Your life simply cannot be complete without this Chicken Caprese Salad. This salad is bursting with flavor! Tender and juicy balsamic chicken, over a bed of lettuce, tomato, avocado, mozzarella, and fresh basil, finished with a balsamic reduction. For the same delicious flavors, check out my Easy Chicken Caprese Sandwich and Caprese Hasselback Chicken, too!
Chicken Caprese Salad
The first time I was ever served a Caprese salad I remember thinking “how have I gone my whole life without this?”. A traditional Caprese salad is just tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It is mind-blowingly simple but so incredibly delicious. Over the years I have taken to adding my own spin on the traditional version and it just keeps getting better. So, I just have to share it with you! I love the flavors so much, I also have a Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad, Balsamic Chicken with Caprese Salsa and Caprese Hasselback Chicken.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken: Look for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They will marinate for a few minutes in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. It is the main protein in the salad. If preferred, you could use grilled tofu, shrimp, or rotisserie chicken instead.
- Balsamic Vinegar: You will use balsamic vinegar for both the marinade and the balsamic reduction.
- Mozzarella: Mozzarella pearls tie in the Caprese theme. If you feel motivated, make homemade mozzarella! Or, if you can’t find mozzarella pearls, you could use cubed fresh mozzarella, burrata, or even feta for a twist.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Tomatoes bring a fresh, juicy pop of sweetness to the salad. If you don’t have cherry tomatoes, use grape tomatoes, diced regular tomatoes, or roasted red peppers.
- Basil Leaves: For the signature fresh and herby flavor, slice up some fresh basil leaves. If you don’t have fresh basil, swap for fresh parsley, arugula, or a pinch of dried basil.
- Lettuce: For the base of the salad, use your favorite greens or mixed greens.
How To Store Chicken Caprese Salad
Store the chicken, salad ingredients, and dressings in separate containers to keep everything fresh. Refrigerate the chicken for 3–4 days, dressings for up to 1 week, and salad greens for 1–2 days (with a paper towel to absorb moisture). Assemble the salad just before serving to avoid sogginess.
More Delicious Salads
Chicken Caprese Salad
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium lemon, juiced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to an even thickness (about ¼-inch thick)
Dressing
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
Salad
- 5 cups Iceberg lettuce, washed and dried
- 1 medium avocado, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup mini mozzarella pearls
- ¼ cup basil leaves, thinly sliced
Instructions
Chicken
- In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Place the chicken into a bowl with the olive oil mixture. Let the chicken marinate at room temperature for approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and cook undisturbed for 3-5 minutes. Flip and repeat with the opposite side, cooking until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from heat.
- Once cooled, slice each chicken breast into 1-inch strips. Set aside.
Dressing
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low, stirring occasionally until the liquid is reduced by half. The balsamic reduction should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the honey. Set aside.
- In a separate small bowl, combine olive oil and salt and pepper. Set aside.
Salad
- To a large bowl, add lettuce, sliced avocado, tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves.
- Top with sliced chicken and both dressings (the balsamic reduction and oil mixture).
- Serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
how much honey do you need to add in?