15 Minute Avocado Caprese Chicken Salad drizzled with a light Balsamic Vinaigrette. This quick & easy dinner recipe is a fan favorite! Seared chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and creamy avocados topped with shredded basil. A light refreshing chicken salad recipe that’s perfect for summer!
Avocado Caprese Chicken Salad
Ok, y’all we are officially kicking off salad week here at Joyful Healthy Eats.
We got through Easter week and since bikini season is right around the corner, salads seem to become the meal of choice. This Avocado Caprese Chicken Salad may be my new favorite though. You guys know I’m all about salads, I’d have them everyday if I could. (but the hubbie wouldn’t be too thrilled with that) The best part about this Caprese Salad is it takes only 15 minutes to make, and most of that is the cook time for the chicken!
What Is Caprese Salad?
Caprese Salad is an Italian Salad made with fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, fresh basil and then seasoned with olive oil and salt. Traditionally it is not topped with balsamic vinegar, but over the years a balsamic reduction has been served with it.
What do you eat Caprese Salad with?
- Make a Caprese Toast – add some smashed avocado to it and you’ve got yourself breakfast!
- Caprese Frittata – add all your favorite caprese ingredients to an egg mixture and make a frittata with it!
- Top it on a Pizza – this simple pizza is one of my favorites, drizzle it with a balsamic reduction and it’s a show stopper!
- Add the Caprese ingredients to Chicken or Beef.
- Make a Caprese Sandwich – warm caprese sandwiches are the best because the cheese is all melty, add some protein to make it more hearty!
Those are just a few ideas when it comes to using the famous Caprese flavors, but honestly the possibilities are endless.
In today’s recipe we basically put all those same Caprese flavors and threw them in a salad. But I added chicken and some avocado.. because let’s be real… everything is better with avocado!
How to make the BEST Avocado Caprese Chicken Salad?
- To make the balsamic dressing: in a small bowl, mix garlic, dry basil, dijon mustard, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly add in olive oil, whisking the entire time until there is no more oil & vinegar separation. Set aside.
- Heat grill to medium high heat. Add seasoned chicken breast to grill and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until there is no more pink.
- In a large bowl add spring mix, avocado, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella balls, and sliced grilled chicken.
- Serve with balsamic vinaigrette
Can Caprese Salad be made ahead of time?
In all honesty, probably not because the basil will start to wilt or brown. Caprese Salad is at it’s best when it’s made fresh. If you have leftovers, eat them. It will not keep well the next day!
One of my fun tips when making this salad is to use a salad spinner when cleaning the lettuce. It takes seconds and it’s easy clean up.
I cannot wait to hear what you guys think. This is actually an older recipe that I thought needed a facelift on photos. The first time I made it, Cason was too little to eat it but this time he did and let me tell you, my 7 year old son devoured every last bit of it. (even the remaining lettuce on his plate)
I knew that starting off “salad week” it needed to be with a bang and once you try it I think you’ll agree. It’s definitely a light refreshing bang of flavor!
Bon Appetit friends!
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Avocado Caprese Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Prep Time: 3 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 4 salads 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Description
15 Minute Avocado Caprese Chicken Salad drizzled with a light Balsamic Vinaigrette. This quick easy dinner recipe is a fan favorite! Seared chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and creamy avocados topped with shredded basil.
Ingredients
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breast
- salt & pepper to season chicken
- 1/2 cup of halved fresh mozzarella balls
- 1 avocado, diced
- 6 cups of fresh spring mix salad
- 1/2 cup of halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup of fresh diced basil
Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon of dry basil
- 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix garlic, dry basil, dijon mustard, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly add in olive oil, whisking the entire time until there is no more oil & vinegar separation. Set aside.
- Heat grill to medium high heat. add seasoned chicken breast to grill and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until there is no more pink.
- In a large bowl add spring mix, avocado, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella balls, and sliced grilled chicken.
- Serve with balsamic vinaigrette
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 352
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 221 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg
Filed Under:
Want More Salad Recipes?
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16 Easy Healthy Chicken Salad Recipes
Paleo Mason Jar Southwest Chicken Salad
Asian Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
61 comments on “15 Minute Avocado Caprese Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette”
Hey Krista
After reading your post, I can do it faster because I have everything prepared! : )
I am so glad the post helped and that you enjoyed this recipe!
I’ll must try the recipe, thanks for sharing!
This was so easy to make and was excellent!
Am I reading correctly that this recipe yields 4 servings? Is the nutrition info for one serving or the whole recipe?
Yes, that is correct. The nutritional value is for one serving.
I am LOVING all the flavors in this salad. Trying this for my lunches!
This is my kind of salad! Absolutely LOVE all the fresh flavors!
This Salad looks incredible nothing is better than a refreshing colorful salad, even my kids would love this!
This is GORGEOUS!!! What a beautiful and delicious lunch!
