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Mediterranean grilled chicken salad loaded with fresh veggies and finished off with a simple lemon Dijon dressing! Meal prep this healthy salad ahead of a busy week, or throw together for a quick, wholesome dinner. This easy and delicious meal comes together in just 20 minutes.

lemon dijon dressing being poured over mediterranean grilled chicken salad.

What You’ll Need to Make Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad

Chicken Breasts – Take either two large chicken breasts and slice then into four thin cutlets, or buy four pre-sliced chicken cutlets from the store. A thinner piece of chicken cooks up faster, and locks in more flavor than whole chicken breasts.

Dried Oregano – This dried herb is commonly found in mediterranean recipes, which is exactly why we use it on both the chicken and in the dressing. If you don’t have any dried oregano in your pantry, I highly recommend you get some. It adds tons of delicious flavor to this salad recipe!

Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice tastes incredible in this lemon Dijon dressing. However, if you don’t have lemon juice, you can replace it with an equal amount of red wine vinegar.

Feta Cheese – Feta is perfectly salty and creamy in this grilled chicken salad. Add as much to your salad as your heart (or tastebuds) desire. Or, if you don’t like feta, you can use crumbled goat cheese instead.

Fresh Mint – Just a little bit of fresh mint takes this easy salad recipe over the top! Mint is another ingredient commonly found in Mediterranean recipes, and brings out the fresh flavors in this dish. Never tried mint in a salad before? Just trust me, it’s so so so good! But if you simply don’t like mint, try fresh chopped parsley instead.

close-up image of mediterranean grilled chicken salad in a bowl.

How to Grill Chicken

  • Start by seasoning your chicken very well with salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and garlic powder.
  • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, or around 400° Fahrenheit.
  • Once preheated, place the chicken on the grill and leave to cook, without touching it, for about 4-6 minutes.
  • Then, flip each chicken breast, and cook for an additional 4-6 minutes on the other side.
  • Remove chicken from the grill and let rest on a cutting board while you prepare the rest of your grilled chicken salad.
mediterranean grilled chicken salad in a bowl with lemon dijon dressing on the side.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Dairy-Free: Either leave out the feta, or use your favorite non-dairy feta.I highly recommend this VioLife Vegan Feta – it’s delicious!

Make it Vegan: For a vegan summer salad recipe, take the dairy-free option above, then replace the grilled chicken with either grilled tofu or grilled cauliflower steaks.

overhead image of mediterranean grilled chicken salad in a bowl with fresh mint on the side.
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Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad

Mediterranean grilled chicken salad loaded with fresh veggies and finished off with a simple lemon Dijon dressing! Meal prep this healthy salad ahead of a busy week, or throw together for a quick, wholesome dinner. This easy and delicious meal comes together in just 20 minutes.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

For the chicken:

  • 1-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut or pounded thin
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

For the lemon Dijon dressing:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, or red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the salad:

  • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 English cucumber, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
  • Pat chicken breasts dry with a paper towel, then season with the salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and onion powder.
  • Grill 4-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through, then let rest on a cutting board while you prepare the rest of the salad.
    grilled chicken on a plate
  • Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
    all salad ingredients in a bowl
  • Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl and toss. Then, slice your chicken and add to the salad. Finish off the salad with a drizzle of dressing, then serve immediately.
    lemon dijon dressing whisked together in a measuring cup

Notes

  • If not eating right away, prepare the salad without the dressing, then add the dressing right before serving.
  • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

    Fresh and seasonal spring mix salad with blueberries, almonds, feta cheese, and a simple honey vinaigrette! The perfect warm-weather lunch or side dish, loaded with healthy ingredients.

    Overhead image of spring mix salad in a bowl with water on the side.

    What You’ll Need To Make Spring Mix Salad

    Spring Mix Lettuce – Spring mix is a simple assortment of dark leafy greens. Each brand makes theirs a little differently, but every batch of spring mix is flavorful and super healthy. If you can’t find any spring mix, you can certainly turn this into a spinach salad instead, with 5 ounces of fresh baby spinach.

    Sliced Almonds – Every salad needs a little crunch! I love buttery, lightly toasted sliced almonds in my spring mix salad. However, if you don’t have any almonds, any chopped nut will go great in this recipe. Or for a nut-free version, add in some roasted sunflower seeds instead!

