Balsamic Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad is a quick and easy meal in a salad!
Seared chicken, fresh mozzarella and tomato halves, creamy avocado slices and shredded basil leaves are drizzled with an incredible balsamic dressing that doubles as a marinade for the ultimate salad! Balsamic Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad… Now THIS was and still is a family favourite!
With so many Caprese recipes making their way onto Cafe Delites, this salad has been a long time coming. My list of recipes is getting so out of control, I’ve made the extremely difficult decision to STAHP adding to it, and actually start COOKING from it. Best. Decision. Ever. And I have a feeling this salad is going to be your next favourite. Because who doesn’t love Balsamic Chicken AND Caprese in the one sentence?
How To Make The Best Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad
Traditionally, Caprese salads do not contain any balsamic vinegar OR avocados or chicken, but today, however, that has changed to make way for this bowl of epic flavours.
Taking some inspiration from this Balsamic Glazed Caprese Chicken, you’re first going to marinade your chicken:
- You only need to use 4 tablespoons of the balsamic marinade.
- You’re going to reserve the remaining dressing to use later in the refrigerator! No, we don’t use the OLD marinade as a dressing. We use the FRESH UNTOUCHED marinade.
- Then, you’re going to sear said chicken until crispy on the edges and golden. For this salad I used boneless, skinless thighs, BUT you can use breasts if you wish.
After that, the salad comes together so FAST. Throw all ingredients into a bowl and dress with the reserved dressing.
Juicy, golden balsamic chicken………fresh grape or cherry tomatoes……fresh baby mozzarella balls (or bocconcini).
Substitutions
- You can use cherry tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes, or use chopped Roma tomatoes.
- Fresh mozzarella balls are best in this. You can use any size if you can’t find mini.
- Romaine, butter, ice berg or spinach are all fine to use as the base.
Say hello to your new favourite salad.
If you love this salad, you’ll love this BLT Balsamic Chicken Avocado & Feta Salad OR this Grilled Lemon Herb Mediterranean Chicken Salad!
WATCH THIS Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad BEING MADE RIGHT HERE!
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Weight Watchers Smart Points: 8 per serve
ORIGINAL RECIPE BY KARINA, CAFEDELITES ©
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (30 mL) olive oil
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 chicken thigh fillets, skin removed (no bone)*
- 5 cups Romaine, (or cos) lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup mini mozzarella / bocconcini cheese balls
- 1/4 cup basil leaves, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper, to season
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Whisk marinade ingredients together to combine. Place chicken into a shallow dish; pour 4 tablespoons of the dressing / marinade onto the chicken and stir around to evenly coat chicken. Reserve the untouched marinade to use as a dressing.
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Heat about one teaspoon of oil in a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat and grill or sear chicken fillets on each side until golden, crispy and cooked through. Once chicken is cooked, set aside and allow to rest.
-
Slice chicken into strips and prepare salad with lettuce, avocado slices, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and chicken. Top with basil strips; drizzle with the remaining dressing; season with salt and pepper; serve.
*Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs
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Karen L says
This was a refreshing health salad. I just loved it. One question. I used skinless chicken breast cut into strips instead of thighs. I don’t like dark meat or skin. Would this make the calories less?
Thank you?
Karina says
Great idea! I like to use myfitnesspal.com for any nutritional information. I hope you can find what you are looking for. Thank you so much for choosing one of my recipes!! XO
Tanya says
How long should the chicken marinate? Do you recommend a different marinade time if you use bonesless, skinless thighs vs breast?
Thank you
Karina says
I like to marinate my chicken as long as I can but at least 2 to 4 hours. The longer the marinate the more flavor it has.
Hope says
Your salads are absolutely delicious!! Thank you for this recipe, made it tonight and am immediately adding it to my meal rotation!
Karina says
Oh thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing and following along with me!
Alyssa says
Súper east and tasty. I get full before I finish one! Next time I would double the dressing and get more avocados involved!
Karina says
Great idea and thank you for the tips! Thanks so much for following along with me and sharing!!
Julia says
why aren’t there posting links, such as pinterest, on your pages, except to visit your page? I would like to pinch your recipe and post it to my pinterest boards so I can use it later. How do I do that?
Karina says
I apologize for the broken links. I am not sure why or how but they were turned off for a short period of time. They should all be back on now and you should be able to pin on your page or share any social media recipe that you like. Thank you so much for these shares and for following along with me! I really appreciate it! XO
Olivia says
I made this for the first time last night and it was AMAZING. It helps that it was crazy easy and I am not the best when it comes to cooking. This is going to be a staple here over the summer. Thanks for the delicious recipe!!
Karina says
That sounds great! I am so glad that you like it! Thank you so much for sharing!
Betty C says
This was an easy and delicious summer dinner. The chicken was wonderful. This will be on our regular dinner rotation!
Aly says
So so so so yummy!!! Thanks for my favorite new summer recipe! 🙂
Eileen says
Yum! This is delicious and helped us weather the heat wave in the Bay area. Great combination of flavors, and the chicken is quick to cook in a grill-pan on the stovetop. The marinade/dressing is wonderful.
Ana says
Delicious salad! The marination of the chicken is spot on. Thank you for this healthy recipe!
Snibb says
Made this twice, both to great reviews. Its an easy and quick salad, with very good tasting chicken. I love it and its on the family favorites list. Thanks for sharing.
Michelle Wiggins says
OMG!!! Made this recipe for dinner this evening, and it was TO DIE FOR!!! I read the blog where it said that this will be your FAVORITE Caprese chicken salad, and I was like, okay…whatever…I like all of the ingredients, so I’m sure it will be fine…THEN… I tasted this gem…WOW!! You weren’t kidding when you said it would be my favorite chicken caprese salad!! DELICIOUS! Thank you so much for this delectable recipe!! Can’t wait to try others!!
Laura Bonthond says
I made this for dinner and my husband loved !
The dressing was delicious ! I’m looking forward for new recipes! This is a definite keeper!
Helen Tzouganatos/Hungry & Fussy says
I Love balsamic with chicken. Will add this to the menu for our next Sunday BBQ. All my friends are on lean and clean summer readiness diets, they will love it!! Thank you.
Naomi Petillo says
Looks really yummy & healthy! I will make this dish.
Karina says
I hope you like it Naomi!
Connie says
saw this on FB last week and served it a gathering of friends on last Friday night. Everyone loved it and wanted the recipe.
Jeneane Grimsley says
Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad looks wonderful, can’t wait to have it.
Karina says
I hope you like it Jeneane!
Mari says
How long does the chicken marinate? This sounds delicious but I don’t want to mess it up!
Karina says
Hi Mari! I don’t marinade mine! But for a deeper flavour, any time frame over 2 hours is perfect. Even over night if you have the time to do so!
Ann Pierce says
This is GORGEOUS!!! What a beautiful and delicious lunch!
Kathy Barcanic says
Question, is the sliced basil 1/4 cup? It only says 1/4 basil leaves thinly sliced. Thanks much and congrats on the new partner in crime! Love the recipes please keep them coming!
Karina says
Hi Kathy! Thank you for pointing that out! All fixed 🙂 And thank you re my partner in crime! Lol! I love that!