Grilled Chicken Salad with Avocado (Printer-friendly)
Tender grilled chicken over mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and creamy avocado herb dressing.
# What You Need:
→ For the Grilled Chicken
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ For the Salad
07 - 6 cups mixed salad greens
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 1/2 English cucumber, sliced
10 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
11 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
12 - 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
→ For the Avocado Herb Dressing
13 - 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley leaves
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
16 - 1 garlic clove
17 - 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
18 - Juice of 1 lime
19 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
20 - 2 tablespoons water
21 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
22 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring grill or grill pan to medium-high temperature.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season on both sides with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken breasts for 6 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear. Remove from heat, rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, cilantro or parsley, chives, garlic clove, Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, water, salt, and black pepper. Process until smooth and creamy, adjusting water for desired consistency.
05 - In a large bowl, mix salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and red bell pepper.
06 - Top the arranged vegetables with sliced grilled chicken, and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese if using.
07 - Drizzle avocado herb dressing evenly over salad just before serving and toss gently to combine.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The avocado herb dressing is so velvety and punchy that friends always ask for the recipe.
- This salad turns everyday ingredients into a cheerful, satisfying meal without fuss.
02 -
- If you rush grilling, chicken dries out fast—always let it rest before slicing.
- Using fresh herbs in the dressing makes a huge difference over dried.
03 -
- Resting the chicken truly locks in juiciness; don’t skip it no matter how hungry you are.
- A little lime zest stirred into the dressing takes the freshness up a notch.