46 Must-Try Mediterranean Recipes for Every Occasion

Feta Shrimp Skillet

Gyros

Making a gyro at home is similar to making a meat loaf. You combine the ground lamb and beef in a food processor to create a sort of paste, which is then baked, weighed down and sliced. For the final step, sear the pieces to achieve a crispy outer layer like a rotisserie gyro. The melt-in-your-mouth meat can be used for salads and pitas.

Hummus

If there’s one dip you should know how to whip up whenever guests arrive, it’s hummus. Although great on its own, there are infinite toppings you can add to switch up the texture and flavor. We love toasted chickpeas, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sumac. There are plenty of ways to make hummus taste better.

Chicken Souvlaki

All you need is a few ingredients for these gourmet Greek sandwiches that taste best with kabob-style grilled chicken. Of course, a simple Greek salad on the side is a nice addition. Or, you could turn your chicken souvlaki into a gyro salad with tzatziki dressing.

Spanakopita Appetizer Roll-Ups

A classic Greek appetizer, these triangular pockets are filled with a mixture of frozen spinach, feta-cream cheese, onion and fresh dill. Then they’re baked until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Pro tip: Keep a batch on hand in the freezer, especially around the holiday season.

Herb-Roasted Olives & Tomatoes

For a new take on briny, marinated olives, try roasting them with garlic cloves and tomatoes. Some olive oil and a jar of herbes de Provence will put you in business.

Mediterranean Tilapia

Even the most diehard carnivores will become fast fans of this mild tilapia dish that’s low in calories and fat.

Greek Salad Dressing

One salad dressing everyone should have in their repertoire is Greek. This bright, flavorful dressing tastes great on salads, grain bowls and more. Plus, you can turn it into a marinade for grilled meats or roasted vegetables.

Falafel

There are a lot of subpar falafel recipes out there—but this isn’t one of them. Falafel is the quintessential snack when paired with hummus. Load the falafel into a pita or turn it into a meal in a bowl to make it a more filling dish.

Greek Lentil Soup

If lentils aren’t in your regular meal rotation, they should be. They’re easy on the budget, and they’re packed with fiber, protein, B vitamins and more good-for-you nutrients. Check here for more Mediterranean soup recipes.

Dolmades

These stuffed grape leaves are just like the ones Nana used to make. The egg-lemon sauce is so good, you’ll want to drizzle it on everything. Dolmades are a fantastic passed app for parties, but you can also serve them as an entrée with rice pilaf.

Whipped Feta Dip

Right up there with tzatziki, whipped feta dip plays nicely with all Mediterranean cuisine and especially with dippers such as toasted pita bread and veggies. Garlic and lemon flavor the spread, and crushed red pepper adds a bit of heat.

Artichoke Chicken

Lamb Chops

With only 10 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking time, lamb chops are an easy meal you could be making on the regular. These best-ever chops get a nice basil-marjoram-thyme rub with a bit of salt before they go under the broiler. While we love them with mint jelly, you can also serve them with homemade mint chutney.

Mediterranean Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a workhorse vegetable that can be prepared in a myriad of ways. This cauliflower dish uses ingredients like olives, tomatoes and feta for a different experience.

Mediterranean Hummus Nachos

Even an all-American snack like nachos can be made Mediterranean by replacing tortilla chips with pita, guac with hummus and sour cream with yogurt. We used ground beef for this spread, but it would also be excellent with ground lamb.

Greek Chicken and Potatoes

Oregano is the main spice here, which gives the chicken a spicy-sweet appeal. Keep in mind, though, a little goes a long way. Enjoy this recipe with a fresh green salad and some crusty bread.

Quinoa Tabbouleh

Baklava

If you’re not serving baklava at your Mediterranean feast, you missed the assignment. These are the best honey brands for the job.

Pita Bread

We know what you’re thinking: Why make my own pita bread when store-bought is easier? Trust us, one bite will reveal the difference. Light, fluffy and perfectly puffed-up, this recipe is too simple not to try. To help encourage ample pockets, roll the dough thinly so the heat can hit the center quickly and force the rise.

