A hearty fruit filled salad topped with bright lemon chicken and finished with a sweet and creamy poppy seed dressing.
Today was like Christmas for me! I opened my patio door and walked out to a temperature that was most definitely perfectly acceptable for grilling. Yes, grilling season has arrived and I couldn’t be more ready for it!
I love the flavor of grilled chicken. I love the flavor of basically grilled anything for that matter. Its a flavor that can’t be imitated from baking or pan searing.
I did debate with this recipe whether to do a baked crispy panko crusted lemon chicken or a grilled lemon chicken. I’m glad I went with a grilled version. It is perfect with this salad and grilling the chicken is a savory and simple flavor enhancer.
I also decided to toss in one of my latest favorites in cheese, Feta. It pairs amazingly well with the tartness of the blackberries and sweetness of the strawberries, and it enhances the slight tang of the lemon chicken.
I also thought a salad this delicious wouldn’t do with a store bought dressing so I created a simple homemade version. It is unbelievably easy and if you want to shave off the step of grating the onion you could simply replace it with a 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of onion powder. Enjoy!
Review Recipe
Berry, Lemon Chicken and Feta Salad
Servings: 5
Prep20 minutesCook10 minutesReady in: 30 minutes
Ingredients1 (11 oz) pkg Spring Mix Salad Blend1 lb strawberries , sliced11 oz black berries8 oz Feta cheese , crumbled2 oz Parmesan cheese , finely shredded3/4 cup sliced almondsfinely grated lemon zest , for topping (optional)poppy seed dressing , recipe followsGrilled Lemon Chicken1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts1/4 cup fresh lemon juice2 tsp lemon zest1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil2 cloves garlic , finely minced1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper3/4 cup mayonnaise4 Tbsp granulated sugar1 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar1/4 tsp salt
InstructionsTo assemble salads:Layer salad blend onto serving plates. Divide strawberries, blackberries, almonds, Feta and Parmesan cheese over salad. Top with grilled lemon chicken, sprinkle with lemon zest if desired. Drizzle top with poppy seed dressing. Serve immediately.For the grilled lemon chicken:Place chicken in a large resealable bag and pound thicker portions of chicken to an even thickness using the flat side of a meat mallet. In a mixing bowl whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour mixture over chicken in resealable bag, seal bag while pressing out as much excess air as possible. Move chicken around as needed to evenly distribute marinade and allow chicken to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.Preheat a grill to moderately high heat. Brush grill grates lightly with oil and transfer chicken to grill (if you notice lemon zest and garlic sticking to one portion of the chicken more than another just brush it along the chicken to evenly distribute). Grill 6 - 8 minutes then rotate chicken to opposite side and grill until internal temperature of chicken registers 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer (total grill time will vary based on thickness of chicken breasts, so just be sure to check the temp for doneness). Transfer to a plate, cover with foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes, then slice into strips about 1/2-inch thick.Recipe Source: Cooking Classy
NotesNutrition estimate includes dressing.
Nutrition Facts Berry, Lemon Chicken and Feta Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 775 Calories from Fat 477
% Daily Value*
Fat 53g82%Saturated Fat 14g88%Cholesterol 149mg50%Sodium 1427mg62%Potassium 1016mg29%Carbohydrates 32g11%Fiber 7g29%Sugar 21g23%Protein 40g80% Vitamin A 1196IU24%Vitamin C 89mg108%Calcium 453mg45%Iron 3mg17% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Course: Main Course, SaladCuisine: AmericanKeyword: Salad Recipe Author: Jaclyn
Review Recipe
Nutrition Facts Berry, Lemon Chicken and Feta Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 775 Calories from Fat 477
% Daily Value*
Fat 53g82%Saturated Fat 14g88%Cholesterol 149mg50%Sodium 1427mg62%Potassium 1016mg29%Carbohydrates 32g11%Fiber 7g29%Sugar 21g23%Protein 40g80% Vitamin A 1196IU24%Vitamin C 89mg108%Calcium 453mg45%Iron 3mg17% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Nutrition Facts
Berry, Lemon Chicken and Feta Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 775 Calories from Fat 477
% Daily Value*
Fat 53g82%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 149mg50%
Sodium 1427mg62%
Potassium 1016mg29%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 40g80%
Vitamin A 1196IU24%
Vitamin C 89mg108%
Calcium 453mg45%
Iron 3mg17%
- Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course, SaladCuisine: AmericanKeyword: Salad Recipe
Author: Jaclyn
Ingredients 3/4 cup mayonnaise 4 Tbsp granulated sugar 1 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tsp finely grated onion 1/2 tsp prepared mustard 1/4 tsp salt 2 tsp poppy seeds
Instructions In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, grated onion, mustard and salt until sugar has nearly dissolved (at this point you can transfer to a blender to mince onion pieces further if desired). Stir in poppy seeds. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate 30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and stir (if you would like dressing to have a thinner consistency you can mix in a little milk 1 tsp at a time to thin). Store dressing in refrigerator.
