Quick Pan-Seared Chicken Salad (Printable)

Juicy seared chicken atop crisp greens with a flavorful dressing for a light and fresh dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (10.5 oz total)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
04 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
05 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
06 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Salad Greens

07 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, baby spinach, romaine)
08 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
10 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
11 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Dressing

12 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
13 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - ½ teaspoon honey
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Evenly season both sides with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from skillet and allow to rest for 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - While chicken rests, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and optional feta cheese. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to coat evenly.
05 - Slice the rested chicken thinly and arrange atop the dressed greens. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The warm chicken against cool crisp greens creates that perfect hot and cold contrast that makes salads actually exciting
  • It comes together in under 25 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant where they actually care about lunch
02 -
  • Most people ruin chicken salad by serving cold chicken on cold greens but the contrast of warm meat against crisp vegetables is what makes this work
  • The chicken will keep cooking slightly after you remove it from the pan so pull it at 160°F and let carryover cooking bring it to 165°F
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts are uneven thickness pound the thicker parts gently so they cook evenly instead of having dry ends and raw middles
  • Let the skillet heat up for a full 2 minutes before adding oil because a properly hot pan is 90% of getting good color on meat
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