Chocolate Hummus

Moussaka

Aubergine lovers, this one’s for you. The Mediterranean version of a baked eggplant casserole, moussaka is a layered masterpiece. It can be made with sauteed beef or lamb or made vegetarian.

Greek Salad

This recipe has the perfect balance of ingredients. But you can always add more olives and cheese, because you can never have enough, right? Here’s our guide to the most popular types of olives you’ll want to try in your salad.

Kourabiedes

Not familiar with kourabiedes? The Greek cookies are buttery, crunchy and fragranced by an intoxicating vanilla aroma. If you lean more toward citrus scents, use almond or orange extract. Or, try misting the warm cookies with high-quality honey (like orange blossom) diluted with water in a food-safe spray bottle.

Mediterranean Chicken

To meal prep salads, rice bowls and other quick dinners for the week, brown the chicken breasts in a skillet on each side, then stir in tomatoes, water, oregano and garlic powder. After a boil, a simmer and 10 minutes of cooling, you’ll be ready to slice or shred the meat to use whenever you want it.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Roasted red pepper hummus is one of the most popular kinds of hummus. Smoky, sweet, laced with umami—it checks all the boxes as far as a delicious dip goes. Making it from scratch ensures you can keep the fat and calorie counts down.

Lamb Pitas with Yogurt Sauce

Spiced lamb and Mediterranean cuisine go hand in hand, but when occasions call for handhelds instead of forks and knives, turn to these stuffed pita pockets. Tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and a creamy yogurt mixture are the perfect toppings for the succulent meat.

Loukoumades

Like most doughnuts from around the world, loukoumades consist of fried dough. What sets them apart is that these Greek doughnuts are soaked in a sweet honey syrup after being fried.

Edamame Hummus

Classic hummus is generally made with cooked or canned chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), but edamame hummus flips the script by using frozen edamame instead. The result is a green goddess-esque spread that you’ll want to slather on a pita or serve on a crudités platter.

Greek Beef Pitas

Greek gyros always seem easier to order at a restaurant, where they shave the meat off the spit on the spot. Yet, when you encounter a DIY dupe for re-creating the classic sandwich at home, with ground beef as a spectacular stand-in, it’s worth bookmarking.

Moroccan Chickpea Stew

If you’re cooking for a crowd or asked to bring a potluck dish to a Mediterranean dinner party, might we suggest this Moroccan chickpea stew as a foolproof option? The recipe can be doubled or tripled (depending on the size of your crew), and it will present well thanks to its fabulous bold flavors.

Melomakarona

Sinfully rich from olive oil and sweetened from a honey syrup bath, these must-bake Greek Christmas cookies are a welcome addition to any holiday fête. Although they call for a festive smidge of Cognac, you can make an alcohol-free treat by replacing the Cognac with orange juice.

Greek Orzo Salad

Pasta salads are a forever favorite at summer gatherings and barbecues, and this Greek orzo salad ranks right up there with the best of them. Cooked orzo is tossed with tangy feta, crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives and a zesty dressing, but the best part is that it gets even better as it sits in its marinating juices. While vegetarian as is, you could add marinated chicken skewers or gyro meatloaf to transform this side dish into an entrée for your whole family.

Greek Easter Bread

If you’re Greek, nothing says Easter quite like a loaf of tsoureki adorned with hard-boiled red eggs at the center of your dining table. While the process of making it is a little more involved than some of our other favorite Easter bread recipes, it yields a stunningly beautiful, symbolic and delicious loaf that’s well worth the effort.

White Bean Hummus

Don’t have chickpeas on hand? Cannellini beans work just as well for hummus, given their buttery, creamy nature. You can always omit the crushed red pepper flakes for little eaters.

Spinach and Feta Pinwheels

Nothing beats a flaky spanakopita triangle unless, of course, it’s a spinach and feta pinwheel. A quick and easy way to enjoy the pie, this recipe uses frozen ingredients like puff pastry and chopped spinach, plus some herbs, eggs and feta for a kid-friendly snack that comes together in under an hour.

