This grilled hen salad recipe combines juicy hen, crunchy greens and a tangy Italian French dressing, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal. Substitute grilled tofu for vegetarian and vegan!
Right here’s a dinnertime match made in heaven: grilled hen salad! In our household we eat major dish salads on repeat for easy meals, and this one is a celebration of summer season grilling on a plate. You’ve received juicy hen, crunchy lettuce, and veggies, all nestled along with our favourite Italian French dressing dressing, zingy pepperoncini, and shaved Parmesan.
Why we love this recipe: Alex and I eat one of these meal continuous in the summertime, swapping in numerous proteins like tofu, shrimp or salmon. We just lately served it for a patio social gathering with a facet of grilled bread and grilled broccoli, and it was an enormous hit. Add a crisp white wine or a Hugo spritz and it’s summertime perfection! Let’s get cooking.
“We cherished it! My husband and I cherished how all the pieces tasted collectively – so contemporary, juicy, crunchy, and satisfying. I appreciated how the salad dressing didn’t drown the greens or make all the pieces style heavy. Total an excellent scrumptious and straightforward recipe and we’ll be making all of it summer season lengthy!” -Tanvee
Elements on this grilled hen salad recipe
This grilled hen salad recipe is our good summer season dinner! It’s simply made vegetarian or vegan with tofu, and you may swap in lots of various kinds of veggies and dressings. However these are the substances you want for the way in which we find it irresistible greatest:
- Rooster: Use natural hen in any respect if attainable. Purchase it in cutlets or butterfly the hen breast to assist it cook dinner evenly and guarantee it’s juicy after grilling.
- Olive oil and seasonings: The hen is marinated in a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, dried dill, salt, and pepper.
- Salad dressing: Combine up our selfmade Italian Dressing, or see the dressing concepts under.
- Romaine and leafy lettuce: Utilizing a mixture of crunchy, leafy lettuce is good. Butter lettuce (aka Bibb lettuce) is our favourite for its candy taste.
- Crimson onion: Or, substitute shallot for a fair milder taste.
- English cucumber and tomatoes: Thinly sliced English cucumber has delicate pores and skin and imperceptible seeds, including a refreshing crunch. You may substitute commonplace cucumber, however it’s possible you’ll wish to peel it to take away bitterness. Use any sort of chopped ripe tomato.
- Pepperoncini: Tangy and barely spicy peppers deliver a zesty kick that livens up every chunk.
- Parmesan shavings: Salty and nutty Parmesan shavings elevate this salad (omit for dairy free).
Tip: To mellow the sharp taste of crimson onion, you possibly can soak it in chilly water for 10 minutes earlier than serving.
How you can make grilled hen salad (primary steps)
This grilled hen salad recipe requires half-hour of marinating time, when you possibly can prep the opposite salad elements. Then grill the hen and put all of it collectively! Right here’s the fundamental define (or go to the complete recipe):
Step 1: If not in cutlets, butterfly the hen by slicing it half horizontally. Combine it with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, dill, salt, and black pepper till evenly coated. Cowl and marinate refrigerated for half-hour (or as much as 24 hours).
Step 2: Preheat a grill to excessive warmth (450 to 550°F). In the meantime, make the Italian dressing. Chop the lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, and avocado.
Step 3: Grill the hen breasts till grill marks seem and it releases from the grates, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook dinner till the interior temperature is 165°F, 2 to 4 minutes. Take away to a platter and canopy with foil. Enable to relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing.
Step 4: Place the greens on a plate, then high with the greens, grilled hen, pepperoncini, Parmesan shavings, and contemporary basil or dill. Drizzle with dressing and serve.
Customise the proteins and veggies
This salad is so simply customizable to substances you’ve gotten readily available and food plan preferences! Many people are cooking for a number of diets as of late, and this one makes it simple to cook dinner for a lot of diets without delay. Listed here are just a few concepts:
- Change the protein to tofu, shrimp or salmon! Throw on grilled tofu to make a vegan model, or make grilled shrimp or grilled salmon.
- Make the protein with a special methodology. Attempt blackened hen, Parmesan hen, baked tofu, sauteed shrimp, or baked salmon.
- Swap in numerous greens. Use completely different greens like spinach or child arugula. Add shredded carrots, bell peppers, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, or mushrooms.
Extra salad dressing concepts
If desired, you too can substitute completely different dressing recipes or bought dressings. We prefer it with French dressing dressings like Greek Salad Dressing, Balsamic French dressing, Simple French dressing, or Honey Mustard Dressing.
Leftover storage
Leftover hen shops as much as 3 days, refrigerated. If making upfront, refrigerate the elements individually. Carry the dressing to room temperature earlier than serving.
Sides for pairing with grilled hen salad
We love this grilled hen salad as a grilled dinner thought or summer season dinner thought to get pleasure from al fresco on the patio. However in fact you possibly can get pleasure from it any time of the yr! Listed here are just a few methods we’d counsel pairing it:
Dietary notes
This grilled hen salad recipe is gluten-free. For dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese. For vegetarian and vegan, use grilled tofu. For pescatarian, use grilled shrimp.
Often requested questions
Sure, but it surely’s greatest to grill the hen and chop the greens individually. Assemble the salad simply earlier than serving to maintain the substances contemporary and crisp. Retailer the dressing individually and toss it in when prepared.
No, we don’t advocate including dried herbs to this salad. Merely omit from the recipe, or use different contemporary herbs like chopped parsley.
Description
Prepare for a taste explosion! This grilled hen salad recipe combines juicy hen, crunchy greens and a tangy Italian French dressing, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal.
For the hen (or grilled shrimp, grilled salmon, or grilled tofu*)
- 2 boneless skinless hen breasts or 4 cutlets (1 to 1 ½ kilos, natural if attainable)*
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
For the salad
- 1 recipe Italian Dressing**
- 1 romaine coronary heart (3 cups)
- 5 cups leafy lettuce, like butter (Bibb) lettuce or different varieties
- 1/2 small crimson onion, thinly sliced, soaked in chilly water for 5 minutes, and drained
- 1 English cucumber (2 cups chopped)
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, sliced (optionally available)
- ½ cup jarred sliced pepperoncini
- ¼ cup Parmesan shavings or shreds
- Recent basil or dill, for garnish (optionally available)
- Pat the hen dry with a paper towel. If not already butterflied, place your hand excessive of every hen breast. Use a pointy knife to fastidiously slice the breast horizontally, leaving the sting intact so it may well open up like a guide (or butterfly!). Unfold the breast like a guide, then reduce alongside the fold to separate the 2 halves.
- Add the hen to a container and add the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, dill, kosher salt, and some grinds of black pepper. Combine together with your palms till evenly coated. Cowl and marinate within the fridge for half-hour (or as much as 24 hours).
- Preheat a grill to excessive warmth (450 to 550°F).
- In the meantime for the salad, make the Italian dressing. Put together the romaine, lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, and avocado.
- Grill the hen breasts till grill marks seem and it releases from the grates, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook dinner till not pink within the middle and the interior temperature is 165°F, 2 to 4 minutes. Take away to a platter and canopy with foil. Enable to relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing for max juiciness.
- Place the greens on a plate, then high with the greens, grilled hen, pepperoncini, Parmesan shavings, and basil or dill. Drizzle with the specified quantity of dressing and serve. If making upfront, refrigerate the elements individually; deliver the dressing to room temperature earlier than serving. Leftover hen shops as much as 3 days, refrigerated.
- Class: Fundamental Dish
- Technique: Grilled
- Delicacies: American
- Eating regimen: Gluten Free
