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Side shot of balsamic chicken sliced on top of salad.

Simple Balsamic Chicken Salad

This Simple Balsamic Chicken Salad is the perfect simple & easy healthy meal! It's light, fresh, and packed with flavor!!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 343 kcal

Equipment

  • Non-Stick Frying Pan

Ingredients
  

Balsamic Chicken

  • 2 Chicken Breasts
  • 1 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoons Olive Oil or Avocado Oil
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper

Simple Balsamic Dressing

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
  • ½ Teaspoon Salt
  • ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper

Salad

  • 8 Cups Fresh Lettuce Spring mix is one of my favorites!
  • 2 Diced Red/Orange/Yellow Pepper
  • 1 Avocado - Peeled + Cubed

Instructions
 

Balsamic Chicken

  • Start by prepping your chicken. Add the two chicken breasts into a mixing bowl with balsamic vinegar, oil, salt, and black pepper. Mix around until thoroughly coated. Pop the mixture in the fridge for 30-60 minutes.
  • While your chicken marinates, you can prep your salad. Chop your vegetables, and add to a large mixing bowl. Store in the fridge while you prep the rest of the meal.

Cooking Chicken

  • Once your chicken is ready to cook, pre-heat your frying pan to a medium/high heat. Add your chicken to the pre-heated pan, and place a cover on top. Set your timer for 6 minutes. PRO TIP: Make sure you add all of the extra marinade to the chicken!
  • Once it has cooked for six minutes, remove the cover and flip your chicken. Place the cover back on and cook for another six minutes. Depending on how thick your breasts are, you might need to cook it for a few more minutes. Use a knife to slice through the center to check if it's done. (Should be NO PINK.)

Salad Dressing

  • In a small bowl add your olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Use a spoon or a whisk to blend. Place in the fridge until ready to serve. If you add the dressing too early, your lettuce will get soggy!

Preparing the Salad

  • When your chicken is done, place it onto a cutting board and chop into small bite size pieces.
  • Remove your salad and dressing from the fridge, and plate into individual bowls. Top with your chicken, and add dressing to each salad.

Notes

Helpful Tips

  • If you want to save time on preparing the vegetables, you need a Vegetable Chopper! It does all the chopping for you! Just peel your vegetables, cut them into large chunks, and place them in the chopper. It's easy to use, and guarantees they will all be the same size. You can find it on Amazon, but I've also seen them at Walmart and Marshalls. Check out this video to see it in action!
  • Feel free to add whatever vegetables or toppings you have on hand! Avocado, extra cilantro, black beans, chickpeas, olives or corn would be a great addition.
  • This recipe is great for meal prep! Instead of making one large salad, break it up into smaller servings for lunches throughout the week. I love using these glass containers for meal prep!
  • If you're not planning to eat the whole salad in one sitting, I would add the dressing to the individual serving bowls. Dressing left on salads overnight tends to get soggy.
  • Make the dressing in a mason jar! You can easily shake it up to make sure it's fully mixed. Just place the cover on tight, make sure it's sealed, and SHAKE. It also doubles as a great storage container! Whatever is leftover can be sealed up in the mason jar and stored in the refrigerator.

How to store leftovers

Leftovers should be stored in an air tight container - I like using glass containers! You can also cover the serving bowl with plastic or reusable wrap. Store it in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 27gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 1026mgPotassium: 911mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 6166IUVitamin C: 88mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 2mg
Keywords balsamic chicken salad, balsamic dressing, easy balsamic chicken, healthy balsamic chicken salad, whole30 balsamic chicken
Did you make this recipe?Tag @freshwaterpeaches on Instagram!