Spring Detox Chicken Salad (Printable)

Light and refreshing mixed greens with grilled chicken, cucumber, radish, and zesty lemon vinaigrette.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, romaine)
02 - 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 6 radishes, thinly sliced
04 - 2 grilled chicken breasts (approximately 10.5 oz total), sliced
05 - 1 small avocado, sliced (optional)

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1 teaspoon honey or pure maple syrup
10 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Continue whisking until the mixture is fully emulsified and smooth. Set aside at room temperature while preparing the remaining components.
02 - Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and black pepper. Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium heat. Grill chicken for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, thinly sliced cucumber, radish slices, and avocado if using. Toss gently to distribute the vegetables evenly throughout the bowl.
04 - Arrange the sliced grilled chicken on top of the salad greens. Drizzle the prepared lemon vinaigrette evenly over the entire salad. Using salad servers or large spoons, toss gently until all components are lightly coated with dressing.
05 - Transfer salad to individual serving plates or bowls. Garnish with additional fresh lemon slices if desired. Serve promptly while the vegetables remain crisp and the chicken is still slightly warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The vinaigrette comes together in thirty seconds flat but tastes like something from a fancy bistro
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble in five minutes when hunger strikes
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that over-dressing a soggy sad salad happens faster than you think, so start with half the vinaigrette and add more as needed
  • Grilling the chicken instead of baking it completely transforms this salad from ordinary to something special, worth the extra effort
03 -
  • Cold chicken straight from the fridge works perfectly fine, so grill it the night before and save yourself time
  • If your radishes have their greens attached, don't throw them away, they're delicious sautéed
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