Grilled Hen Salad – A Couple Cooks


This grilled hen salad recipe combines juicy hen, crunchy greens and a tangy Italian French dressing, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal. Substitute grilled tofu for vegetarian and vegan!

Grilled chicken salad on plate with serving spoons.

Right here’s a dinnertime match made in heaven: grilled hen salad! In our household we eat most important dish salads on repeat for easy meals, and this one is a celebration of summer time grilling on a plate. You’ve acquired juicy hen, crunchy lettuce, and veggies, all nestled along with our favourite Italian French dressing dressing, zingy pepperoncini, and shaved Parmesan.

Why we love this recipe: Alex and I eat one of these meal continuous in the summertime, swapping in numerous proteins like tofu, shrimp or salmon. We just lately served it for a patio get together with a aspect of grilled bread and grilled broccoli, and it was an enormous hit. Add a crisp white wine or a Hugo spritz and it’s summertime perfection! Let’s get cooking.

Substances on this grilled hen salad recipe

This grilled hen salad recipe is our good summer time dinner! It’s simply made vegetarian or vegan with tofu, and you’ll swap in lots of various kinds of veggies and dressings. However these are the components you want for the best way we like it greatest:

  • Hen: Use natural hen in any respect if attainable. Purchase it in cutlets or butterfly the hen breast to assist it prepare dinner evenly and guarantee it’s juicy after grilling.
  • Olive oil and seasonings: The hen is marinated in a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, dried dill, salt, and pepper.
  • Salad dressing: Combine up our home made Italian Dressing, or see the dressing concepts beneath.
  • Romaine and leafy lettuce: Utilizing a mixture of crunchy, leafy lettuce is right. Butter lettuce (aka Bibb lettuce) is our favourite for its candy taste.
  • Purple onion: Or, substitute shallot for a fair milder taste.
  • English cucumber and tomatoes: Thinly sliced English cucumber has delicate pores and skin and imperceptible seeds, including a refreshing crunch. You’ll be able to substitute normal cucumber, however you could need to peel it to take away bitterness. Use any kind of chopped ripe tomato.
  • Pepperoncini: Tangy and barely spicy peppers convey a zesty kick that livens up every chunk.
  • Parmesan shavings: Salty and nutty Parmesan shavings elevate this salad (omit for dairy free).

Tip: To mellow the sharp taste of purple onion, you possibly can soak it in chilly water for 10 minutes earlier than serving.

make grilled hen salad (primary steps)

This grilled hen salad recipe requires half-hour of marinating time, when you possibly can prep the opposite salad parts. Then grill the hen and put all of it collectively! Right here’s the fundamental define (or go to the total recipe):

Grilled chicken salad step 1: Season and marinate the chicken.

Step 1: If not in cutlets, butterfly the hen by slicing it half horizontally. Combine it with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, dill, salt, and black pepper till evenly coated. Cowl and marinate refrigerated for half-hour (or as much as 24 hours).

Grilled chicken salad Step 2: Whisk the dressing.

Step 2: Preheat a grill to excessive warmth (450 to 550°F). In the meantime, make the Italian dressing. Chop the lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, and avocado. 

Grilled chicken salad step 3: Grill the chicken.

Step 3: Grill the hen breasts till grill marks seem and it releases from the grates, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and prepare dinner till the inner temperature is 165°F, 2 to 4 minutes. Take away to a platter and canopy with foil. Enable to relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing.

Step 4: Place the greens on a plate, then prime with the greens, grilled hen, pepperoncini, Parmesan shavings, and contemporary basil or dill. Drizzle with dressing and serve.

Grilled chicken salad recipe on platter with hand drizzling vinaigrette dressing.

Customise the proteins and veggies

This salad is so simply customizable to components you will have available and eating regimen preferences! Many people are cooking for a number of diets lately, and this one makes it straightforward to prepare dinner for a lot of diets without delay. Listed below are a couple of concepts:

Extra salad dressing concepts

If desired, you may as well substitute totally different dressing recipes or bought dressings. We prefer it with French dressing dressings like Greek Salad Dressing, Balsamic French dressing, Simple French dressing, or Honey Mustard Dressing.

Leftover storage

Leftover hen shops as much as 3 days, refrigerated. If making upfront, refrigerate the parts individually. Deliver the dressing to room temperature earlier than serving.

Sides for pairing with grilled hen salad

We love this grilled hen salad as a grilled dinner concept or summer time dinner concept to take pleasure in al fresco on the patio. However in fact you possibly can take pleasure in it any time of the yr! Listed below are a couple of methods we’d counsel pairing it:

Dietary notes

This grilled hen salad recipe is gluten-free. For dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese. For vegetarian and vegan, use grilled tofu. For pescatarian, use grilled shrimp.

Regularly requested questions

Can I make this salad forward of time?

Sure, however it’s greatest to grill the hen and chop the greens individually. Assemble the salad simply earlier than serving to maintain the components contemporary and crisp. Retailer the dressing individually and toss it in when prepared.

I don’t have contemporary basil or dill. Can I take advantage of dried herbs as a substitute?

No, we don’t advocate including dried herbs to this salad. Merely omit from the recipe, or use different contemporary herbs like chopped parsley.

Print

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Description

Prepare for a taste explosion! This grilled hen salad recipe combines juicy hen, crunchy greens and a tangy Italian French dressing, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal.


For the hen (or grilled shrimp, grilled salmon, or grilled tofu*)

  • 2 boneless skinless hen breasts or 4 cutlets (1 to 1 ½ kilos, natural if attainable)*
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • Freshly floor black pepper

For the salad

  • 1 recipe Italian Dressing**
  • 1 romaine coronary heart (3 cups)
  • 5 cups leafy lettuce, like butter (Bibb) lettuce or different varieties
  • 1/2 small purple onion, thinly sliced, soaked in chilly water for 5 minutes, and drained
  • 1 English cucumber (2 cups chopped)
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 avocado, sliced (non-compulsory)
  • ½ cup jarred sliced pepperoncini
  • ¼ cup Parmesan shavings or shreds
  • Recent basil or dill, for garnish (non-compulsory)


  1. Pat the hen dry with a paper towel. If not already butterflied, place your hand excessive of every hen breast. Use a pointy knife to rigorously slice the breast horizontally, leaving the sting intact so it might open up like a ebook (or butterfly!). Unfold the breast like a ebook, then lower alongside the fold to separate the 2 halves.
  2. Add the hen to a container and add the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, dill, kosher salt, and some grinds of black pepper. Combine together with your arms till evenly coated. Cowl and marinate within the fridge for half-hour (or as much as 24 hours). 
  3. Preheat a grill to excessive warmth (450 to 550°F).
  4. In the meantime for the salad, make the Italian dressing. Put together the romaine, lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, and avocado. 
  5. Grill the hen breasts till grill marks seem and it releases from the grates, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and prepare dinner till not pink within the middle and the inner temperature is 165°F, 2 to 4 minutes. Take away to a platter and canopy with foil. Enable to relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing for optimum juiciness.
  6. Place the greens on a plate, then prime with the greens, grilled hen, pepperoncini, Parmesan shavings, and basil or dill. Drizzle with the specified quantity of dressing and serve. If making upfront, refrigerate the parts individually; convey the dressing to room temperature earlier than serving. Leftover hen shops as much as 3 days, refrigerated.

  • Class: Important Dish
  • Technique: Grilled
  • Delicacies: American
  • Food plan: Gluten Free

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