Best Ever Grilled Chicken Salad
One of my favorite summer salads! This easy grilled chicken recipe is a go-to in our house all summer long. It is so versatile and perfect for summer with all the fun fruit involved! Feel free to get creative and make it your own. I love using our go-to homemade chicken marinade to amp up the flavor even more and don’t forget we have a great tutorial on How to Grill Chicken Breasts to make sure they turn out juicy and delicious every time!
Grilled Chicken Salad Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.
- chicken breasts: love grilling chicken breasts! But you could also use grilled chicken thighs, smoked chicken breasts or smoked chicken thighs as well.
- salt and pepper: for that bit of seasoning – this easy chicken seasoning is good too!
- romaine lettuce: feel free to use any mixed greens, spinach, butter lettuce, etc.
- avocado: you know I am a huge avocado fan – love tossing this on any salad!
- strawberries + blueberries: I absolutely LOVE adding some fruit to my salads – that pop of sweetness is so perfect (I love adding blueberries to my easy steak salad too).
- red onions: or you could make some Quick-Pickled Red Onions!
- cherry tomatoes: alternatively you could use diced Roma tomatoes!
- other add-ins: feel free to add in some chopped bacon, slivered almonds, homemade croutons, etc!
- Dressing of your choice: Creamy Balsamic Dressing, Whole30 ranch dressing, Herby Ranch or Poppyseed Dressing are all good, but you can really use whatever you have on hand.
How to Make Grilled Chicken Salad
Step 1: Pick out your dressing – we love making our own – and our creamy balsamic dressing is probably or our homemade ranch dressing our the two use we the most on this recipe!
Step 2: If you want to marinate your chicken breasts we have the best chicken marinade option!
Step 3: Toss that chicken on the grill!
Step 4: Remove and let rest.
Step 5: Divide other salad ingredients between bowls and enjoy!
Step 6: Drizzle with your favorite dressing and enjoy!
Recipe FAQ
- Chicken Options: Feel free to use grilled chicken thighs on this recipe if you want instead of chicken breasts. Other options include: grilled chicken cutlets, Blackstone chicken thighs or smoked chicken breasts.
- Other additional toppings: While not Whole30/Paleo I also love tossing in some mandarin oranges on this salad too!!
- Dressing: If you aren’t necessarily concerned with Whole30/paleo, I also love throwing some poppyseed dressing on this salad! Either our homemade poppyseed dressing or a store bought poppyseed salad dressing!
- Make Ahead: I highly recommend grilling some extra chicken breasts with another meal you grill so you already have that ready to go! That makes throwing this recipe together that much easier!!
Other Grilled Chicken Salad Recipes You Might Like
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Ingredients
Chicken + Marinade
- ½ cup soy sauce, sub tamari for gluten-free
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
Other Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup blueberries
- ¼ cup red onion, chopped or sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
Salad Dressing Options:
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a small bowl, add ½ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons garlic, 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Whisk to combine. Place 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a silicone bag and pour marinade over top. Ensure chicken is fully coated and let marinate a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Prep: Heat grill to medium heat (approximately 400℉).
- Grill Chicken: Place chicken on direct heat (direct flame) and cook at medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side. Move chicken away from the direct heat (direct flame) so that it is cooking on indirect heat (maintaining the same grill temp) and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes (you don’t need to flip during this point because the chicken will cook as if it is in an oven) or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reads 160℉ on your meat thermometer.
- Rest: Remove from grill and let rest for at least 5 minutes (the chicken will continue to cook during this time and the internal temp will continue to rise up to 10 additional degrees). Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temp of 165℉ (at thickest part of the breast). Once rested, dice the chicken breasts and set aside.
- Build Salads: Between individual bowls, divide the romaine lettuce, avocado, strawberries, blueberries, red onion and cherry tomatoes (if using). Add diced chicken breast on top.
- Serve: Top with Creamy Balsamic, Whole30 ranch dressing or creamy Italian salad dressing (or any other dressing of your choice).
Notes
- Chicken: Feel free to use grilled chicken thighs on this recipe if you want instead of chicken breasts!
- Other additional toppings: While not Whole30/Paleo I also love tossing in some mandarin oranges on this salad too!!
- Dressing: This recipe is super flexible when it comes to the dressing (which is one of the things I love about it). Creamy Balsamic Dressing (or even a balsamic glaze) might be my favorite, but homemade ranch, homemade poppyseed dressing and so many others work well here too.
- Make Ahead: I highly recommend grilling some extra chicken breasts with another meal you grill so you already have that ready to go! That makes throwing this recipe together that much easier!!
- Nutrition: estimated nutrition information does not include dressing of your choice.
Nutrition
More Grilled Chicken Recipes You Might Like
Originally published July 12, 2020.
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Lisa James says
This salad is perfect for summer nights! very easy to put together, and it is beautiful as well as delicious! It is going to be a regular on our meal rotation
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Lisa!! It’s one of our favorite salads as well! Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback – I really appreciate it!