Ultimate Balsamic Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad: A Fresh, Easy, and Flavorful Meal
Discover the vibrant and satisfying **Balsamic Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad**, a culinary delight that perfectly blends fresh ingredients with a burst of Mediterranean flavors. This salad isn’t just a side dish; it’s a complete, quick, and incredibly easy meal designed to tantalize your taste buds. Imagine succulent seared chicken, creamy avocado slices, and the classic duo of fresh mozzarella and juicy tomato halves, all elevated by fragrant shredded basil leaves. The secret weapon? An exceptional balsamic dressing that ingeniously doubles as a marinade, infusing every bite with unparalleled depth and zest for the ultimate salad experience.
This Balsamic Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad has long been a cherished favorite in countless homes, including ours. Its vibrant colors, diverse textures, and harmonious flavors make it an instant classic that families will request again and again. It strikes the perfect balance between indulgence and health, offering a satisfying meal that feels light yet fulfilling.
Here at Cafe Delites, we have a deep appreciation for the timeless charm of Caprese, evident in popular recipes like our Caprese Grilled Cheese and Grilled Chicken Caprese with Buffalo Mozzarella. This particular salad, however, represents a truly inspired evolution of the Caprese concept, one that we’ve been eager to share. My growing list of recipe ideas became almost overwhelming, prompting a much-needed decision: to pause adding new concepts and instead focus on bringing these delicious creations to life. And what a fantastic decision it turned out to be! We are confident that this Balsamic Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad will swiftly become your next go-to dish, because who can resist the irresistible combination of Balsamic Chicken and Caprese, especially when enhanced with creamy avocado, all in one glorious bowl?
Crafting the Best Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad: A Step-by-Step Guide
While traditional Caprese salads are known for their simplicity—featuring just fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil, usually with a drizzle of olive oil—this contemporary rendition boldly steps away from convention. Today, we embrace a flavorful fusion by introducing succulent balsamic chicken and rich, creamy avocado, transforming a classic into a truly epic meal brimming with bold and exciting tastes.
Our inspiration for this delectable salad draws heavily from the principles of our beloved Balsamic Glazed Caprese Chicken. The journey to this incredible salad begins with perfectly marinating your chicken, a crucial step that infuses it with immense flavor. The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatile balsamic mixture, which serves a dual purpose: it’s both a fantastic marinade for your chicken and a vibrant dressing for the assembled salad. This streamlines the process and ensures a cohesive flavor profile throughout the dish.
The Dual-Purpose Balsamic Marinade & Dressing
Creating the marinade and dressing is incredibly simple, yet it’s the cornerstone of this salad’s incredible taste. You’ll whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar for a touch of sweetness, minced garlic, dried basil, and salt. This mixture is not just for flavor; the vinegar and oil tenderize the chicken, while the sugar helps create a beautiful caramelization when seared.
- For marinating the chicken, you’ll need approximately 4 tablespoons of this flavorful balsamic mixture. Ensure the chicken is thoroughly coated to absorb all the delicious notes.
- It is absolutely vital to **reserve the remaining, untouched dressing in the refrigerator**! This is a critical food safety tip. We **do NOT** use the marinade that has come into contact with raw chicken as a dressing for the finished salad. Instead, we use the *fresh, uncontaminated* portion of the mixture. This ensures your salad is not only delicious but also safe to eat.
- Once marinated, you’re going to sear the chicken until it boasts beautifully crispy, golden edges and is cooked through to perfection. For this particular salad, we find boneless, skinless chicken thighs offer fantastic juiciness and flavor. However, if you prefer, boneless, skinless chicken breasts can also be used, though they may require slightly less cooking time to remain tender.
Assembling Your Salad: Quick and Effortless
After your chicken is perfectly seared and rested, the rest of the salad comes together remarkably fast. This makes it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or when you need a vibrant meal in a hurry. Simply combine all your fresh ingredients in a large bowl. This includes crisp Romaine lettuce, creamy avocado slices, the sweet burst of cherry or grape tomatoes, and delicate fresh mozzarella balls. Once all components are in the bowl, generously drizzle everything with the reserved balsamic dressing. A final seasoning of salt and pepper ties all the flavors together, creating a symphony of taste and texture.