Mediterranean Turkey Panini

Pick up fresh ciabatta bread at the bakery and put your panini press or griddle pan to work. We recommend buying a block of feta instead of the pre-crumbled kind. It will have a creamier texture and fresher taste.

Greek Spaghetti

Made with thin spaghetti, aromatic herbs, and fresh ingredients like plum tomatoes, green onions and feta cheese, this is one of those perfectly light pasta recipes that you can serve any time of year. The Greek flavors instantly transport you to the seaside.

Avgolemono Soup

Avgolemono is a classic Greek lemon chicken soup that’s silky, bright and citrusy. It’s heaven when served with crusty bread.

Beet Hummus

Break out of the plain hummus rut with this earthy, sweet beet hummus recipe. There are several ways to cook beets, but roasting them removes excess moisture and intensifies their sweetness. You can use drained canned beets as well, just make sure they’re not pickled beets.

Pastitsio

All along the Mediterranean Sea, you’ll find pastitsio, the famous baked pasta dish that’s the Greek version of lasagna. With ground meat and bechamel sauce, it can be a bit heavy, but this recipe keeps things easier and a bit lighter without sacrificing flavor.

Leg of Lamb Recipe

Whether you’re looking for a knockout leg of lamb recipe for Easter or another occasion, the simple herb mixture on this roast provides amazing flavor and can be prepped using a handful of dried aromatics you have in your pantry.

Pumpkin Hummus

When the leaves start to turn, that means it’s the start of pumpkin-everything season—hummus included. This creamy dip has a gorgeous orange hue and looks especially festive with a finishing touch of pumpkin seed oil, pumpkin seeds and pomegranate seeds.

Baklava Cheesecake

With sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs, this unique baklava cheesecake is quite beautiful. Finely chopped walnuts lend a nice crunch, while warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg make your whole kitchen smell divine.

Greek Sheet-Pan Chicken

The genius of sheet-pan dinners is that they require one bowl and one pan—that’s it. We used bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe, plus a medley of red potatoes, onions and peppers. Feel free to use boneless chicken and other veggies. Serve it with cucumber salad for a tasty side.

Mediterranean Chicken Pasta

When comfort food cravings strike, a cheesy pasta bake loaded with chicken and all sorts of veggies satisfies.

Mediterranean Recipes FAQ

What are traditional Mediterranean ingredients?

Traditional Mediterranean ingredients include olive oil, garlic, ripe tomatoes, fresh herbs like oregano and basil, lemons and plenty of seasonal vegetables. Whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds round out the pantry. Tangy cheeses like feta, plain yogurt, olives, and lean proteins such as fish, chicken or lamb are staples across the region. They work together in the Mediterranean diet to build layers and satisfying flavors without relying on heavy sauces or processed foods. If you’re missing something, swap in a close alternative. Try sunflower seeds for pine nuts in pesto or barley for farro in a grain salad.

Can I follow a healthy Mediterranean diet on a budget?

Yes, it’s possible to enjoy healthy Mediterranean meals on a budget with some planning. Buy whole grains in bulk, choose affordable proteins like canned tuna or chicken thighs, and build meals around vegetables, legumes and grains. Batch-cook recipes like lentil stew or bulgur pilaf to stretch ingredients across the week. Frozen vegetables are another smart way to cut costs. They work well in soups, pasta tosses or roasted frozen vegetable recipes when fresh produce isn’t available.

What are quick Mediterranean dinner ideas?

Easy Mediterranean dinner ideas include Greek salad wraps, chickpea stir-fries and simple grilled fish recipes finished with lemon and herbs. Grain bowls with roasted vegetables, olives and a sprinkle of feta come together fast, especially if you prep a few components ahead of time. You can stock staples like hummus, canned beans and whole grain pita for easy, low-calorie Mediterranean diet dinners in minutes. Roasting a tray of vegetables on the weekend or cooking extra grains also makes it simple to get a head start for the week.