Chicken Caprese Salad

By Amy Dong
Published Jul. 2, 2024

This Chicken Caprese Salad is extra scrumptious with the best honey balsamic dressing you’ve ever tasted. It’s healthy, satisfying, and done in under 30 minutes!

chicken pasta salad caprese — Chicken Caprese Salad is a hearty, filling spin on your classic caprese salad.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

Looking for the perfect fresh, vibrant salad to make this summer? Look no further! This Chicken Caprese Salad is sure to be a new favorite. Here’s why:

Seasonal, Fresh Veggies: Like our Watermelon Salad, this caprese salad features juicy cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.
Delicious Dressing: The balsamic dressing is unbelievably delicious. You’ll want to make extra!
Complete Meal: Chicken and corn help graduate this salad from colorful side to full meal.
Lunch Tomorrow: Dinner tonight, and leftovers keep beautifully for easy, satisfying lunches the next day.
Quick and Easy: From start to finish, this salad takes less than 30 minutes to make – it couldn’t be easier!

Key Recipe Ingredients

Chicken Breast – We prefer chicken tenderloins as they cook faster. However, you can also cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips.
Kale Greens – Kale acts as the base for this salad, adding amazing crunch and outstanding health benefits.
Cherry Tomatoes – Cherry or grape tomatoes add the perfect little bursts of sweetness to this salad.
Mozzarella Balls – We like mini mozzarella balls for this recipe because they’re so easy to use, but regular mozzarella balls do just fine too!
Corn Kernels – Sweet corn kernels bring even more sweetness and texture to Chicken Caprese Salad.
Avocados – Sprinkle diced avocados with lime juice to prevent them from oxidizing as quickly.
Fresh Basil – One of the main stars of classic caprese salad, fresh basil is a must for this recipe.
Balsamic Dressing – No store-bought balsamic dressing comes close to this homemade version made with fresh garlic, Dijon mustard, and onions.

Substitutions And Variations

Check out some of these simple variations for Chicken Caprese Salad:

Add Some Fruit: In our humble opinion, adding fruit to almost any salad instantly elevates it. Try sprinkling in fresh strawberries like this Strawberry Caprese Salad or adding fresh, juicy peach slices like in this Peach Caprese Salad.
Change the Cheese: While mozzarella is essential for classic caprese salad, we aren’t opposed to switching it up from time to time. Try adding in some fresh, salty feta cheese, creamy brie cheese, or blue cheese.
Swap the Greens: Not a kale fan? No problem! Swap the kale for arugula, spinach, or romaine lettuce.
Make it a Pasta Salad: Trade out the greens for pasta for an unbelievably delicious pasta salad just like our Caprese Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. Refrigerate.
Remove excess moisture from chicken breasts with paper towels and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Grease grill and let heat.
Place chicken tenderloins on heated grill and cook until center is no longer pink.
Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl. Add chicken, pour on dressing, and toss salad. Enjoy!

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

This grilled Chicken Caprese Salad is the perfect meal prep lunch or dinner. Take a look at these simple make-ahead strategies:

Make the Dressing: The balsamic dressing can be made up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Just let it come to room temperature before serving as the oil tends to harden and separate when chilled.
Cook the Chicken: Grilled chicken will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days. So, feel free to make this in advance as well!
Chop the Veggies: As always, you can chop the veggies several days in advance and store them in the fridge. However, we recommend saving the avocado for the day of, as it will oxidize pretty quickly.

What To Serve With Chicken Caprese Salad

Breads

We love serving a slice of this Rosemary Garlic Bread next to salads as a supremely satisfying side.
These Olive Garden Breadsticks and soft, tender Naan go amazingly with Chicken Caprese Salad as well!
How about some of the Easiest Garlic Cheese Bread you’ll ever make?

Soups

Nothing hits the spot quite like the tried-and-true soup and salad combo. Try pairing chicken caprese with this Roasted Tomato Basil Soup.
This Curry Butternut Squash Soup is bursting with flavor and pairs wonderfully with any salad.

Desserts

For a refreshing summer dessert, try this vibrant Strawberry Ice Cream or this Creamy Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream.
Making Chicken Caprese Salad late summer? We always take advantage of blueberry season with desserts like this Healthy Blueberry Crumble.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long does chicken caprese salad keep?

Chicken Caprese Salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. We recommend storing the dressing separately and saving the avocado till the day of, as it will oxidize pretty quick.

How can I tell when my chicken is done grilling?

You’ll want to cook your chicken until each side has nice dark grill marks and the center turns from pink to white. To be on the safe side, you can always check the internal temperature. Once it reaches 165F, it’s done!

What’s another dressing that would go well with this salad?

You can always simply use a Balsamic Reduction with this salad to go more of the traditional Caprese route. Otherwise, we highly recommend this Poppy seed Dressing from our Strawberry Chicken Salad recipe.

Can I use larger tomatoes in this recipe?

Absolutely! We use cherry or plum tomatoes, because of how easy they are to prep; but feel free to use larger varieties like beefsteaks. Just slice or cut them into cubes.

What is the best way to prep kale?

If your kale isn’t already pre-washed, throw it into a colander and give it a good rinse. Then pat the kale leaves dry with a paper towel to remove as much excess moisture as you can. Pull of any thick stems left on the kale leaves. After that, we like to massage a little bit of olive oil into the kale. This really softens the leaves and helps bring out the flavors.

Did you make this?

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