Balsamic Chicken Salad
Author: 
Recipe type: Salad
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2
 
This is a delicious salad, a complete dinner on one plate! The chicken is marinated in a yummy balsamic marinade that is also the dressing. When the chicken is still hot from the oven, drizzle on a little dressing, then just assemble the salad with red juicy grapes, toasted pecans, thinly sliced red onion and homemade croutons, you'll be in heaven and did I mention it's totally healthy and low fat!
Ingredients
  • 2 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
  • ½ cup of balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • 1 heaping tsp of sugar
  • 1 tsp of Dijon mustard
  • ¾ cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ of a red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ - ¾ cup of pecans, toasted if desired, see notes
  • 1 cup of red grapes
  • croutons, see notes
  • 4 - 5 cups of lettuce (your choice, I used red leaf)
Instructions
  1. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then in a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar, salt, sugar, and mustard. Then slowly add in the olive oil while whisking.
  2. Place the chicken breasts in a large ziplock bag and place the bag in a large bowl, pour in half of the marinade, reserving the rest for later and massage the chicken. Marinate for at least 1 hour, the longer the better, flip the bag over occasionally.
  3. When ready to bake, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard. Bake on a foil-lined baking sheet for 40 minutes. As soon as you remove the chicken from the oven, drizzle on a little of the reserved marinade. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, cut it into slices or chunks.
  4. To assemble the salad, place a bed of lettuce on the salad plates, top with the red onion, grapes and nuts, arrange the chicken on top, sprinkle on the croutons and drizzle on the remaining marinade. Bon Appetit!
Notes
To quickly toast pecans, just add them to a hot, dry heavy skillet over medium/high heat and cook for about 5-6 minutes until fragrant, stirring occasionally, keep an eye on them, they burn quickly!
To make home-made croutons, cut or tear a whole wheat or french baguette into bite-sized pieces. Toss them with a little olive oil, salt & pepper, place on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Recipe by Cabin In The Woods at https://cabininthewoodsblog.com/balsamic-chicken-salad/