Each spoonful of this salad offers a delightful medley: the savory, juicy, and golden balsamic chicken harmonizes with the refreshing sweetness of fresh grape or cherry tomatoes. You’ll also encounter the tender, milky texture of fresh baby mozzarella balls (also known as bocconcini), and the rich, smooth creaminess of avocado, all intertwined with the aromatic kick of fresh basil.
Customizing Your Caprese Salad: Endless Possibilities
One of the best aspects of this Balsamic Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad is its adaptability. While the core recipe is a winner, don’t hesitate to make it your own with simple substitutions and additions to suit your taste or what you have on hand.
Ingredient Substitutions:
- Tomatoes: Feel free to use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, which offer a delightful sweetness and pop. If you prefer larger slices or have them readily available, chopped Roma tomatoes also work wonderfully, providing a meatier texture.
- Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella balls are truly the star here, offering a delicate texture and milky flavor that contrasts beautifully with the other ingredients. While mini bocconcini are ideal for bite-sized pieces, any size of fresh mozzarella can be used. Simply slice or tear larger balls into appropriate sizes. Avoid pre-shredded mozzarella, as its texture and flavor won’t be the same.
- Greens: The base of your salad is flexible. Romaine lettuce provides a crisp foundation, but butter lettuce, tender spinach, or even classic iceberg lettuce can be used, each offering a slightly different texture and mild flavor to complement the bold ingredients. For a more peppery kick, consider adding arugula.
Additional Toppings and Variations:
- Extra Veggies: Enhance the nutritional value and crunch with thinly sliced red onion, cucumber, bell peppers (yellow or orange for color), or even grilled corn.
- Herbs & Spices: Beyond basil, a sprinkle of fresh oregano or a touch of red pepper flakes can add an extra layer of flavor.
- Crunch Factor: Add texture with toasted pine nuts, chopped walnuts, or homemade croutons. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt just before serving can also elevate the flavors.
- Cheese Alternatives: While mozzarella is traditional, crumbled feta cheese can add a tangy, salty contrast, similar to our BLT Balsamic Chicken Avocado & Feta Salad.
- Protein Swap: If you’re looking for an alternative to chicken, grilled shrimp, pan-seared salmon, or even grilled halloumi cheese would be fantastic additions. For a vegetarian option, marinated and grilled tofu or chickpeas can be used.
With these endless possibilities, you can truly make this salad your signature dish, tailored perfectly to your preferences and dietary needs.
Prepare to say hello to your new favorite salad – a meal that combines ease, health, and gourmet flavor in every forkful. It’s not just a salad; it’s an experience.
If you’ve fallen in love with this salad and are craving more fresh, flavorful chicken dishes, we highly recommend exploring our BLT Balsamic Chicken Avocado & Feta Salad for another exciting twist on familiar flavors, or our Grilled Lemon Herb Mediterranean Chicken Salad for a taste of the sun-drenched Mediterranean.
Watch How to Make This Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad!
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Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad
8 per serve ORIGINAL RECIPE BY KARINA, CAFEDELITES ©
Ingredients
Marinade/Dressing:
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Salad:
- 4 skinless chicken thigh fillets no bone
- 5 cups Romaine lettuce or cos lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella balls or bocconcini
- 1/4 cup basil leaves thinly sliced
- 1 pinch salt to season
- 1 pinch pepper to season
Instructions
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To begin, whisk all the marinade ingredients together in a bowl until well combined. Place your chosen chicken pieces into a shallow dish or a resealable bag. Pour approximately 4 tablespoons of the prepared dressing/marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. This initial marinade will infuse the chicken with incredible flavor. Crucially, set aside the remaining, untouched marinade. This portion will be used as the fresh dressing for your finished salad, preventing any cross-contamination.
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Next, heat about one teaspoon of olive oil in a large grill pan or a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, carefully place the marinated chicken fillets in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Grill or sear the chicken for about 5-7 minutes per side, or until it develops a beautiful golden-brown, crispy exterior and is thoroughly cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing. This resting period helps retain the chicken’s juices, ensuring it remains tender and succulent.
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Once the chicken has rested, slice it into uniform strips or bite-sized pieces. Now, it’s time to assemble your vibrant salad. In a large serving bowl, combine the crisp Romaine lettuce, tender avocado slices, halved cherry or grape tomatoes, and the delicate mozzarella cheese balls. Arrange the sliced chicken artfully over these fresh ingredients. Finish by scattering the thinly sliced fresh basil leaves over the top. Generously drizzle the entire salad with the reserved, fresh balsamic dressing. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
