Salad greens, grilled chicken, gouda cheese, cranberries, apple slices, and candied walnuts create an incredible Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe that will quickly become your go-to favorite salad year-round. Top it with the homemade tangy dressing for a super easy salad that’s healthy and delicious!
I love salads, and I can eat them several times a week. But they have to be GOOD salads. A bowl of greens and veggies just isn’t going to cut it.
When I’m trying to cut back on carbs a little and focus on getting enough veggies, salads need to have flavor and texture and INTEREST.
So the trick is finding the perfect recipe that my family will love, dressing and all, and still be able to make it their own with their favorite ingredients.
A good salad recipe is a definite MUST-HAVE in your recipe box (or, these days, a recipe app). This Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe should be the one at the top of the list, because it is simply that good.
Did I mention that this salad is a snap to make and works for absolutely any and every occasion?!?!?!
This yummy salad is so easy and quick to whip and makes the perfect main dish any night of the week, especially busy weeknights when there is a lot going on in your world.
It is also great for light summer dishes or as a side salad for family dinners and holiday gatherings.
You are going to love the versatility of this Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe. So why not give it a try at your next gathering or on your holiday table?
If you want more scrumptious salad recipes, try my:
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon
- Homemade Copycat Panera Fuji Apple Salad
- Easy Layered Brunch Salad
Ingredients Needed For Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe.
- Spring Salad Mix
- Chicken Breasts – Cooked, sliced, or diced
- Gouda Cheese – sliced
- Dried Cranberries
- Red Apple – thinly sliced
- Candied Walnuts – prepared or homemade
- Butter – salted
- Sugar – granulated
- Water
- Olive Oil – extra virgin or virgin
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Honey – my preference is organic or clover honey
- Garlic – minced
- Salt – to taste
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper – to taste
How To Make Grilled Chicken Salad
Step 1
Begin by placing a piece of parchment paper on the counter or baking sheet.
Step 2
In a medium-sized saucepan, warm the saucepan on medium, then add in the butter and melt.
Step 3
Add the sugar and walnuts to the melted butter. Stir all the ingredients together, so the walnuts are completely covered in butter and sugar.
Continue stirring until caramel begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
Step 4
Add in water and stir for approximately 1 minute.
Step 5
Transfer the walnut mixture evenly onto the parchment paper. Allow the walnuts to cool.
Step 6
Next, prepare the vinaigrette by adding the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic, and salt and pepper into a food processor.
Blend for approximately 2 minutes or until you achieve a creamy consistency.
Step 7
Now, prepare the salad by adding the spring mix to a bowl.
Step 8
Add the sliced chicken, candied walnuts, apple slices, and dried cranberries to the spring mix.
Step 9
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad mix and toppings.
Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe Notes And Tips
- If you prefer, you can put the vinaigrette in a cup on the side so your family or guests can add their own. Some people prefer dipping their fork into the dressing, and this method is a great alternative.
- Serving the chicken warm or cold is totally your preference. The salad will be delicious either way.
Variations Of Grilled Chicken Salad To Try
- Feta cheese is a favorite of mine. Use your favorite cheese with this recipe, you really can’t go wrong.
- Avocados are a perfect choice for any salad, don’t you think? 😉
- Bacon, Bacon Bacon!!! Enough said! LOL
- Replace the apple with grapes or orange slices for a change, if you prefer.
Grilled Chicken Salad FAQs
Typically you can keep a vinaigrette dressing in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks if stored in a jar or container with a tight lid. Then, when you are ready to use it again, you can shake it to remix before serving.
Candied walnuts will keep at room temperature for 1 – 2 weeks.
If stored in a dark, cool area in an airtight, sealed container, the candied walnuts can stay fresh for up to 1 month.
Yes, you can definitely prepare the different components of the salad ahead of time. However, I would not assemble and add the dressing until just prior to serving.
The dressing and candied walnuts can be prepared several days in advance. The chicken can also be prepared a day or two ahead of time.
This salad will keep in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
If you are storing the leftovers with dressing on them, the salad will not keep quite as long and could cause the spring mix to get soft and mushy.
More Delicious Salad Recipes To Try
- Cowboy Pasta Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Poppyseed Pasta Salad
- Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Grilled Chicken Salad
This incredible Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe will quickly become your go-to favorite salad year-round. So easy to make as well as healthy and delicious!
Ingredients
Salad
- 5 oz spring salad mix
- chicken breasts, cooked and sliced or diced
- 6 oz sliced Gouda cheese
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1 red apple, thinly sliced
Candied Walnuts
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 tbsp butter, salted
- 1/4 cup sugar, granulated
- 1 tsp water
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- salt
- black pepper, freshly ground to taste
Instructions
Candied Walnuts:
1. Prepare a sheet of parchment paper on the side.
2. Warm a medium saucepan on medium heat. Once warm, add your butter. Melt.
3. Add in your sugar and walnuts. Mix and fold together so every walnut is covered in butter and sugar. Stir continuously until you see the caramel start to thicken. Should take about 2 minutes.
4. Add in your water. Stir for 1 more minute.
5. Transfer your walnuts to the parchment paper, and evenly distribute them so they can cook evenly.
6. Allow cooling.
Vinaigrette:
1. Add all of your ingredients to a food processor. Blend for about two minutes or until the color becomes creamy.
Salad:
1. Add your spring mix to the bowl.
2. Add your sliced chicken, candied walnuts, apple slices, and dried cranberries.
3. Drizzle your vinaigrette over the salad or place it in a cup on the side to dip your salad in.
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