0 from 15 votes
Pesto Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad
Move over boring salads... this Pesto Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad will become your new favourite, using a pesto dressing that doubles as a marinade!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 4 serves
Calories: 518 kcal
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Ingredients
Dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto (homemade or store bought)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (adjust to your tastes)
- 1-2 tablespoons water (optional -- for a thinner consistency)
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cracked pepper to taste
- 4 skinless boneless chicken thigh fillets or chicken breasts
Salad:
- 4 cups romaine lettuce or Cos lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- 1 cucumber large, diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, or cherry, diced
- ½ red onion sliced
- 1 avocado sliced
- ½ cup crumbled feta
- 2 Lemon wedges to serve
- 2 tablespoons pesto extra, to serve
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped to garnish
Instructions
- Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients in a large jug. Pour out half of the dressing into a large, shallow dish. Refrigerate the remaining UNTOUCHED marinade to use as a dressing later.
- Add the chicken to the marinade in the bowl; marinade chicken for 15-30 minutes (or up to two hours in the refrigerator if time allows). While waiting for the chicken, prepare all of the salad ingredients and mix in a large salad bowl.
- Once chicken is ready, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a grill pan or a grill plate over medium-high heat. Grill chicken on both sides until browned and completely cooked through.
- Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes; slice and arrange over salad. Drizzle salad with the remaining UNTOUCHED dressing. Serve with lemon wedges, extra basil pesto AND chopped basil or parsley, to garnish.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- I recommend adding a couple tablespoons of oil to the extra pesto when serving your salad, before tossing! This of course depends on the thickness of your pesto. We like ours runnier for easier drizzling. You could also mix it with water to cut down on fat or calories, if you wish!
- Use this homemade basil pesto recipe or store bought pesto!
Nutrition Information
Serving
360g
Calories
518kcal
(26%)
Carbohydrates
14g
(5%)
Protein
28g
(56%)
Fat
40g
(62%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
21g
Trans Fat
0.02g
Cholesterol
125mg
(42%)
Sodium
1.048mg
(0%)
Potassium
888mg
(25%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
4.996IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
24mg
(27%)
Calcium
174mg
(17%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4serves
Amount Per Serving
Calories 518
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 360g | |
| Calories | 518kcal | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 28g | 56% |
| Fat | 40g | 62% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 21g | 105% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 125mg | 42% |
| Sodium | 1.048mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 888mg | 19% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 4.996IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 24mg | 27% |
| Calcium | 174mg | 17% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.