This Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad brings together juicy blackberries, tender sautéed chicken, crunchy walnuts, creamy avocado, and a tangy-sweet homemade dressing for a meal that feels like summer in every bite. It’s fresh, vibrant, and so easy to fall in love with—especially when you want a salad that’s anything but ordinary!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with Color & Flavor: The combination of vibrant blackberries, creamy avocado, and crisp greens is as beautiful as it is delicious.
- Homemade Blackberry Balsamic Dressing: Every drop is a sweet, tangy, and totally irresistible upgrade from store-bought bottled versions.
- Protein-Packed & Satisfying: Tender sautéed chicken gives this salad the staying power of a full meal without ever feeling heavy.
- Perfect for Entertaining or Meal Prep: It’s impressive enough for guests and just as easy to assemble ahead for weekday lunches.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad is all about letting fresh, wholesome ingredients shine—each one plays its own delicious role in taste, texture, or eye-catching color. Gather a few basics, plus juicy blackberries, and you’re halfway to salad bliss!
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: These become tender and juicy when sautéed, making a hearty base for the salad.
- Spring mix lettuce: Provides a fresh, tender leafy backdrop that really lets the other flavors pop.
- Fresh blackberries: Sweet, tart, and impossibly juicy—these bring bursts of summer with every bite.
- Avocado: Creamy avocado adds a lush texture and healthy fat that balances the tang of the dressing.
- Red onion: Sliced thinly, red onion brings a gentle bite and a pop of vibrant color.
- Chopped walnuts: A crunchy touch for contrast and a boost of earthy flavor.
- Dijon mustard: Gives the dressing structure and just a hint of peppery warmth.
- Balsamic vinegar: Delivers the sweet tang that makes the blackberry dressing shine.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Keeps the dressing smooth, rich, and perfectly emulsified.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness and helps harmonize all the bold, tangy flavors in the dressing.
- Soy sauce: A clever twist for depth and savory umami in the vinaigrette.
- Salt & pepper: To taste—let these help everything else sparkle on your palate!
Variations
The beauty of this Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad is how easily it adapts to your cravings or what’s hanging out in your kitchen. Don’t be afraid to get creative—your version might just become your new favorite!
- Cheese, please: Crumble in a little goat cheese or feta for a creamy, tangy twist that makes every forkful even more decadent.
- Try it vegetarian: Swap out the chicken for roasted chickpeas or grilled halloumi for a satisfying meatless meal.
- Mix up the greens: Use arugula, baby spinach, or even kale for different flavor profiles and textures.
- Switch the fruit: Raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries can easily stand in for fresh blackberries if that’s what you have.
- Different nuts: Pecans, pistachios, or sliced almonds add their own signature crunch and nutty profile.
How to Make Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad
Step 1: Cook the Chicken
Start by seasoning your boneless, skinless chicken breasts with a light pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté the chicken in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until golden and cooked all the way through—about 5 minutes per side should do it, depending on thickness. Once done, cover with foil and let it rest; this keeps it extra juicy!
Step 2: Build the Salad Base
Add your spring mix lettuce to a large bowl or shallow salad platter. Arrange the fresh blackberries, avocado slices, red onion, and chopped walnuts over the top. Don’t worry about being too precise—the rustic look is gorgeous!
Step 3: Make the Blackberry Balsamic Dressing
In a medium bowl, combine even more juicy blackberries, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, and soy sauce. Mash the berries with a fork to release all their sweet-tart juices, then whisk everything until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper until it’s just right.
Step 4: Slice the Chicken & Assemble
Once your chicken has rested, slice it thinly and place it over the salad. Pour the luscious blackberry balsamic dressing generously over everything. Serve immediately, and get ready for rave reviews!
Pro Tips for Making Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad
- Cast Iron Magic: A cast iron skillet gets your chicken beautifully browned and locks in all that savory flavor—totally worth using if you have one!
- Rest for Juiciness: Letting the cooked chicken rest under foil before slicing keeps it ultra-moist, so you don’t lose those precious juices when cutting.
- Mash, Don’t Puree: For the dressing, don’t over-blend the blackberries—mashing with a fork gives you lovely bits of berry that pop with each drizzle.
- Freshest Produce Possible: This salad truly shines when your greens, blackberries, and avocado are at peak freshness for a vivid, flavorful finish.
How to Serve Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad
Garnishes
To finish your Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad, scatter a handful of extra blackberries or chopped walnuts on top. A sprinkle of fresh cracked pepper or crumble of tangy goat cheese makes it look and taste ultra-special—restaurant quality with zero fuss.
Side Dishes
This salad is a star all on its own, but you can serve it with a crusty baguette, warm whole-grain rolls, or even a bowl of chilled soup for a complete and satisfying meal. A sparkling water spritz or light white wine pairs perfectly for a summery touch.
Creative Ways to Present
Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad is gorgeous arranged on a large platter for sharing, but it’s also perfect in meal-prep jars for a grab-and-go lunch. For a fun twist, try layering the salad in wide glasses or serving as lettuce wraps for an elegant appetizer or party platter.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, store the chicken, salad base, and dressing separately in airtight containers in the fridge. This keeps the greens from wilting and ensures everything tastes freshly made for up to two days.
Freezing
Freezing isn’t recommended for this salad, as the fresh greens and blackberries will lose their texture once thawed. However, you can freeze cooked chicken by itself for up to three months and thaw when ready to use!
Reheating
To reheat, simply warm the sliced chicken gently in a skillet or microwave until just heated through. Add it to the fresh salad base and drizzle with your make-ahead blackberry balsamic dressing for a speedy, satisfying repeat.
FAQs
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Can I make Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can cook the chicken and prepare the dressing up to two days ahead. Store each component separately, then assemble and dress the salad just before serving for the freshest results.
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What other fruits work if I can’t find blackberries?
Raspberries, blueberries, or sliced strawberries are fantastic swaps and keep the salad just as colorful and flavorful—use whatever’s fresh and in season for the best taste!
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Can I grill the chicken instead of sautéing?
Yes! Grilling adds a lovely smoky flavor and works beautifully with the blackberry balsamic dressing. Just be sure to cook the chicken until it’s fully done, then let it rest before slicing.
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Is Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad gluten-free?
As written, this recipe is naturally gluten-free except for the soy sauce in the dressing—just swap with tamari or coconut aminos to make it completely gluten-free.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a meal that tastes like sunshine and makes every bite a little celebration, Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad is calling your name. Give it a try—your salad game is about to get a major glow-up!
Print
Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course, Salad
- Method: Saute, Toss
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad is a delightful mix of flavors and textures, featuring tender chicken, fresh blackberries, creamy avocado, and crunchy walnuts, all tossed in a tangy blackberry balsamic dressing.
Ingredients
Salad
- 1/2 pound boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
- 6 cups spring mix lettuce
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 medium avocado, sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Dressing
- 1/2 cup fresh blackberries
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Saute the Chicken: Cook chicken in a skillet until fully done. Let rest.
- Prepare the Salad: Mix lettuce, blackberries, avocado, onion, and walnuts in a bowl.
- Make the Dressing: Mash blackberries, mix with mustard, vinegar, oil, honey, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble: Slice chicken, place on salad, and drizzle with dressing. Serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