So so so so yummy!!! Thanks for my favorite new summer recipe! 🙂
Could that salad be any more beautiful? I think this will become my go to salad!
I love all things caprese!!! Such a delicious salad!
This would be such a great dinner option all summer long! So fresh and filling.
I have shared this recipe with my friends you’re amazing thanks for one….
oh that’s awesome!
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I always look for the something that is easy to make and time saving, This Recipe has saved my day and everyone enjoyed it, I am asked to make it again. Thank you
thanks so much!
great recipes, I want to try it, terimakaih already share. I think this is very good
Thanks so much for the nice article.
Thanks to sharing with us this impressive article it really helpful
thanks for sharing such great dish with us. It is so much tasty and easy to make at home. It’s awesome.
Such a healthy yummy dinner recipe that can be cooked in 15 minutes? really?! Coool…
Then I am gonna prepare it frequently.
How many ounces is the “one chicken breast” thst was used in your nutrition calculation?
hey jennifer, I used 4 oz.
Those are adorable Krista! Pinned and making soon!
Thanks girl!
With my garden in full bloom and more cherry tomatoes and basil than we can use, I decided to try this recipe. My husband is not the biggest fan of tomatoes, but we’ve eaten this four times in two weeks. It’s the perfect blend of flavors. Thank you for sharing.
Hurray! So glad to hear it Delania! This is the perfect recipe to use up those garden goods. 🙂
Silly question but when do you put the mixture of: “mix garlic, dry basil, dijon mustard, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly add in olive oil”? Does this go on the chicken before/while it’s cooking?
That is the dressing, so it will go on top of the salad when everything is prepared.
And there are no silly questions Melissa, I probably wrote something wonky. (wouldn’t be the first time) 🙂
This looks delicious! Pinned and making soon!
Awesome! Thanks so much Missy, enjoy it girl!
Your nutritional information has to be off on the caress salad. There’s no way that it’s only 4 grams of protein and 40g of carbs. I think those have been transposed.
Hey Nikki, the numbers are to the right off the word, so the carbs are 10 g and the protein is 26 g. Hope that makes more sense… sorry for the confusion. 🙂
Made these last night for dinner and substituted burrata for the mozzarella. So good! I think the best part was the dressing. Thanks so much for the recipe!
ohhh.. great idea on the burrata!!! So glad you enjoyed it Charisa!
This looks so yummy! I was wondering if you would let me use one of these images for a blog post that I am writing. I am looking for a light, fresh, yummy meal, and this recipe fits the bill. Can I use one of your images and link it back to this blog post? Thanks!
Sarah
http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/
Hey Sarah,
Sure as long as you don’t write the recipe on your blog post that is totally fine. Thanks for asking!
Krista
Your welcome Sarah!
This is my kind of salad, Krista! I love the chicken, cheese, and avocado. I’ll forget I’m even eating salad for dinner when it’s loaded with goodness like that 🙂
haha.. i know right! Best kinda salad ever!
Made this last night and it was so, so good! Quickly became a new favorite that even my kids will eat. The vinagerette was amazing. Thank you for a great and easy recipe!
absolutely kimberly, so glad you AND your kids liked it! 🙂
This looks delicious! I could definitely see it becoming my go-to summer salad!
Thanks so much Cathy!
Beautiful salad! Looks delicious 🙂
Thanks so much Sheryl!
This is GORGEOUS!!! What a beautiful and delicious lunch!
Thanks so much Becky, it is most definitely the perfect summer lunch!
This gorgeous salad laughs in the face of bikini season! If I eat this, I’ll have nothing to worry about! Good luck with the party! Those days were so fun. I’m sure everyone will love it and a great time will be had by everyone-especially the birthday boy!
haha… it sure does! Love it!
Thanks Tanya, the party was a blast and the kids had so much fun walking the plank and with water gun target practice, only wish hadn’t rained. 🙂
I could live on this salad! There’s nothing missing! DELICIOUS!
And, good luck with that party!! I’m of no help – I always wish I could hire people to do all that for me! I was SO meant to be rich… missed my calling, I guess. 😀
haha.. I wish I would have hired someone for this job! Genius! But I will say there is always that ‘sense of accomplishment’ whens its all said and done. 🙂 That and I can take solace in this salad!
Oh My! this is soon to become my favorite go-to summer salad!! and god luck with the party, I’m sure it is going to be terrific
It so will Heather and thank you! I need all the lucky I can get!
OMG I can’t function without my planner! We are moving pretty soon and we are refinishing the cabinets. I was told it will take a week. A week?! A week where I am going to have a disorganized kitchen? ITs really gonna test my patience!
And this salad? You can never go wrong with caprese! Loving the addition of chicken and avocado. I must try 😉
haha… I so feel your pain! If the kitchen is messed up I feel like the rest of the house is messed up!
15 minutes and some of my favorite flavors–in love with this one!
Hurray! Pumped I hit the nail on the head. 🙂