Let’s cut to the chase: I made you a Grilled Chicken Salad that’s so good I want to cry. This dish is summer on a platter! It has been blazing hot + humid here (my favorite) and smokey grilled chicken over cold, crisp salad is exactly what I want to eat when the weather heats up. It’s fresh, gorgeous, and highlights some of summer’s best ingredients. Plus it’s dressed in my spoon drink-worthy, 4 ingredient (plus S&P!) Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette. Grab your fork!
Pesto slathered chicken is grilled then sliced and placed over mixed greens with charred sweet corn, grape tomatoes, sliced red onion, and diced avocado. Drizzled with that simple, aforementioned Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette – it is HEAVENLY. I grilled the chicken on a charcoal grill and gosh, there’s just nothing like the smokey flavor a charcoal grill lends an ingredient. That said, you can use either your charcoal or gas grill to make this awesome, entree salad.
Tips for Grilling Chicken Breasts
How to Make This Recipe:
Start by preheating your grill to 400 degrees. For a gas grill that’s medium-high for 8-10 minutes.
While the grill is heating up, place 2 chicken breasts that have been pounded to an even thickness inside a large Ziplock bag with prepared pesto. Once the grill is hot, spray both sides of the chicken breasts with nonstick spray then place on the hot grates and grill until you can see the chicken turning opaque up the sides. For me, this is the best indicator of when the chicken is ready to be turned.
Flip then cook until the chicken is cooked through, another 3-4 minutes. Keep the lid down between flipping! Remove the chicken to a cutting board to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. I prefer the chicken warm vs piping hot so I let it rest a little longer.
Toss 2 sweet corn cobs onto the grill alongside the chicken – no oil needed! – then grill, rotating frequently, until the kernels are slightly charred, and then slice off the cobs. The sweet/smokey flavor combo is incredible. LOVE me some grilled sweet corn in the summertime!
All together now! Arrange fresh lettuce (whatever you love) on a platter or plates then top with the charred sweet corn plus sliced grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and diced avocado. You can use whatever dressing you love but tangy-sweet (but not too sweet) Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette cannot be beat. I hope you love this fresh and filling grilled chicken salad – enjoy!
More Hearty, Healthy Salads
Berry Quinoa Chicken Salad Napa Sweet Corn Salad Thai Crunch Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing Apple Orchard Salad with Maple-Dijon Vinaigrette Summer Spinach Salad Southwestern Chopped Salad
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