    Feta Cheese – Some salty feta cheese takes this spring mix salad over the top! Add as much to your salad as your heart desires. Or, if you don’t have any feta, a nice soft goat cheese also tastes great here. And for a vegan or dairy-free option, simply leave the cheese out of the salad – still super tasty!

    Honey – A touch of honey balances out the otherwise extremely savory vinaigrette. With plenty of balsamic vinegar, the vinaigrette needs a little sweetness to help mellow it out. And for a vegan version, replace the honey with two tablespoons of maple syrup.

    Honey vinaigrette being poured over spring mix salad.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Dress the salad right before serving! Avoid storing this salad already dressed, since the vinaigrette will cause the spring mix to wilt. So if prepping ahead of time, keep the honey vinaigrette on the side until ready to eat.
    • Have fun with this healthy salad recipe! This simple lunch or side dish is a great way to use up any fresh veggies or berries you might have on-hand. Strawberries taste delicious in place of the blueberries, and a yellow onion can be subbed in for the red onion.

    Add Protein

    For a heartier meal, add any of the following:

    Spring Mix Salad with Blueberries, Almonds, Feta Cheese, and Honey Vinaigrette

    5 from 1 vote
    Recipe by Samantha Course: Sides, LunchDifficulty: Easy
    Servings

    6

    side servings
    Prep time

    5

    minutes
    Cooking time

    0

    minutes
    Total time

    5

    minutes

    Fresh and seasonal spring mix salad with blueberries, almonds, feta, and a simple honey vinaigrette! The perfect warm-weather lunch or side dish, loaded with healthy ingredients.

    Ingredients

    • 1 5-ounce package spring mix lettuce

    • 1 cup fresh blueberries

    • 1/2 English cucumber, chopped

    • 1/2 red onion, chopped

    • 1/2 cup sliced almonds

    • 1/4 cup feta cheese or goat cheese

    • For the honey vinaigrette:
    • 1/4 cup olive oil

    • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

    • 2 tablespoons honey

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

    Directions

    • Assemble all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
    • Make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a jar with a lid, secure the lid then shake until combined. Drizzle over spring mix salad and enjoy!

    Recipe Video

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    I found myself in a salad rut recently. While I LOVE my buffalo chicken salad, it was getting kinda old. So I switched things up this week and added this La Scala chopped salad into the rotation, along with another reader fave, the Jennifer Aniston salad. I simply assemble the salad, portion it into four containers, then store the dressing separately – and it’s been awesome having a quick and easy lunch ready to go every day of the week!

    If it’s good enough for a Kardashian, then it’s good enough for me! That’s my motto when it comes to this salad. While I haven’t personally been able to try the original La Scala chopped salad, I scoured the internet for the exact ingredients and recipe to bring you this incredibly delicious replica. It’s fresh, crunchy, full of flavor, and super easy to make. I just know you’re going to love it!

    overhead image of la scala chopped salad in a bowl with parmesan cheese on the side.

    What You’ll Need to Make the La Scala Chopped Salad

    Lettuce – Any crunchy lettuce will work! La Scala uses iceberg lettuce, but I prefer romaine (it has more flavor, in my opinion). Whatever lettuce you use, chop it into small pieces – just like La Scala does!

    Chickpeas – Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas, then add to your salad. Chickpeas offer a nice bit of protein to this easy lunch recipe. However, if you don’t have chickpeas, feel free to use any white bean you’d like. Navy beans or cannelloni beans would also taste great!

    Italian Salami – Chopped Italian salami adds so much flavor to La Scala’s chopped salad. I recommend using deli salami, and slicing it into strips. Or, you can buy a whole salami, then fully slice it yourself! For a vegetarian/meatless salad, simply leave the salami out.

    Mozzarella Cheese – Fresh shredded mozzarella is best, but pre-shredded works as well!

    dressing being poured over la scala chopped salad.

