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Hot summer nights call for simple dinners like this Italian Grilled Chicken Salad. It’s easy to throw together and has so much flavor from the chicken, mozzarella, and balsamic glaze.
Italian Grilled Chicken Salad
We live in the Phoenix area and it’s not uncommon for summer days to reach 120F (or more). On days like that, there is no way I’m heating up the kitchen and usually no one feels like eating a heavy meal anyway.
So my family’s go to dinner on hot summer nights are a big salad! But not just a boring salad….I fill it full of all sorts of things, including the delicious grilled balsamic marinated chicken I made earlier this week. It turns this into the best chicken avocado salad recipe.
Ingredient notes and substitutions:
- grilled Balsamic Chicken Breasts
- romaine lettuce
- cherry or grape tomatoes
- avocado
- green onions
- marinated mozzarella balls
- balsamic glaze
- fresh basil
- good knife
- large bowl
- grill for the chicken (indoor or outdoor)
How to Make Balsamic Glaze
- 2 cups balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup brown sugar
Mix balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until glaze is reduced by half (about 20 minutes). The glaze should coat the back of a spoon. Let cool and pour into a jar with a lid; store in refrigerator.
This Italian Grilled Chicken Salad is the easiest salad to throw together. I usually make the chicken for one meal and make tons of extra for this salad and other leftovers. Then just slice it and the avocado to add to the salad.
Throw on all the other ingredients and sprinkle with some fresh basil and drizzle the oil from the mozzarella balls and some balsamic glaze over the top. Easy Peasy! It’s kind of a fancy caprese salad on a salad with some chicken. The four of us devoured it!
But this salad is so pretty…it would perfect for a potluck or party.
How to Perfectly Grill Chicken
- Chicken breasts should be fully thawed.
- Chicken breasts should be no more than 1/2 inch thick (if they are, then you will need to butterfly them aka cut them in half making two thinner chicken breasts).
- Season raw chicken with salt and pepper on all sides.
- Cook boneless chicken breast on one side for about 6 minutes. Flip, then add a layer of sauce, if desired, to cooked side. Cook for 6 minutes.
- Adding bbq sauce (or any sauce with sugar/honey) early in the cooking will make the sugars in the sauce burn.
- Chicken is cooked when a thermometer reaches 165 degrees F and juices run clear. (A good thermometer is handy.)
- Still worried? Check out my How to Grill Chicken post.
Italian Grilled Chicken Salad
Hot summer nights call for simple dinners like this Italian Grilled Chicken Salad. It's easy to throw together and has so much flavor from the chicken, mozzarella, and balsamic glaze.
Ingredients
- 1 head of romaine lettuce, washed and roughly chopped
- 2 grilled [Balsamic Chicken Breasts] (warm or cool)(https://www.aroundmyfamilytable.com/grilled-balsamic-marinated-chicken/){nofollow="false"}
- 1 avocado, halved and sliced
- 1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 12oz package marinated mozzarella balls
- 3 green onions, chopped
- balsamic glaze (store bought or recipe below)
- fresh basil
Instructions
- Add lettuce to bowl. Then add chicken, avocado, tomatoes, and mozzarella balls.
- Sprinkle green onions and basil over the top.
- Drizzle with oil from the marinated mozzarella balls and then drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Notes
Balsamic Glaze
- 2 cups balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup brown sugar
Mix balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until glaze is reduced by half (about 20 minutes). The glaze should coat the back of a spoon. Let cool and pour into a jar with a lid; store in refrigerator.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 516Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 583mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 9gSugar: 15gProtein: 33g
This nutritional information is an estimate may vary, depending on brand and type of ingredients used. It is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed dietician or physician.
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