Spring Detox Chicken Salad (Print Version)

Light, nourishing salad with grilled chicken, crisp vegetables, and zesty lemon vinaigrette for a refreshing spring meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, romaine)
02 - 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 6 radishes, thinly sliced
04 - 2 grilled chicken breasts (approximately 10.5 oz total), sliced
05 - 1 small avocado, sliced

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat for 5–6 minutes per side or until cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
03 - In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, cucumber, radish, and avocado slices.
04 - Arrange sliced grilled chicken over the salad. Drizzle with lemon vinaigrette and toss gently to coat evenly.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra lemon slices if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The vinaigrette comes together in thirty seconds flat but tastes like something from a restaurant
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble in five minutes when hunger strikes
  • That perfect bite of peppery radish against creamy avocado is spring in a bowl
02 -
  • The vinaigrette keeps for a week in the fridge but the garlic gets stronger over time
  • Do not dress the entire salad if you are planning leftovers or it will be soggy by tomorrow
  • Room temperature chicken absorbs more vinaigrette than cold chicken straight from the fridge
03 -
  • Dry your greens thoroughly after washing or the vinaigrette will slide right off
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create paper thin cucumber slices instead of a knife
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