I know most of you guys are freezing (sorry).
Finally moving to SoCal is REALLY paying off.
It’s been pretty warm here – 60s during the day. It feels hotter in the sun. Especially after the gym. This means a lot of salads for us. I’ve started marinating chicken in the morning while I make breakfast so it’s ready to grill by lunchtime. 10 minutes later, we have a fresh Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Salad for lunch!
Vegas’ favorite cuisine is Italian, so I made this marinade with her in mind. Actually, she requested pizza… but whatever. Oregano, garlic, and olive oil makes everything taste like Southern Europe, IMHO.
I always add a little lemon juice to marinades to brighten it up, but you could use a vinegar too. I went light on the red pepper flakes. Vegas doesn’t dig spicy food. I, on the other hand, am not happy unless my mouth isn on fire. I compromised by adding more flakes to mine once it was plated.
Get creative with your salad toppings! Using grilled veggies is a great way to “warm up” a salad. I grilled my peppers and onions the night before with our dinner and just reheated them quickly as a grilled the chicken for lunch.
[Tweet “Try this Mediterranean-inspired marinade for a quick and easy Grilled Chicken Salad! #fitfluential”]
Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Salad
For Chicken:
- 1 T olive oil
- Juice of large freshly squeezed lemon
- 1 T dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- ½ tsp red chili flakes (adjust to spice preference)
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 4 chicken breasts (~1.5 lbs)
For Salad:
- ½ red bell pepper, sliced
- ½ yellow bell pepper, sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- Lettuce
- 1 avocados, sliced
- Parsley and/or basil, to garnish
Combine marinade ingredients in large bowl or baggie. Pound chicken* and add to bowl. Squish around the chicken to fully coat. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 mins.
Heat grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with cooking spray (I use coconut oil) and grill chicken fillets on each side until golden and just cooked through. Once chicken is cooked, set aside and allow to rest.
Wipe pan clean with paper towel. Lightly coat the pan with cooking spray; grill pepper strips and onion until cooked to your preference.
Slice chicken and prepare salad. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and serve.
Makes 4 servings.
*Note: Pounding you chicken before cooking is optional. I prefer it pounded lightly to make it extra tender.
***
I love to get fancy, but some days a simple salad is marvelous.
Did you get a ton of snow this weekend?
What is your favorite salad topping?
Yay someone else out there is eating salads! I have some chicken marinating in the fridge right now for putting on the grill this evening… But reading your post made me realise I forgot the lemon… Bugger! 😛
Favourite salad topping – artichokes, guac and beets! Yum!
YAY SO CAL!!!
and (whispers) yay Austin 🙂
I do love living somewhere when it is 38 in the mornings and that is FRIGID!
tiny violin.
Right?! LOL!
Now that’s a sexy piece of chicken- looks yum! Your marinade is similar to my go-to, only I also add some fresh basil and crushed ginger. I’m with you about the warm climates- no hint of snow on my side of the world at all and I sure ain’t complaining ;)!
I do basil a lot too! Need to do ginger – good idea!
So I’m looking at 6 + inches of snow and happy that it’s going to be around 30 today so…not exactly salad weather but at least I know I can make this one as I love a good chicken salad 🙂 Enjoy the SUN!!!
I am convinced that the two things in cooking that can make the biggest difference in just about anything are lemon and salt. I bet that this chicken makes everything smell amazing.
On the subject of weather, because all the cool kids are talking about it, and I want to be cool, it was actually very palatable this weekend in Chicago. Like 20-30 degrees during the day. Compared to the weekend that we came home and it was 2-3, I will so take that.
I’m right there with you! Just not the weather… unless yon can ski. My happy ass in freezing on the slopes right now. 😉
That looks simple and easy my son would love it! You won’t be making any friends advertising your weather though 🙂
Why is grilled chicken just SOOO good???
I love simple grilled chicken salads, I eat them for lunch or dinner at least once a week (and in summer *here on the east coast* more like multiple days a week!) This marinade is going on my to try list. Actually, I think you can tell a lot about a restaurant by how much effort they put into their grilled chicken salad. Is it just on the menu as a sad looking “healthy” option, or is it fresh and flavorful?
I’m right with you! Same with a simple roasted chicken. If it’s good, you know that place it quality.
After the pic you posted on Facebook yesterday I had to see if you posted it. I wonder if I could try this and swap out the chicken for mushrooms? We stared at your salad last night assuming it was mushrooms but man they looked good!
Salads are not boring, well I don’t think mine are. Not sure I have a favorite, oh wait maybe one I’m posting this Friday (as soon as the hubby gives me the info for his part of the recipe) and I know it’s one you and Vegas will love, well maybe a way you can get her to LOVE salads! 😉
Totally! That salad on Facebook had both. They were delish!
It was so hot in Phoenix this week. I was lie NOOOOO please be a little cooler so it doesn’t feel like it’s summer forever. I kind of envied the people with snow. Good time to play hooky!
Oh, yum! I hear you on weather; I’m in Texas, and it’s my first “winter” here. LOVE! (And love salads. Love.)
This looks SO amazing! I can;t wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing
That looks delicious! I love the grilled peppers in the salad. Yum!
Thank you!
I’m jealois of your 60 degree weather. But next wk I will be on a cruise in the Caribbean so it won’t be too bad. I have done grilled veggies on a salad before but it does take a bit more prep. That why I usually just have them raw.
Whaaaat?! Lucky duck. Have a blast!!!
I like my salads like this piled high with all the veggies and chicken! This just makes me want to have summer so bad right now, I miss grilling outside!
Bacon Spread is my favorite topping. I miss it.
I’ll tell mom to send you some. 😉
I love the grilled peppers on a salad…really any grilled veggie is amazing on a salad, thanks for the reminder!!! I really need to get into the habit of marinating meats more. It’s such a great way to add flavor and it will prevent me from adding unnecessary cheese or dressing. I will be looking to your blog for healthy meal ideas, thank you!
Thanks! It’s funny – I rarely use much more than lemon for dressing anymore. I much prefer fresh veggies!
I’m the worst at cooking chicken, UNLESS it’s in a crock pot. Thank you for the inspiration. This looks really good!
I always cook mine until it’s a few degrees below done. Once you let it rest, it cooks the rest of the way.
I never get sick of salads. No matter the weather.
Hahahahah Vegas requested Pizza, she’s awesome. I’ve been gobbling down salads getting my summer body ready for my bikinis and I have to say I’m enjoying every bite. Usually this time of the year I’m frustrated and sad about my eating habits, but 2016 has sparked a love for rabbit food that I pray sticks around 🙂
Dude. Vegas always request pizza. We finally compromised on vacation – we went to a pizza place for her dinner and then walked next door for my sushi. In my defense, we’d also eaten pizza the night before. LOL!
It’s snowing in London too (which is super unusual!) and I’m loving sending my friends my bikini pics haha I think I’m going to skip winter every year from now on!
Unless you can ski – that’s totally worth the cold!
My mouth won’t stop watering!! This sounds amazing 🙂 Thanks for sharing on Marvelous in my Monday!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I LOVE salad with chicken. 🙂 And marinades always make meat better. :)) I actually really like snow, especially when we have a cozy house. 😀
I really do like snow too… when you have skis and a fire place to come home too. 🙂