This Italian grilled chicken salad is made with juicy grilled chicken, crisp salad greens and a creamy homemade Italian dressing. It’s light, nourishing and perfect for a fresh lunch or summer dinner!
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While I love my fair share of Italian desserts, I do balance it with eating my fair share of salads! It’s all about balance, so this Italian grilled chicken salad for lunch and then a taste of Nutella ice cream later.
I love this grilled chicken salad recipe with a homemade Italian dressing! It’s perfect for when the warmer summer weather arrives, as it requires no oven and just your grill. The dressing is creamy, flavorful and pairs so well with the crisp greens.
It’s delicious and healthy with every bite! If you love salad recipes, a few others I serve often include this Italian fresh vegetable pasta salad, this Mediterranean rice bowl and this popular Borlotti bean salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect warm weather salad: When the temps are hot, this salad is the perfect lunch or easy dinner option! It doesn’t require an oven and is simple to make!
- Versatile:Â Swap the chicken for a different protein, add more veggies, add beans, use a different dressing, the options are endless when it comes to creating the best non-boring salads.
- Meal prep friendly:Â This Italian chicken salad recipe is great for a meal prep salad idea! If you love the idea of making better lunch choices, this salad is the perfect way to do that.
Italian Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Chicken:Â You will need four boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- Olive oil:Â This helps the seasonings adhere to the chicken and prevents sticking to the grill.
- Seasonings:Â Oregano, chopped fresh rosemary, salt and pepper.
- Creamy Italian dressing: Mayonnaise, milk, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper.Â
- Salad:Â Mixed salad greens, avocado and cherry or grape tomatoes add the perfect fresh ingredients to complete the salad.
Substitutions And Variations
- More veggies:Â Cucumber, red onion, pepperoncini, sun-dried tomatoes or radishes would all be good choices!
- Beans: A handful of chickpeas or cannellini beans would be delicious, I love legumes in my white bean salad.Â
- Cheese:Â Parmesan cheese, provolone cheese or marinated mozzarella balls would add so much flavor!Â
- Fresh herbs: Fresh parsley or fresh basil would add a pop of fresh, herby flavor.
- Olives:Â Black olives or kalamata olives would add briny taste.
- Proteins:Â Add some salami in addition to the chicken, or try salmon or tuna instead.
- Lemon juice:Â Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the chicken before serving for a pop of fresh flavor.
How To Make Italian Grilled Chicken Salad
To start, make your grilled chicken recipe. On a hot grill (or grill pan) over medium heat place chicken pieces and brush with olive oil then sprinkle with oregano, chopped rosemary, salt and pepper, turn and repeat, cooking until no longer pink.
Mix all ingredients for the creamy Italian dressing in a jar and shake well to combine. Alternatively, use a blender to combine.
In a large bowl, combine salad greens, avocado and cherry tomatoes.Â
When ready to serve this delicious Italian chicken salad, add a portion of the bowl of lettuce greens to a plate. Add one slice of grilled cooked chicken and divide the dressing mixture to top the salad.
Tips For Perfect Grilled Chicken
- Marinate the chicken:Â For more flavorful chicken, marinate it with the olive oil and herbs for a few hours before grilling. You could also use some of the dressing for an Italian dressing marinade.
- Even thickness: If you are using larger chicken breasts, pound them or butterfly them to ½ inch thickness.Â
- Chicken doneness: Chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and juices run clear.
- For juicy chicken: Rest chicken covered for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute back into the meat.Â
Recipe FAQs
While salad always tastes best fresh, you can make the dressing and salad separately and store in separate containers. Once dressed, this salad is best eaten within 24 hours.
The best thing about salad is its versatility! Use a different protein, add some more veggies, throw in some beans, use a variety of different salad greens. This salad could be made different every time with great results!Â
Sure! If you prefer a less creamy dressing, use an Italian vinaigrette. You can also just use a balsamic glaze or keep it simple with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. With this grilled chicken salad the choices are really endless!Â
Yes, the dressing can double as a marinade for the chicken to add more flavor; marinate for at least 30 minutes before grilling.
How To Store Leftover Grilled Chicken Salad?
Store leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container for up to four days. Undressed salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Salad dressing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days.Â
More Lunch Or Dinner Recipes To Try
I hope you enjoy this Italian Grilled Chicken Salad as much as we do. Buon Appetito!
GRILLED CHICKEN
- 4 pieces boneless chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 sprigs chopped rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1-2 dashes black pepper or to taste
CREAMY ITALIAN DRESSING
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1-2 pinches salt or to taste
- 1-2 dashes black pepper or to taste
GREEN SALAD
- 2 cups mixed greens of choice
- 1 avocado sliced
- 10 cherry or grape tomatoes
Prevent your screen from going dark
GRILLED CHICKEN
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On a hot grill (BBQ,Grill or Pan Grill) place chicken pieces, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano, chopped rosemary, salt and pepper turn and repeat, cook until no longer pink.
MIXED GREEN SALAD
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In a large bowl combine ingredients.
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On a plate add one slice grilled chicken, salad greens and top with creamy Italian dressing. Â Enjoy!
Chicken thighs can be used as a juicier alternative to breast meat; adjust cooking times accordingly since thighs may cook a bit longer.
Store leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container for up to four days. Undressed salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Salad dressing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days.
Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 195mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg
Updated from May 1, 2017.