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grilled chicken resting on a salad
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Main Course Salads + Grilled Chicken Salad

Main Course Salads are easy, tasty, and filling enough for a meal! Make one of my easy salads for dinner, or experiment with my suggestions!
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, main course salad, under 1 hour
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 539kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 cups fresh baby spinach
  • ¼ red onion sliced
  • 1 bell pepper any color, sliced or diced
  • ½ medium cucumber sliced or diced
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 avocado sliced

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup  Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Dill chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Chives chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Combine olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano in a medium bowl. Place chicken breasts in bowl and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
    1 pound boneless, 2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Heat a grill to medium-high heat and brush with more olive oil. When ready, add chicken and cook about 5 minutes on each side, until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken to a cutting board and let rest while you prepare the rest of the salad.
    2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • In a large salad bowl or serving plate, add spinach and veggies.
    3 cups fresh baby spinach, ¼ red onion, 1 bell pepper, ½ medium cucumber, 1 cup grape tomatoes, 1 avocado
  • Slice the chicken and toss with the salad.
  • Top with homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, or your salad dressing of choice. Serve and enjoy!

To make homemade buttermilk ranch dressing

  • Combine all dressing ingredients in a large mason jar and stir together. Close lid tightly and shake well to finish mixing.
    1 cup buttermilk, ½ cup  Greek yogurt, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1 Tablespoon Dill, 1 Tablespoon Chives, 1 Tablespoon Parsley, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Notes

  • Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before marinating to ensure even cooking
  • Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken should be cooked to 165°F to ensure doneness. Don’t over-cook it!
  • Allow grilled chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing
  • Customize your salad by using your favorite salad veggies and salad greens, if what is listed here doesn’t suit your tastes. Add-ins like crumbled cheese or croutons or seeds are great additions, if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1116mg | Potassium: 1166mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3697IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 2mg