Description
Fresh, crisp chicken apple walnut salad combines succulent chicken, sweet apple slices, and crunchy walnuts over mixed greens. Mediterranean-inspired ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a light yet satisfying meal that delights your palate with each refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups spinach or spring mix greens
- ½ cup grilled chicken breast, cubed
- ⅓ cup candied walnuts
- ½ cup apple, cubed
- ½ cup red seedless grapes, sliced in half
Complementary Ingredients:
- 1 stalk celery, sliced
- 1 tablespoon red onion, finely diced
Vinaigrette Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ shallot, minced
- 2 tablespoons honey or agave
- 2 tablespoons apple sauce
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
Instructions
- Arrange a bed of crisp, verdant greens on a spacious serving platter or in a generous mixing bowl.
- Layer sliced grilled chicken breast over the greens, creating an appealing protein foundation.
- Scatter freshly diced apples, halved grapes, thinly sliced celery, and delicate rings of red onion across the salad surface.
- Sprinkle candied walnuts generously, providing a delightful crunch and sweet-nutty dimension.
- For the dressing, combine olive oil (60 milliliters or 2 fluid ounces), apple cider vinegar (30 milliliters or 1 fluid ounce), honey (15 milliliters or 0.5 fluid ounces), Dijon mustard (10 milliliters or 0.33 fluid ounces), salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Whisk dressing ingredients vigorously until thoroughly blended and slightly emulsified, or alternatively, pulse in a food processor for a smoother consistency.
- Immediately before serving, drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the salad, ensuring each ingredient is lightly coated.
- Serve promptly to maintain the greens’ crispness and the ingredients’ optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Customize this salad by swapping out mixed greens for baby spinach or arugula for a peppery twist.
- Meal prep tip: Keep dressing and salad ingredients separate until ready to serve to maintain maximum crunch and freshness.
- Candied walnuts can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to a week, adding convenient crunch to multiple meals.
- Choose crisp, tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of flavor and texture in this salad.
- Transform leftovers by quickly chopping chicken and mixing with remaining dressing as a quick sandwich or wrap filling the next day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 40mg