Chicken salad—comfort in a bowl, right? It’s like that song you can’t stop humming—simple yet hits every note perfectly. Whip this up for dinner, and you might just find yourself humming along.
Steps
- In a large jug, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, water, red wine vinegar, fresh parsley, dried basil, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to create the marinade/dressing. Pour half of this mixture into a shallow dish and keep the rest in the fridge for later use.
- Place the chicken in the dish with the marinade and let it soak for at least 15-30 minutes, or up to two hours if you have time. As the chicken marinates, prepare the salad by chopping the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and avocado, and combine them in a large bowl with the olives.
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the marinated chicken on both sides until it is browned and fully cooked through.
- Let the grilled chicken rest for about 5 minutes before slicing it. Arrange the chicken slices over the prepared salad and drizzle with the reserved marinade/dressing from the fridge.
- Serve the salad with lemon wedges on the side, and optionally, sprinkle with crumbled feta for extra flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Cracked pepper to taste
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thigh fillets or chicken breasts
- 4 cups Romaine or Cos lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ? cup pitted Kalamata or black olives, sliced (optional)
- 2 lemon wedges for serving
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese for extra flavor (optional)
Nutritional Values
Calories: 1360kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 100g | Fat: 84g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 52g | Trans Fat: 0.08g | Cholesterol: 432mg | Sodium: 3492mg | Potassium: 3704mg | Fiber: 28g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 18,940IU | Vitamin C: 116mg | Calcium: 348mg | Iron: 12mg
FAQ
- Can the dressing be used as a marinade and a dressing?
- Yes, the dressing in this recipe is versatile and serves as both a marinade for the chicken and a dressing for the salad. This simplifies the preparation and ensures consistent flavors throughout the dish.
- What can I add to enhance the salad’s flavor?
- You can enhance the salad by adding crumbled feta or goat cheese. These cheeses complement the Mediterranean flavors and add a creamy texture to the salad.
- How long should the chicken be marinated?
- The chicken should be marinated for at least 15-30 minutes. If you have more time, you can marinate it for up to two hours in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to develop further.
- What are some other salad recipes I can try?
- You might enjoy trying other salad recipes such as Pesto Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad, Easy Taco Salad, or Greek Lemon Garlic Chicken Salad for more variety.
- Can I substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts?
- Yes, you can use either skinless boneless chicken thigh fillets or chicken breasts in this recipe, based on your preference. Both work well and will absorb the marinade flavors beautifully.
Tips
- Marinate the chicken for at least 15-30 minutes to enhance the flavor, but if you have extra time, letting it marinate for up to two hours in the fridge will yield even better results.
- Use the same marinade for both marinating the chicken and dressing the salad—this simplifies the preparation process and ensures consistent flavors throughout the dish.
- Allow the grilled chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing it. This helps retain its juices, keeping the meat moist and tender when added to the salad.
- Consider adding half a cup of crumbled feta cheese for an additional layer of flavor that complements the Mediterranean ingredients perfectly.
Equipment
- Grill pan or grill plate: Essential for grilling the chicken if you don’t have access to an outdoor grill.
- Large jug: For mixing and storing the marinade/dressing.
- Large, shallow dish: For marinating the chicken.
