Indulge in the vibrant tastes of the Mediterranean with this exquisite, restaurant-quality Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad. Packed with fresh, wholesome ingredients and finished with an effortlessly prepared balsamic vinaigrette, this entree salad promises a delightful culinary experience. Whether you’re seeking a light yet satisfying meal or planning ahead for convenient on-the-go lunches, this impressive dish delivers flavor and elegance all year round.

overhead photo of balsamic grilled chicken salad in a white over platter on a wood background

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Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad: Recreating Restaurant Magic at Home

There are some dishes that leave a lasting impression, becoming etched in our culinary memories. For me, the Balsamic Chicken Salad from Old Man Rafferty’s in New Brunswick, NJ, was one such dish. As a teenager, weekend lunch and shopping trips with my mom and my dear late Auntie El often led us to this beloved spot. This salad wasn’t just a menu item; it was a ritual, a highlight of our time together. I savored its rich flavors countless times, each bite a perfect blend of tangy, savory, and fresh.

Years passed, but the craving for that iconic salad never faded. Driven by nostalgia and a love for good food, I embarked on a mission to recreate it in my own kitchen. What started as an experiment quickly evolved into a family favorite, captivating everyone with its irresistible appeal. This isn’t just a salad; it’s a symphony of textures and tastes. Imagine succulent, juicy balsamic-marinated chicken breasts, nestled among crisp mixed greens, tangy artichoke hearts, creamy fresh mozzarella, vibrant tomatoes, and briny Kalamata olives, all brought together with a bright, homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a truly satisfying entree salad that feels both gourmet and comforting.

Beyond the deliciousness, making this salad at home offers a special perk. Who can resist sneaking a few extra mozzarella balls while assembling the dish? It’s a cook’s treat, a little reward for creating something so wonderful!

Why This Balsamic Chicken Salad Is an Absolute Must-Try

This Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad stands out for several compelling reasons, making it a staple in any home cook’s repertoire:

Unforgettable Restaurant Quality: Experience the sophistication of a gourmet meal without leaving your home. The combination of thoughtfully chosen ingredients and a balanced dressing elevates this salad far beyond the ordinary.
A Wholesome and Fulfilling Entree: Loaded with lean protein from the chicken, essential vitamins from the fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from olives and olive oil in the dressing, this salad is a complete meal that truly satisfies without feeling heavy.
Effortless Meal Prep Solution: The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability for meal preparation. Components can be prepped days in advance, simplifying assembly on busy weeknights or for quick lunches.
Infinitely Customizable: This recipe serves as a fantastic canvas. Adjust ingredients to your preference, add seasonal vegetables, or introduce new textures. It’s designed to be flexible and cater to your unique taste.
Versatile for Any Season: While grilling often evokes summer, this salad is perfect year-round. Indoor grilling methods ensure you can enjoy those smoky, charred chicken flavors even when the weather turns cold.

overhead photo of ingredients for balsamic chicken salad in bowls

Essential Ingredients for a Superb Balsamic Chicken Salad

Crafting the perfect Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad begins with selecting the finest ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in creating a harmonious blend of Mediterranean flavors:

Grilled Balsamic Marinated Chicken Breasts: The star of the show! Juicy chicken breasts, marinated in a rich balsamic blend, are grilled to perfection, imparting a smoky char and tender texture. For colder months, an indoor grill pan or an indoor countertop grill works beautifully. Alternatively, you can bake or air fry the marinated chicken, as detailed in our dedicated balsamic marinade recipe. The marinade not only infuses incredible flavor but also helps to keep the chicken moist and succulent.
Fresh Spring Mix: Also known as “mesclun,” this vibrant assortment of young, tender greens provides a delicate base for the salad. Typically, it includes a variety of baby spinach, peppery arugula, crisp romaine, slightly bitter frisée, and earthy radicchio. This medley offers a delightful mix of textures and subtle flavors that complement the bolder ingredients beautifully. Ensure your greens are thoroughly washed and dried to prevent a watery dressing.
Flavorful Artichoke Hearts: These add a wonderful tangy and slightly nutty dimension to the salad. My personal favorite are grilled artichoke hearts for their smoky notes and tender bite. If grilled varieties are unavailable, marinated or brine-packed artichoke hearts are excellent substitutes. Whichever type you choose, remember to drain them extremely well before adding them to the salad to avoid excess moisture.
Pitted Kalamata Olives: A cornerstone of Mediterranean cuisine, Kalamata olives bring a distinctive salty, fruity, and slightly briny flavor. To save valuable prep time, I always opt for pitted olives. If you’re working with whole olives, you can easily remove the pits by gently smashing them with the back of a chef’s knife or using a handy cherry and olive pitter. Their robust flavor is non-negotiable for an authentic taste.
Juicy Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes burst with sweetness and add a pop of color. During the peak summer months, I love using halved cherry tomatoes straight from my garden. For this recipe’s photographs, quartered Campari tomatoes (often called “cocktail” tomatoes) were used, offering a good balance of sweetness and acidity. If using larger, full-sized tomatoes, simply cut them into neat wedges for easier eating and visual appeal.
Creamy Fresh Mozzarella: The soft, milky texture and mild flavor of fresh mozzarella provide a delightful contrast to the other robust ingredients. I prefer ciliegine, which are about the size of a cherry, perfect for scattering throughout the salad. Smaller perlini (mozzarella “pearls”) or even a larger ball of fresh mozzarella cut into cubes would also work wonderfully. The creaminess adds a luxurious touch.
Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette: A truly exceptional salad deserves an equally exceptional dressing. Our homemade balsamic vinaigrette is tangy, slightly sweet, and rich, perfectly complementing the Mediterranean flavors of the chicken and vegetables. Making it from scratch allows you to control the quality of ingredients and adjust the flavors to your liking, far surpassing store-bought options.
Freshly Cracked Black Pepper: Just as in the restaurant, a few generous grinds of freshly cracked black pepper right before serving add an aromatic flourish and a subtle kick, enhancing the overall flavor profile.

