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Fresh Blackberry Chicken Salad with grilled chicken, avocado, walnuts, red onion, and mixed greens in a white bowl.
Layla

Blackberry Chicken Salad

Juicy grilled chicken, sweet-tart blackberries, and creamy goat cheese come together with a honey-balsamic drizzle for a stunning summer salad.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 485

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to even thickness
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.75 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
For the Blackberry Dressing
  • 6 oz fresh blackberries divided
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
For the Salad
  • 8 cups mixed salad greens such as baby spinach and arugula
  • 4 oz goat cheese crumbled
  • 0.5 cup toasted pecans roughly chopped
  • 0.25 cup red onion thinly sliced

Equipment

  • Grill Pan or Outdoor Grill
  • Small saucepan
  • Tongs

Method
 

Prep the Chicken
  1. Pat chicken dry and pound to an even 3/4-inch thickness. Brush with olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature while you make the dressing.
Make the Dressing
  1. Set aside 1/2 cup whole blackberries for garnish. In a small saucepan, combine remaining blackberries, balsamic vinegar, and honey. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook 4-5 minutes, mashing berries with a spoon, until syrupy and reduced by half. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing to extract all liquid. Discard seeds.
  2. Whisk Dijon mustard into the warm blackberry syrup, then slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly until emulsified. Season with a pinch of salt. Set aside to cool slightly.
Cook and Assemble
  1. Heat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high. Grill chicken 5-6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Transfer to a cutting board and rest 5 minutes, then slice against the grain into 1/2-inch strips.
  2. In a large bowl, toss greens with about half the dressing. Arrange on a platter or divide among plates. Top with sliced chicken, reserved blackberries, crumbled goat cheese, toasted pecans, and red onion. Drizzle with remaining dressing and serve immediately.

Notes

For the juiciest chicken, don't skip the resting step - it allows juices to redistribute instead of running out onto your cutting board. No fresh blackberries? Frozen work in a pinch; just thaw and drain excess liquid before starting the dressing. The dressing keeps refrigerated for 3 days; bring to room temperature and whisk before using.