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Amazing Grilled Chicken Salad
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Amazing Grilled Chicken Salad

This Grilled Chicken Salad is truly stunning and always a huge hit! Nothing is too difficult to produce, but it's a lot to tackle in one single effort. Fortunately, much of the salad can be made up to a day in advance. We've indicated that in the recipe. Use a perforated grill pan to cook the asparagus and mushrooms, or you can cook them in a skillet with a little oil over medium heat.

Prep Time
1 hr 30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 468 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Do Ahead - Make the Vinaigrette and Easy Pesto
For the Vinaigrette
  • 5 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice fresh
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 garlic minced, cloves
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
For the Pesto
  • pesto sauce click the link for the easy recipe
For the Cucumber Carrot Salad
  • 2 medium cucumber peeled, halved and seeds removed with spoon
  • ½ cup carrot julienned (packaged 'match stick' carrots work well
  • 2 tablespoon dill fresh, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
For the Chickpea Salad
  • 1 oz cans chickpeas rinsed and drained
  • ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon mint chopped, fresh
For the Grilled Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Chicken
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs skinless, boneless
  • olive oil
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • 1 bunch asparagus ends trimmed and thick part peeled
  • 8 oz button mushrooms halved, or quartered
  • ½ cup pesto click for recipe, or use quality store brand
For the Tomato Salad and Lettuce Salad
  • 2 medium tomatoes cut into ½-inch wedges, ripe
  • ¼ cup basil fresh, chopped
  • 2 cups green leaf lettuce thinly sliced

Instructions

Make the Vinaigrette
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a jar, or small bowl, whisk together all ingredients, except the oil.
  2. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified (if using jar, add lid and shake vigorously).
Make the Cucumber Carrot Salad and Chickpea Salad
  1. In a medium bowl, toss the cucumbers and carrots with the other ingredients until fully coated.
  2. In another bowl, stir together chickpeas, onion, mint, 2 tablespoon of the vinaigrette, and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
Grill the Chicken, Asparagus, and Mushrooms
  1. Heat your grill to medium heat.
  2. Brush the chicken all over with a little oil and then liberally season with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until lightly charred and cooked through (165°F). Remove from the heat and let cool while you prepare the asparagus and mushrooms.
  3. Toss the asparagus and mushrooms in a couple of tablespoons (each) of the prepared vinaigrette. Place on a grill pan (or cast-iron skillet) and place over direct heat on the grill. Use a pair of tongs or a large spoon to move the asparagus and mushrooms around until softened, and lightly charred. Remove from the heat, place on a platter (or bowl), and toss with another couple of tbsps of the vinaigrette. Set aside.
  4. Cut the chicken into large bite-sized pieces and place in a bowl. Transfer about ½-cup of the pesto to the bowl and gently toss with a wooden spatula until lightly coated. Set aside.
Make the Tomato Salad and Lettuce Salad
  1. Toss tomatoes with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette, the basil, and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
  2. Toss the lettuce with 1 tablespoon vinaigrette.
Assemble the Salad
  1. Arrange the chicken, mushrooms, and salads side by side on a large platter and pass the remaining vinaigrette on the side.

Notes

  • See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. 
  • All of the prep work can be done for all of the salads up to 12 hours in advance. Prepare the salad no more than 2 hours before serving. If you make them too far in advance, they can become soggy. The chicken can be prepared several hours in advance. The pesto and vinaigrette can be made 24 hours in advance. 
  •  

Nutrition Information

Calories 468kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 12g (4%) Protein 30g (60%) Fat 21g (32%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 6g (35%) Monounsaturated Fat 11g (55%) Trans Fat 0.1g (5%) Cholesterol 150mg (50%) Sodium 852mg (36%) Potassium 866mg (18%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 4265IU (85%) Vitamin C 16mg (18%) Calcium 99mg (10%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 468

% Daily Value*

Calories 468kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Protein 30g 60%
Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g 35%
Monounsaturated Fat 11g 55%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 150mg 50%
Sodium 852mg 36%
Potassium 866mg 18%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 4265IU 85%
Vitamin C 16mg 18%
Calcium 99mg 10%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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