Big, hearty, healthy, and chock full of juicy grilled chicken, blueberries, blackberries, creamy avocado, hard-boiled eggs, and more! Topped with a creamy shake-together red wine Dijon vinaigrette, this is a salad that you'll want to put on rotation all spring and summer! EASY, so flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes!
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time12 minutesmins
Total Time32 minutesmins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 371kcal
Author: Averie Sunshine
Ingredients
Chicken and Salad
2tablespoonsolive oil
1.50poundsboneless skinless chicken breastssliced in half or pounded if thick
1teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
3cupsarugulaor as desired
2cupschopped butter lettuceor as desired
1medium Hass avocadosliced
1medium red onionthinly sliced
½cupblueberries
½cupblackberries
1medium cucumberpeeled if desired and sliced thin
3large hard-boiled eggssliced thin
4ouncesblue cheese crumblesor substituted with a shredded cheese blend or freshly grated Parmesan
1tablespoonlemon zestor as desired
1tablespoonfresh basilfinely minced (cilantro may be submitted)
Either oil the grill grates with olive oil or add the oil directly to your grill pan.
Add the chicken, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 to 6 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook for about 5 minutes on the second side. Allow chicken to rest on a cutting board while you prep the rest of the salad.
To a large bowl add all the remaining salad ingredients. Tip - Add more or less of something if desired, or omit it, or substitute it for something else.* (See Notes for ideas).
Slice the chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces and add it to the salad.
Creamy Red Wine Dijon Vinaigrette
To a Mason jar or container with a lid, add all ingredients, seal tightly, shake vigorously for about 1 minute. Taste the dressing and if necessary, add additional honey, salt, pepper, etc. Note - You can whisk everything together as shown in the photos but I actually prefer the consistency when shaken versus whisked.
As desired, drizzle over the salad, toss, and serve. Salad is best served fresh after adding the vinaigrette. However, additional salad can be stored airtight in container(s) for up to 3 days with the vinaigrette stored separately. This is helpful if making for a work or school lunch and transporting.
Notes
Here are some berry chicken salad ideas suggestions and alternatives:
Use strawberries and raspberries or a combo of them in place of either the blueberries or blackberries. Try small diced apples too
Use Romaine lettuce or your favorite bagged lettuce mix like a spring mix or Italian mix
Add cooked edamame or peas, fresh pea pods or sugar snap peas
Use a shredded cheese blend with more “basic” cheeses instead of blue cheese or use shredded Parmesan
Add zucchini or yellow summer squash – grill them for best results
Swap cilantro for basil
Use shredded rotisserie chicken to save time
Sprinkle on slivered almonds or crunchy salad toppers found in the produce section of your grocery store
Dried fruit like dried cranberries or craisins or dried apricots add awesome chewiness and texure
Clean out your crisper drawer and toss in random carrots, celery, radishes, or whatever you have!