    Tips and Tricks

    • To meal prep this salad, simply make the salad and divide it between four containers. Then, whisk together the dressing and store separately. When ready to eat, pour dressing over your salad and enjoy!
    • This La Scala chopped salad is gluten-free! However, if you want a little extra crunch, a small handful of croutons makes a delicious addition to this salad.
    • This “Kardashian” salad recipe is also great for a crowd! Toss together in a big bowl, then bring it to your next potluck or dinner party. Everyone will go crazy for this hearty and oh-so satisfying side dish!
    la scala chopped salad in a bowl with a fork.

    Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Vegan: For a completely plant-based La Scala salad, simply leave out the salami and swap the cheeses for your favorite vegan cheeses. I love Myoko’s Cashew Milk Mozzarella and Violife’s Vegan Parmesan Cheese!

    Make it Dairy-Free: Similar to the vegan options, either swap out the cheeses for your favorite non-dairy cheeses, or leave them out of this salad recipe altogether.

    close-up overhead image of la scala chopped salad
    3.62 from 89 votes

    La Scala Chopped Salad aka “The Kardashian Salad”

    The La Scala chopped salad is widely known as a Kardashian favorite – and it’ll quickly become your favorite, too! Super quick and easy to make, with only a handful of simple ingredients. Make this famous Los Angeles salad at home in just 5 minutes.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 head lettuce, finely chopped (iceberg, romaine, etc.)
    • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
    • 1/2 pound Italian salami, chopped
    • 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese

    For the dressing:

    • 1/2 cup olive oil
    • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    • Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl and toss.
    • Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
    • Drizzle dressing over salad right before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

    A fresh, fully loaded taco salad complete with a creamy cilantro-lime dressing. Super quick and easy to make, this healthy lunch or dinner will become a fast-favorite!

    creamy cilantro lime dressing being poured over a taco salad.

    What You’ll Need to Make Taco Salad

    Ground Beef – Or really any ground meat will do the trick. I’ve made this recipe with ground turkey in place of the beef, and it was just as tasty! For a vegan/vegetarian taco salad, refer to the “make it vegan” section below.

    Taco Seasoning – A packet of taco seasoning will make your life a million times easier! It’s got all that taco flavor, in one convenient packet. It also adds some serious delicious flavor to the seasoned ground beef. I use and love the Siete Mild Taco Seasoning, it’s a total crowd-pleaser!

    Lettuce – I used romaine lettuce, but really any lettuce will work! I love a good, crunchy lettuce for added texture, such as romaine, iceberg, green leaf, or butter lettuce.

    Tortilla Chips – While optional, a small handful of crushed tortilla chips are what make this salad taste JUST like a taco. I recommend gluten-free Siete Tortilla Chips to keep it extra light and healthy.

    Sour Cream – For a dairy-free version, use your favorite dairy-free sour cream to make the cilantro-lime dressing. I used this Forager Dairy-Free Sour Cream and it was delicious! But if not dairy-free, go ahead and use a regular sour cream instead. Or, if you’re in a pinch, plain unsweetened greek yogurt would also work in its place.

    Cilantro – Tons of cilantro bring out the fresh flavors in this easy, healthy salad! Feel free to add more or less cilantro based on your preferences. Or, if not a fan of cilantro, you can totally leave it out of this recipe altogether.

    overhead close-up image of a taco salad with cilantro-lime dressing on top.

    Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Vegan/Vegetarian: For a healthy vegan salad recipe, use cooked lentils, crumbled tofu, or chopped mushrooms in place of the ground beef. Also, take the dairy-free option below for a vegan cilantro-lime dressing.

    Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free tortilla chips in your salad, most are already gluten-free, but it’s always good to double check!

    Make it Dairy-Free: Replace the sour cream in the dressing with your favorite non-dairy sour cream. I recommend Forager or Kite Hill dairy-free sour cream.

    Easy Healthy Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing

    5 from 1 vote
    Recipe by Samantha Course: Lunch, DinnerDifficulty: Easy
    Servings

    4

    servings
    Prep time

    10

    minutes
    Cooking time

    15

    minutes
    Total time

    25

    minutes

    A fresh, fully loaded taco salad complete with a creamy cilantro-lime dressing. Super quick and easy to make, this healthy lunch or dinner will become a fast-favorite!

