As soon as someone says “health foods”, your mind probably jumps to salads. But sometimes salads leave you feeling unsatisfied, unfull, and even bored.
Do you want a colorful, refreshing, hearty salad that provides you with numerous nutrients while keeping you full and pleasing your taste buds? Grilled chicken is a great way to get protein and satisfy cravings when added to a salad.
Keep reading for a salad recipe that will forever change the way you think about healthy foods.
What Are the Health Benefits?
There are so many ingredients in this hearty grilled chicken salad that all bring something different to the proverbial healthy eating table.
Chicken is full of protein for strong muscles, weight management, and heart health. Plus, the breast is the healthiest cut of chicken. Spinach is a great source of fiber for a healthier gut and calcium for bone health.
Even the dressing has health benefits because raspberries are full of anti-aging antioxidants. They won’t just make you look great, they can help prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
How to Make It
Most of this recipe is assembling the ingredients. But I’ll guide you through some prep work and cooking too.
What You Need
For the salad:
- 4oz Chicken breast
- Favorite Grilling Seasoning
- 1 Cup Baby Spinach
- 1 Cup Spring Mix
- 2 Slices of Cooked Bacon
- ½ Avocado, Sliced
- ½ Medium Cucumber, Sliced and Quartered
- 6 Cherry Tomatoes Halved
For the dressing:
- 1 Cup Fresh Raspberries
- 1 Tablespoon White Sugar
- ⅔ Cup Balsamic Vinegar
- ¼ Cup Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
Making the Grilled Chicken Salad
To prepare your chicken breast, you can grill it in the broiler. Preheat your broiler, then rinse and pat dry the chicken. Rub the chicken with your favorite grilling seasoning.
Place the chicken about 6-8 inches away from the broiler, and let it cook for 5-7 minutes on each side.
Remove from the oven and allow it to cool (or store it in a Tupperware container in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.) Slice it into manageable strips.
Place your bacon strips in a cold pan and then turn on your stove to low heat. Turn continuously and cook to your desired level of crunchiness.
In a bowl, combine the rest of your ingredients, bacon, and the grilled chicken. It’s easiest to begin with the greens and then add your toppings and meat on top.
Before mixing it all together, prepare your dressing.
Making the Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
1. In a bowl, combine raspberries and sugar
2. Set aside the mixture for 10 minutes or until juicy and tender
3. Using a fork, smash the berries and sugar to liquefy
4. Pour raspberry blend into your jar
5. Add the vinegar, olive oil, salt, and honey
5. Cover the container with its lid, and shake until the dressing is completely combined
You can use the dressing right away on the salad. Pour the desired amount over and then thoroughly mix it all together. The great thing about this dressing is that you can store it in your fridge for future use in the jar you prepared it in.
If you prefer a dressing that isn’t so sweet, you can substitute it with a simple vinaigrette of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Recipe
Ingredients
For the salad
- 4 oz Chicken breast
- Favorite Grilling Seasoning
- 1 Cup Baby Spinach
- 1 Cup Spring Mix
- 2 Slices of Cooked Bacon
- ½ Avocado Sliced
- ½ Medium Cucumber Sliced and Quartered
- 6 Cherry Tomatoes Halved
For the dressing
- 1 Cup Fresh Raspberries
- 1 Tablespoon White Sugar
- ⅔ Cup Balsamic Vinegar
- ¼ Cup Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
Instructions
For the salad
- Season your chicken and cook your preferred method, Set aside. I used an indoor grill.
- Chop up cooked bacon strips.
- In a bowl, place your leaves and then assemble the rest of your ingredients as you wish
- Slice chicken and place on top
- Before mixing it all together, prepare your dressing.
For the dressing
- In a bowl, combine raspberries and sugar
- Set aside the mixture for 10 minutes or until juicy and tender
- Using a fork, smash the berries and sugar to liquefy
- Pour raspberry blend into your jar
- Add the vinegar, olive oil, salt, and honey
- Cover the container with its lid, and shake until the dressing is completely combined
Nutrition
Did you try this recipe? Please be sure to rate it and leave me a message in the comments on what you thought! Also, don’t forget to follow omnomdelicious on Instagram, Pineterest, and Facebook and tag me so I can see what you create!
A Fresh Salad That Leaves You Full
Enjoy this grilled chicken salad on those hot summer days when you don’t feel like cooking, and know that you’re filling your body with healthy nutrients while preventing hunger later.
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Meet Jennifer
Welcome to my kitchen! Nothing to see here, just me fumbling around trying to make delicious meals while incorporating “all the things” to improve my health. Join me!