Sweet Tangy Blackberry Chicken Salad (Printable)
Grilled chicken with blackberries, avocado, toasted nuts and a sweet-tangy blackberry vinaigrette on crisp mixed greens.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
→ Salad
06 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or spring mix)
07 - 1 cup fresh blackberries
08 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta (optional)
10 - 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
11 - 1 avocado, sliced
→ Blackberry Vinaigrette
12 - 1/2 cup fresh blackberries
13 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
14 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
15 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
16 - 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
17 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet to medium-high heat.
02 - Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Grill or sear for 6 to 7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the chicken is cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
03 - In a small blender or food processor, combine the fresh blackberries, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and extra-virgin olive oil. Blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Arrange the mixed salad greens in a large serving bowl. Top with the sliced chicken, fresh blackberries, red onion, crumbled cheese if using, toasted nuts, and sliced avocado.
05 - Drizzle the blackberry vinaigrette generously over the salad. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The blackberry vinaigrette doubles as a marinade, so you get twice the flavor with almost zero extra effort.
- It looks restaurant fancy but comes together in about half an hour, which makes it my go to for impressing unexpected dinner guests.
02 -
- Do not skip the chicken rest period because cutting too early sends all those delicious juices running onto the board instead of staying in the meat.
- The vinaigrette will thicken in the fridge, so whisk in a splash of water or vinegar to loosen it when using leftovers the next day.
03 -
- Mash a few extra blackberries directly into the vinaigrette by hand for little pockets of fruity texture that surprise with each bite.
- Toasting the nuts in a dry pan takes only three minutes but transforms them from background crunch to something people actually notice and ask about.