Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Salad (Printable Version)
Protein-packed Mediterranean salad featuring tender chicken, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, crisp vegetables, and creamy feta cheese.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced (about 2 medium breasts)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and sliced
04 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or romaine)
→ Cheese
07 - 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Nuts
08 - 1/4 cup pine nuts or slivered almonds, toasted (optional)
→ Dressing
09 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato oil (reserved from jar)
11 - 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomato oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, layer the mixed greens, shredded chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, diced cucumber, and thinly sliced red onion.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Scatter crumbled feta cheese and toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds over the top. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The dressing uses oil straight from the sun dried tomato jar, so every drop of flavor earns its place.
- It comes together in the time it takes to scroll through your phone, which makes it the ultimate weeknight rescue.
02 -
- Do not dress the salad more than two hours ahead or the greens will weep and collapse into sadness.
- Toasting pine nuts in a dry pan takes about two minutes and burns in three, so stand there and shake the pan the entire time.
03 -
- The oil inside the sun dried tomato jar is liquid gold, never pour it down the drain.
- Letting the dressing sit for ten minutes before using it transforms the raw garlic from harsh to mellow and sweet.