Pear Salad with Walnuts, Avocado and Grilled Chicken
User Reviews
4.6
Pear Salad with Walnuts, Avocado and Grilled Chicken
Description
The Pear Salad with Walnuts, Avocado and Grilled Chicken blends leafy spring mix with sweet, juicy pear slices and savory grilled chicken breast. Adding in turkey bacon, goat cheese, dried cranberries, walnuts, and avocado provides layers of texture and flavor diversity. The maple balsamic dressing, made from balsamic vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic, sea salt, and Italian seasoning, lends a mildly sweet and tangy glaze that complements the fresh and rich ingredients. The combination delivers crispness from the greens and pears, creaminess from the goat cheese and avocado, and hearty notes from the chicken and bacon.
To assemble, cooked bacon and grilled chicken are prepared ahead, with the bacon crispy and chicken tender. The salad is built in bowls with the greens as a base followed by the other ingredients and finished with the dressing drizzled over. It suits a lunch or lighter dinner, offering nourishment without heaviness.
Microwaving bacon on paper towels allows for quick, contained cooking without greasy splatter, and pre-grilled chicken can save time. This salad holds well with dressing stored separately if preparing ahead, keeping ingredients fresh and textures distinct.
Ingredients
- 6 cups spring mix
- 2 pear I used Red Anjou and Green Bartlett, sliced or chopped
- 6 oz chicken breast grilled
- 2 lices turkey bacon cooked
- ¼ cup goat cheese crumbles
- 2 Tablespoons dried cranberries
- 2 Tablespoons walnuts raw or toasted, chopped
- ½ avocado sliced or chopped into chunks
Maple Balsamic Dressing
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar I used white
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare bacon + chicken: Cook turkey bacon and grill chicken if you haven't already. See notes.
- Make dressing: Prepare dressing by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl or jar. I like using a jar with a lid for this so you can easily store any leftover dressing in the fridge in that same jar.
- Prep salad: Grab two bowls and add a base of spring mix, pear slices, grilled chicken breast, bacon, goat cheese, dried cranberries, walnuts and avocado.
- Serve: Drizzle salad with desired amount of balsamic dressing and enjoy!
Notes
- Cook turkey bacon in the microwave on a paper towel-lined plate in 1-minute increments until crisp enough to snap when broken.
- Grill chicken breasts using preferred seasonings or store-bought pre-grilled chicken for convenience.
- Store any leftover maple balsamic dressing in a sealed jar in the fridge for easy use another day.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 890 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 890kcal | 45% |
| Carbohydrates | 63g | 21% |
| Protein | 41g | 82% |
| Fat | 54g | 83% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10g | 59% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 30g | 150% |
| Cholesterol | 99mg | 33% |
| Sodium | 1149mg | 48% |
| Potassium | 1081mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 11g | 44% |
| Sugar | 41g | 82% |
| Vitamin A | 1800IU | 36% |
| Vitamin C | 41mg | 46% |
| Calcium | 132mg | 13% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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