Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Salad (Printable)
Protein-packed Mediterranean salad with tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and creamy feta in tangy balsamic dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
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)
→ Dairy
07 - 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Nuts
08 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds (optional)
→ Dressing
09 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil (reserved from jar)
11 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Prepare:
01 - In a small bowl, whisk together the 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, combine the mixed greens, shredded chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, diced cucumber, and red onion.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Scatter the crumbled feta cheese and toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds over the top.
05 - Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dressing uses the oil straight from the sun dried tomato jar, so nothing goes to waste and every drop tastes incredible.
- It comes together in under thirty minutes with zero cooking if you start with leftover or rotisserie chicken.
- The combination of salty feta, sweet cherry tomatoes, and tangy balsamic hits every flavor note you want without being complicated.
02 -
- Do not skip draining the sun dried tomatoes well, because excess oil will make the dressing greasy instead of silky.
- Adding the dressing right before serving keeps the greens crisp, so if you are prepping ahead, store the dressing separately.
03 -
- Save every drop of that flavored oil from the sun dried tomato jar because it makes an incredible quick marinade for chicken or a bread dipping oil on its own.
- Toast the nuts right before serving rather than ahead of time, because the warmth and freshness makes a huge difference in aroma and texture.