Our amazing, light & refreshing Dill Pickle Chicken Chop Salad recipe is a delicious summer salad that is perfect for dinner!
Ingredients
Dill Pickle Dressing:
1/2cupmayonnaise
1/2cupsour creamregular or dairy-free
2pickle spearschopped with seeds removed
1-2tablespoonsfresh dill weed
1tablespoondill pickle juice
1teaspoongarlicminced
1teaspoononion powder
1/2teaspoongarlic powder
1/2teaspoonkosher salt
1/8teaspoonground black pepper
Grilled Pickle Brine Chicken Thighs & Pickles:
4-6bonelessskinless chicken thighs
1cuppickle juice*enough to cover the chicken to marinate
kosher salt and ground black pepper
8pickle spears
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
Other Salad Ingredients:
4-6cupsromaine lettucechopped
1cupcarrotssliced and quartered
1cupcherry tomatoeshalved
1/2cupgreen onionschopped
4ozfeta cheesecrumbled (regular or dairy-free)
1/4cupfresh dillchopped
1/4cupcroutonscrushed
Instructions
Make Dressing: Put all of the Dill Pickle Dressing ingredients in a small food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.
Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl or storage bag, pour in the pickle juice (enough to cover the chicken), and let marinate for at least 1 hour.
Prep Grill: Bring the outdoor grill to a medium-high heat and make sure the grill grates are clean.
Grill Chicken: Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade, allowing the excess liquid to drip off. Place the chicken thighs directly on the hot grill grates for 3-4 minutes per side (or until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F - use a meat thermometer). Remove chicken, let rest for 5 minutes, & then cut into bite-sized pieces.
Grill Pickles: While the chicken rests, keep the grill at a medium high heat and brush the pickle spears with a little bit of olive oil. Place them directly on the hot grill grates for 1 minute on each side. Remove and chop.
Assemble Salads: Divide the lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, green onions, feta cheese, fresh dill, croutons, cooked chicken, and grilled pickles between individual salad bowls.
*Pickle Juice: Highly recommend using the juice from a jar of our homemade Refrigerator Dill Pickles but you can also use the juice from a jar of store-bought pickles (we love Claussen pickles).
Pickles: you don't have to grill the pickle spears, but we highly recommend giving them a quick char for that added flavor.
Gluten Free: simply omit the croutons or use a gluten-free version.
Storage: feel free to keep the pieces of this salad, each in an individual container, in the fridge for 3-4 days. Assemble when ready to eat.