the flavorful feast without our twist on the classic Middle Eastern dessert: baklava bites! No matter which of these Mediterranean recipes you choose to make for your next summer feast, they're sure to transport you straight to the seaside—no planes, trains, or boats required!
Mediterranean Chicken
Winner, winner, Mediterranean chicken dinner! This one-skillet dish is light, bright, and packed with briny olives for a tangy twist. Serve it over a bed of rice or orzo, and don't forget a sprinkle of fresh parsley for garnish.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Chicken recipe.
Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad
This refreshing salad is everything you want in a Mediterranean-inspired dish: crisp, colorful, and bursting with flavor. Ripe tomatoes and cucumbers create the perfect base, while crumbled feta adds just the right amount of creamy tang. A simple vinaigrette made with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs ties it all together.
Get Ree's Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad recipe.
Stuffed Eggplant
Enjoy eggplant in a new way by stuffing it with a Mediterranean-inspired filling! When roasted until tender, this vegetable becomes the perfect vessel for couscous, ground beef, and a medley of warm spices like cumin, paprika, and cinnamon. A swirl of creamy Greek yogurt on top adds a cooling contrast.
Get the Stuffed Eggplant recipe.
Caprese Salad
You can't go wrong with this classic Italian salad! Chockfull of fresh ingredients like thick tomato slices, mozzarella, and basil leaves, it's the perfect start to a pasta dinner or seafood feast.
Get Ree's Caprese Salad recipe.
Nicoise Salad
Hailing from the south of France, one bite of this stunning salad will transport you straight to the French Riviera! Piled high with crisp green beans, baby potatoes, juicy cherry tomatoes, and perfectly jammy eggs, it's a dinner-worthy salad that doesn't skimp on substance.
Get Ree's Nicoise Salad recipe.
Tabbouleh
This mezze platter staple salad made of finely chopped parsley, green onions, tomato, and bulgur gets an upgrade by adding crunchy cucumber and aromatic garlic to the mix! It's fragrant, fresh, and fantastic alongside dips and pita!
Get the Tabbouleh recipe.
Air Fryer Falafel
Enjoy falafel just how you like it—crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside—but without the big pot of oil! Thanks to the air fryer, the falafel gets perfectly crisped up and ready to be served with pita, sliced tomatoes, and plenty of tangy tahini yogurt sauce.
Get the Air Fryer Falafel recipe.
Greek Pasta Salad
Summer's favorite potluck pairing gets a Greek update with fresh veggies, briny olives, fragrant herbs, and creamy feta! Toss it all together with a simple lemon dressing, and you have the perfect picnic side.
Get the Greek Pasta Salad recipe.
Feta Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
If you're of the understanding that feta makes everything better, you'll love these beef meatballs filled with the tangy cheese! They're the perfect protein pairing to the fresh zucchini noodles coated in lemon.
Get Ree's Feta Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles recipe.
Spinach and Feta Chicken Burgers
Take your next cookout up a notch by trading out your average beef burgers for these zesty spinach and feta chicken burgers! The moist patties make a great companion to creamy tzatziki, spinach, tomato, pepperoncini, and cooked red onion.
Get Ree's Spinach and Feta Chicken Burgers recipe.
Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad
This sweet and salty salad is a new and delicious way to enjoy juicy watermelon this summer! The hydrating fruit gets tossed together with crunchy arugula, tangy feta, and al dente orzo.
Get Ree's Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad recipe.
Creamy Whipped Feta Dip
Smooth, creamy feta dip and toasted pita wedges will be your new easy party staple this summer! Serve the dip with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of fresh mint for a fragrant finishing touch.
Get the Creamy Whipped Feta Dip recipe.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
The best summer salads are those that have a little bit of everything—and this colorful side is just that! It's chockfull of orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, garbanzo beans, kalamata olives, feta cheese, parsley, and diced cucumber.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Orzo Salad recipe.
Greek Lemon Potatoes
There's nothing a tender potato wedge can't fix—especially when it's infused with lots of zippy lemon and fresh herbs! It's the perfect potato side for your favorite spring and summer dishes.
Get Ree's Greek Lemon Potatoes recipe.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
The classic creamy chickpea dip gets a sweet kick thanks to the addition of roasted red peppers in this recipe. They also add to the beautiful red-orange hue of the hummus.
Get the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus recipe.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Bring in pasta salad season with this bright Mediterranean one featuring giardiniera, crispy chickpeas, and a Spanish-style romesco dressing. The lumache pasta—a short, ribbed shape—is perfect for catching all of the delicious dressing.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe.
Beef Kebab Marinade
You can't have a Mediterranean feast without kebabs! These beef kebabs are delightfully tender and coated in a delicious marinade made of balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire, honey, and Dijon mustard.
Get the Beef Kebab Marinade recipe.
Couscous Salad
This grain-based salad is an easy and yummy way to taste the rainbow! It's so colorful, thanks to cherry tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, toasted walnuts, and fresh dill.
Get the Couscous Salad recipe.
Tzatziki
No mezze spread is complete without a brimming bowl of creamy tzatziki! The yogurt cucumber dip tastes great with so many different foods, including pita, veggie sticks, and even burgers.
Get the Tzatziki recipe.
Moussaka
This Greek version of lasagna features layers of golden roasted eggplant and potatoes, aromatic meat sauce, and creamy bechamel topping. The hearty dish is the perfect Sunday supper centerpiece, but we won't blame you for wanting to eat it every night of the week!
Get the Moussaka recipe.
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