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon avocado oil

    • 1 pound ground beef

    • pinch of salt

    • 1 packet taco seasoning

    • 1/4 cup water

    • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped

    • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

    • 2 avocados, sliced

    • 1/2 red onion, chopped

    • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

    • For the creamy cilantro-lime dressing:
    • 1/2 cup sour cream

    • 2 tablespoons lime juice

    • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

    • pinch of lime zest, optional but recommended

    Directions

    • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add in ground beef and a big pinch of salt.
    • Cook until beef is no longer pink, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Then, add in taco seasoning and water, reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce has thickened.
    • While beef cooks, make the cilantro-lime dressing by adding all ingredients to a bowl and whisking together until smooth.
    • Assemble salad with all ingredients, then top with seasoned ground beef and creamy cilantro-lime dressing.

    Recipe Video

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    Perfectly pan-seared steak atop a bed of fresh greens, finished off with a drizzle of tangy cilantro-lime vinaigrette! Super quick and easy, this steak salad comes together in under 15 minutes.

    Overhead image of steak salad on parchment paper with cilantro lime dressing on the side.

    What You’ll Need To Make This Steak Salad Recipe

    Flank Steak – Flank steak is a thin, lean cut of beef, and takes just a few minutes to cook. I love pan-searing flank steak, which gives it this incredible brown crust. We also keep the seasoning on the steak simple, since the rest of our salad is loaded with flavor. A generous sprinkling of salt and black pepper is all you’ll need, followed by a drizzle of avocado oil for cooking.

    Mixed Salad Greens – Feel free to use any type of salad greens you’d like! I love a good spring mix for my steak salad, but really any bed of greens would taste delicious. I’ve made this recipe with fresh arugula, chopped kale, and baby spinach – all of which turned out perfect!

    Cilantro – I’m one of those people who looooves cilantro. It’s perfectly fresh and flavorful. However, if you don’t like cilantro, you can use fresh parsley in its place. And whichever herb you use, make sure to reserve a little extra to top off your finished salad.

    cilantro lime dressing being poured over steak salad.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Have fun with this healthy lunch or dinner recipe! Add or remove any fresh herbs and/or veggies you’d like. This is also a great meal to use up any leftover produce you have lying around …before it goes bad!
    • Add this steak salad to your weekly meal prep! The best way to prep this recipe is to cook the steak and assemble your salads, then store them separately from your dressing. When ready to eat, toss in the cilantro lime vinaigrette and enjoy!
    • If marinated steak is more your thing, then marinate the flank steak in half of the cilantro lime vinaigrette for 30 minutes before cooking. If you have the time, this extra step truly takes this recipe to the next level!
    close-up image of steak salad.

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Vegan/Vegetarian: Replace the flank steak with either cauliflower steaks or tofu steaks for an easy, healthy vegan meal.

    Add Cheese: If not dairy-free, sprinkle a small handful of crumbled queso fresco, or herby goat cheese into this steak salad!

    Steak Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

    0 from 0 votes
    Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
    Servings

    4

    servings
    Prep time

    10

    minutes
    Cooking time

    5

    minutes
    Total time

    15

    minutes

    Perfectly pan-seared steak atop a bed of fresh greens, finished off with a drizzle of tangy cilantro-lime vinaigrette! Super quick and easy, this steak salad comes together in under 15 minutes.

    Ingredients

    • For the steak:
    • 1 pound flank steak

    • 1 teaspoon salt

    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil, or any high-heat oil

    • For the salad:
    • 6 cups mixed salad greens

    • 1 ear sweet corn, sliced off the cob

    • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

    • 1 avocado, sliced

    • 1/2 English cucumber, chopped

    • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

    • small handful fresh cilantro, chopped

    • For the cilantro-lime vinaigrette:
    • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

    • 1/2 cup olive oil

    • 2 limes, juiced

    • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

    • 1 garlic clove, peeled

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    Directions

    • Pat steak dry with a paper towel and season on both sides with salt and pepper, then drizzle steak in avocado oil.
    • Place steak in a hot pan, and cook about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare steak.
    • Remove steak from pan and let rest on a cutting board for at least 10 minutes, before thinly slicing against the grain.
    • Make the cilantro lime dressing by adding all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
    • Make the cilantro lime dressing by adding all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

    Recipe Video

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    Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

    Like this recipe?

    Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest