Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad

ByAnna + Liz Published
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Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad is a fresh, flavorful meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or casual entertaining. All it takes is a few chicken breasts, a simple balsamic marinade, and a quick trip to the grill or skillet on the stove top. A very light, protein-packed, and full of flavor, this wholesome grilled chicken salad is both satisfying and easy to prepare. Ideal for a quick lunch or healthy dinner.

A sliced grilled chicken served on a bed of lettuce with cherry tomatoes and small mozzarella balls.

Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad

Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad is delicious! The chicken is tender, juicy, and very flavorful. And, the green salad is also fresh, crisp, and drizzled with balsamic and olive oil, creating simple, yet aromatic flavors. YUM!

Making our grilled balsamic chicken salad is easier than you think.  Once you marinate the chicken, the rest takes about 10 minutes to grill and serve. It’s always fresh, delicious, and effortless – what could be better?

For even easier meal prep, you can marinate the chicken ahead of time and grill it just before your guests arrive.

Summer is the perfect season for quick, light meals, and this Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad fits the bill beautifully. You can easily pair it with a few sides, and dinner comes together in no time.

Some of our favorite sides are drunken baked beans casserole, perfectly grilled zucchini, and perfectly grilled asparagus, which make dinner a snap.

Cook’s Notes and Tips!

  • This grilled chicken salad recipe is adaptable.  You can make the salad using your favorite greens.  Jazz it up and add in sliced onions, olives,  and even some crumbled cheese if you like.  
  • You can also use chicken cutlets with this recipe. But they require less time to grill. 
  • You can marinate the chicken a few hours ahead, or even a day ahead!
  • Try not to over-grill the chicken; they will turn out dry and tough. 
  • Always use high-quality Italian extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar when making this dish.  It makes a huge difference in flavor. 
  • Best of all!  Only 193 calories per serving!

A grilled sliced chicken is served on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese balls.

Ingredients for Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad:

For our recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • 2 or 3 chicken breasts – sliced horizontally in half
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil – divided
  • 5 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar – divided
  • 2 Tbsp. marsala wine
  • 3/4 tsp salt – divided
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 lemon – juiced
  • 5 leaves of red leaf lettuce – rinsed and spun dry
  • 12 cherry tomatoes – cut in half
  • One container of Fresh Mozzarella Ciliegine (mini mozzarella balls)

Here are the ingredients needed for our Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad. Plus, a couple of chicken breasts (not in the photo below).

Ingredients are laid on the counter, plus a black skillet, A container with mini mozzarella balls.

How to Make Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad?

There are 3 Easy Steps to our Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad. Start by marinating chicken breasts in our two-ingredient balsamic marinade. Grill the chicken on an outdoor grill or stovetop skillet until perfectly cooked, then slice and serve over a bed of crisp leafy greens and fresh tomatoes.

STEP 1:  Marinate the Chicken

1.  Slice each breast horizontally.   Then season them in a container or bowl with some salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  

Slicing breasts of raw chicken on a white cutting board.

2.  Drizzle over them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  And, using kitchen tongs or a fork, flip them over a few times to coat on both sides. 

3.  Cover and chill. 

In a rectangular pan, raw chicken is marinating with balsamic and EVOO.

STEP 2:  Prepare the Salad

1.  Snap off a few leaves, rinse, then spin out the excess water. Grab a large serving platter and arrange a bed of lettuce on it.

2.  Slice cherry tomatoes and scatter them over the bed of lettuce. Then scatter a few mini fresh mozzarella balls as well. NOTE: You may scatter as much as you prefer.

A platter filled with red leaf lettuce topped with cherry tomatoes and small cheese balls.

3.  Next, drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over them.  Then sprinkle some seasonings over the entire platter.  Set it aside.  Or place it into your fridge to keep it chilled.

STEP 3:  Grill the Chicken

1.   Heat the skillet on high heat.  Add the chicken along with all the marinade. 

2.  Grill for about 3 minutes.  Flip them over and add in the Marsala wine and fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

Grilling chicken in a skillet on stove top, and adding fresh squeezed lemon juice over them.

3.   Continue to grill until fully cooked, about 3 to 4 minutes more.  Remove and transfer to a nearby cutting board. Slice each chicken into thin pieces on the diagonal. Transfer each piece to your salad.  

*QUICK NOTE: Here, we grilled the chicken in a skillet, but you can grill them on your outside grill or barbecue.

4.  Finally, drizzle with balsamic vinegar over the entire platter (chicken and salad) and serve.

 

A sliced grilled chicken served on a bed of lettuce with cherry tomatoes and small mozzarella balls.

A Delicious Chicken Meal

Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad is delicious every time. When you grill chicken with this simple marinade, it always turns out flavorful.  In fact, you will be surprised after you take your first bite! 

A wonderful and healthy dish to serve your family and friends.  Try it!

ENJOY!!

Hello friends!  If you try our Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad, let us know, leave a comment, and give it a star rating. We’d love to hear from you and tell us about your experiences.  It not only helps our readers who read them, but it also helps us. For more delicious recipes, follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

More Easy Chicken Recipes You’ll Love! 

Here are some additional ideas from 2 Sisters Recipes:

Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad

Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad will make a beautiful presentation on your table!  This low-in-calorie, high protein dish is easy to prepare and will be hard for your family and guests to resist! 

Ingredients

  • 2 or 3 chicken breasts - sliced horizontally in half
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil - divided
  • 5 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar - divided
  • 1- ounce (2 Tbsp.) marsala wine
  • 3/4 tsp salt - divided
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 lemon - juiced
  • 5 leaves of red leaf lettuce - rinsed and spun dry
  • 12 cherry tomatoes - cut into halves
  • One container of Fresh Mozzarella Ciliegine (mini mozzarella balls)

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, some black pepper, and garlic powder. Transfer to a container or a zip-lock plastic bag and drizzle 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar over the chicken, turning them over a few times to coat both sides. Cover and chill the chicken for at least 30 minutes or more.
  2. Remove the marinated chicken from your refrigerator, and let it rest on your counter for at least 15 to 20 minutes before you start to grill them.

Meanwhile, Prepare The Salad!

  1. On a large serving platter, create a layer of crisp, cold red lettuce. Scatter sliced cherry tomatoes on top, along with some fresh mini mozzarella balls. Season with some salt, black pepper, and a little garlic powder. Then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil over the entire platter. Set it aside.

GRILL The CHICKEN:

  1. Now you are ready to grill the chicken. In a large non-stick skillet, heat on high heat. Add the chicken to the skillet, including all the marinade. Grill the chicken for a few minutes, about 3 minutes.
  2. Flip them over to grill the other side, add a splash of Marsala wine, and squeeze one entire lemon over the chicken while grilling, about 3 to 4 minutes, until the chicken is browned and fully cooked.
  3. Immediately transfer them to a cutting board, slice each piece on the diagonal, and place them on your prepared red lettuce salad.
  4. Finally, drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar over the entire platter and serve.
  5. Yields: 3 to 4 servings

Notes

The prep time does not include the time needed to marinate the chicken.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 servings Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 193Protein: 4g

Did you make this recipe?

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© 2 sisters recipes
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Chicken Recipes

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6 Comments

  2. I love the smell of chicken on the grill. It always makes me hungry. I love the way you arranged things on the platter! I’m always at a loss for that kind of beautiful plating.

    Reply

    1. Oh Thank you Jeff, it’s the easiest things to make! Thanks for the sweet comment.

      Reply