Optional Additions to Further Elevate Your Salad

While the core ingredients form a fantastic base, feel free to experiment with additional elements to customize your salad:

Roasted Red Pepper Strips: These add a sweet, smoky flavor and a beautiful splash of color. They pair wonderfully with the Mediterranean theme.
Thinly Sliced Vidalia Onion: For those who appreciate a milder onion flavor, Vidalia onions add a subtle sweetness and crispness without overpowering the other ingredients.
Crisp Cucumber Slices: If you desire extra crunch and a refreshing element, thinly sliced cucumbers are a fantastic addition, especially on a hot day.
Homemade Garlic Croutons: For an irresistible textural contrast, a handful of crunchy homemade garlic croutons can transform this salad into an even more substantial and delightful meal.

balsamic vinaigrette being drizzled over chicken salad with a bronze spoon

Mastering the Assembly: Expert Tips for the Perfect Salad

While making this salad is straightforward, a few key tips can elevate your creation from good to truly exceptional. Think of this recipe as an inspiring guide rather than rigid instructions, allowing for personal flair:

Dress Just Before Serving: Spring mix and other delicate greens are prone to wilting quickly once dressed. To maintain their crispness and vibrant texture, always wait until you are ready to serve the salad before adding the vinaigrette. I typically toss the greens with a few tablespoons of dressing to ensure an even coating, then drizzle a little extra over the top once plated for that restaurant-style finish.
Customize to Your Heart’s Content: The quantities provided for the add-ins are merely suggestions. This salad is your culinary canvas! Do you love fresh mozzarella? Feel free to toss in a few extra ciliegine. Not a huge fan of Kalamata olives? Reduce the amount, swap them for a different variety like Castelvetrano, or omit them entirely. Adjust any ingredient to perfectly match your personal preferences and create your ideal flavor balance.
Smart Meal Prep for Ultimate Convenience: While assembling the entire salad in advance of serving isn is not recommended due to wilting greens, preparing the individual components ahead of time is a game-changer for busy schedules:
- Vinaigrette: Prepare your homemade balsamic vinaigrette up to 5 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Remember to re-whisk or shake it vigorously just before dressing the salad to re-emulsify the ingredients.
- Chicken: Marinate and grill the chicken breasts 2-3 days prior. Once cooled, store them in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to make the salad, you can gently re-warm and slice them, or even enjoy them cold for a refreshing twist – it’s delicious either way!
- Olives: If using whole olives, pit them up to 3 days in advance and store dry in the refrigerator, or up to a week if kept in their brine.
Adjusting Serving Sizes with Ease: As written, this recipe is designed to serve two as a generous main course or four as a more modest side salad. However, it’s incredibly versatile and can be easily scaled up for a larger gathering or scaled down for a delightful single-person meal. Simply adjust the quantities of each ingredient proportionally to fit your needs.

Taking Your Salad On-the-Go? For ultimate freshness and convenience, I highly recommend using a Bentgo Salad Container. Its clever design features separate compartments for your greens, add-ins, and dressing, ensuring everything stays fresh and crisp. You can simply toss your salad components together in the base just before you’re ready to enjoy lunch, guaranteeing a perfect, non-soggy meal.

closeup of balsamic grilled chicken salad on a white ceramic platter

The Recipe: Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad

Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad

by Amanda Biddle

This restaurant-inspired Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad is loaded with Mediterranean flavors and finished with an easy-to-make balsamic vinaigrette. Prep the components ahead for lunch on-the-go.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 to 4

Ingredients

4 cups spring greens (“mesclun”), washed and dried
2 balsamic-marinated chicken breasts, grilled
12 ounce jar grilled artichoke hearts, drained, and cut into quarters if halved
½ cup kalamata olives, drained and pitted
1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, “ciliegine” sized
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (or an equivalent amount of cocktail tomatoes, quartered)
balsamic vinaigrette
freshly-cracked black pepper

Instructions

Slice chicken breasts crosswise into 1/2-inch strips.
In a large bowl, combine greens with artichoke hearts, olives, mozzarella, and tomatoes. Toss with a few tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette to coat.
Arrange salad on a platter with the grilled chicken strips on the top. Finish with a few grinds of pepper and additional vinaigrette, to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes

*The quantities of the “add-ins” (artichoke hearts, mozzarella balls, olives, tomatoes) are suggestions. Build this salad to your personal preferences, adding more or less of each ingredient, to taste.

See the Assembly Tips section of the attached article for prep-ahead instructions.

Nutrition Estimate

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Our Recipes

Please note that our recipes have been developed using the US Customary measurement system and have not been tested for high altitude/elevation cooking and baking.

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Discover More Mediterranean-Inspired Salad Recipes

If you’ve enjoyed the vibrant flavors of this Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad, you’re in for a treat with these other delightful salad creations:

Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad: A refreshing and sweet-savory blend with an Asian twist.
Salmon and Couscous Salad with Tomato Confit Vinaigrette: A sophisticated and hearty salad featuring flaky salmon and flavorful couscous.
Harvest Cobb Salad: A seasonal take on a classic, perfect for cooler weather.
Fig Salad with Goat Cheese and Baby Arugula: A sweet and savory delight with creamy goat cheese and peppery arugula.
Pear Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette: A comforting and elegant salad featuring juicy pears and a warm, savory dressing.

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