Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad featuring tender sautéed chicken breasts, crisp spring mix lettuce, juicy blackberries, creamy avocado, crunchy walnuts, and a tangy homemade blackberry balsamic dressing. Perfect for a healthy and flavorful meal that combines sweet, savory, and tangy notes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad
- ½ pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 6 cups spring mix lettuce
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 medium avocado, sliced
- ¼ cup red onion, sliced
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
For the Dressing
- ½ cup fresh blackberries
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook chicken. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the boneless, skinless chicken breasts until fully cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side depending on thickness. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safety.
- Rest chicken. Remove the chicken from the skillet and tent loosely with foil. Let it rest for about 5 minutes while preparing the rest of the salad to retain juices.
- Assemble salad base. In a large bowl, add the spring mix lettuce as the base. Arrange the fresh blackberries, sliced avocado, red onion, and chopped walnuts evenly on top of the greens.
- Make dressing. In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup fresh blackberries, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and soy sauce. Use a fork to mash the blackberries to release their juices, then whisk thoroughly to emulsify the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Slice chicken and dress salad. Thinly slice the rested chicken breasts and arrange over the prepared salad. Drizzle the blackberry balsamic dressing evenly on top.
- Serve immediately. Toss lightly if desired and serve the salad fresh for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use fresh blackberries for the best flavor and juice release in the dressing.
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds if preferred.
- If soy sauce is a concern for sodium, use a low-sodium version or omit it altogether.
- For a more intense flavor, marinate the chicken briefly in a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil before cooking.
- This salad is best served immediately; the dressing can cause greens to wilt if left too long.
Keywords: blackberry chicken salad, balsamic chicken salad, spring mix salad with chicken, healthy chicken salad, berry vinaigrette salad
