Grilled Chicken Avocado Herb Salad (Printable)
Grilled chicken, crisp greens, tomatoes and cucumber tossed in a creamy avocado herb dressing.
# What You Need:
→ 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
→ Salad
07 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, romaine, spinach)
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)
→ 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
# Steps:
01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil, then season evenly with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken breasts for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, cilantro or parsley, chives, garlic, Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, water, salt, and black pepper. Process until smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency with additional water if desired.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine mixed salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and red bell pepper.
06 - Top salad with sliced grilled chicken and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the vegetables, if using.
07 - Drizzle avocado herb dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to mix ingredients evenly.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The creamy avocado dressing clings to every bite, making even the veggies feel like a treat.
- This salad is quick to pull together and somehow makes plain old weeknights feel like special occasions.
02 -
- I once rushed the chicken and ended up with dry slices—letting it rest really does keep it juicy.
- Adding water to the dressing just a teaspoon at a time avoids making it too runny (learned after one green puddle incident!)
03 -
- Don’t skip marinating the chicken in seasoning and oil—even 5 minutes makes a difference.
- Blending the avocado with herbs last keeps it bright green and fresh tasting.