Greek chicken salad

Juicy grilled Greek chicken salad with avocado and Kalamata olives is a delicious, healthy and easy lunch or dinner recipe.

Greek salad is a constant in our lives. I make it pretty much twice a week without fail as an easy side dish to grilled chicken, steak or pork and it makes the most delicious lunch served with toasted pita bread. I love adding grilled chicken to Greek salad as a way to add protein and make it a little more substantial which makes it perfect as an easy lunch or casual dinner. The easy Greek dressing doubles up as a marinade for the chicken and is delicious over the colorful salad.

How to make Greek chicken salad

1. Make the dressing/marinade: Combine olive oil, dried oregano, lemon juice (you can add red wine vinegar as well) and crushed garlic. Season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
2. Prepare the chicken: Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts on a board in front of you. Place you hand flat on top of the chicken breast and carefully slice each breast in half, creating two thin cutlets. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken and allow to marinade for at least 10 minutes but up to 24 hours, covered in the fridge.
3. Cook the chicken: Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until cooked through and golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and allow to rest before slicing.
4. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl or platter, add lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber and avocado and Kalamata olives (you can add thinly sliced red onion and chunks of bell pepper too) then add the chicken and pour over the dressing.

Can Greek chicken salad be made ahead?

You can marinade the chicken up to 24 hours before cooking and assemble the salad without the avocado up to 12 hours in advance. Add the cooked chicken, avocado and dressing right before serving.

How to make Greek salad dressing

Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar (optional), finely minced garlic and dried oregano until emulsified. You can also add the ingredients to a jar and shake until well mixed. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Greek dressing can be used to dress almost any type of salad and makes a great marinade for chicken, beef or pork.

Love Greek recipes? Try these:

1. Greek pork souvlaki 
2. Slow-roasted Greek lamb
3. Easy baked Greek chicken with potatoes
4. Easy Greek Tzatziki
5. Greek meatballs with feta cheese
6. Greek salad with fried feta cheese