Bruschetta Chicken Salad (Printable)

Vibrant salad with grilled chicken, fresh tomato-basil topping, and crisp mixed greens. Light, refreshing, and ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Bruschetta Topping

07 - 2 cups ripe tomatoes, diced
08 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Salad

15 - 6 cups mixed salad greens
16 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese, optional
17 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high temperature until ready for cooking
02 - Coat chicken breasts evenly with olive oil, dried Italian herbs, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper on all surfaces
03 - Place chicken on preheated grill and cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until internal juices run clear and meat reaches safe temperature. Transfer to cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly
04 - Combine diced tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Toss gently and allow to rest for 10 minutes to develop flavors
05 - Distribute mixed salad greens across a large platter or individual serving plates in an even layer
06 - Arrange sliced chicken over greens, then generously spoon bruschetta mixture over chicken. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese if desired
07 - Transfer to serving plates immediately and provide lemon wedges alongside each portion

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the perfect bridge between comfort food and something light enough for swimsuit season without making you feel deprived
  • The bruschetta topping gets better as it sits, so you can prep it ahead and let the flavors hang out together
  • Everyone gets to customize their own bowl with more cheese, more tomatoes, or extra protein without anyone judging
02 -
  • Letting the chicken rest before slicing is absolutely non negotiable or all those juices end up on your cutting board instead of in the salad
  • The bruschetta mixture needs at least 10 minutes to marry together but don't make it more than an hour ahead or tomatoes get mushy
  • Room temperature tomatoes have way more flavor than cold ones from the fridge so let them sit out while you prep everything else
03 -
  • Marinate the chicken in the seasoning blend for up to 2 hours if you have time for even deeper flavor penetration
  • Use a grill basket for the tomatoes if you want them slightly charred before mixing into the topping
  • If your chicken breasts are thick slice them horizontally first to create two thinner cutlets that cook faster and more evenly
Go Back