Bruschetta Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Juicy grilled chicken atop mixed greens with a zesty tomato-basil topping and shaved Parmesan cheese.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Bruschetta Topping

07 - 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes (about 4 medium)
08 - 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
09 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
10 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Salad

15 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, or spring mix)
16 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese (optional)
17 - Lemon wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, dried Italian herbs, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat, rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a medium bowl, combine diced tomatoes, red onion, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Toss gently and let sit for 10 minutes to meld flavors.
05 - Arrange mixed salad greens on a large platter or individual plates. Lay sliced chicken over the greens.
06 - Spoon bruschetta topping generously over the chicken. Sprinkle with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The warm juicy chicken against cold bright tomatoes creates this incredible temperature contrast that makes every bite exciting
  • It captures the essence of summer bruschetta but transforms it into something substantial enough for a proper meal
  • You can have it on the table in under 40 minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your fridge
02 -
  • The bruschetta mixture needs at least 10 minutes to sit so the tomatoes release their juices and create that incredible sauce
  • Slicing chicken against the grain into thin strips makes every bite tender instead of chewy
  • Serve this immediately after assembling because the warm chicken and cold toppings are perfect together but the greens will start to wilt
03 -
  • Use room temperature tomatoes for the bruschetta topping because cold tomatoes have less flavor
  • Grill some lemon halves alongside the chicken for a warm, charred citrus element
  • If your chicken breasts are very thick, butterfly them before grilling to ensure even cooking
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