Green Goddess Salad
This Green Goddess Salad features perfectly grilled chicken, crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and an herby dressing that is absolutely irresistible!
Salads can get a reputation for being boring. I get it, if you are eating the same old garden salad day after day that would get pretty boring. This salad is anything but boring! With its grilled chicken, crunchy vegetables and homemade herb dressing this salad is pure magic! You can also meal prep this salad for a healthy lunch option!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients for Green Goddess Salad
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients you will need for this recipe. For the complete list just keep scrolling. To make this healthy salad recipe you will need:
- Chicken: boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs work best for this recipe.
- Lettuce: romaine lettuce has a great crunch, but you can use a mix of your favorite varieties or a mixture of lettuce and cabbage if you wish.
- Tomatoes: grape tomatoes are always great in salad, but you can use your favorite variety.
- Cucumbers: regular, English, or mini cucumbers will all work in this recipe.
- Avocado: adds a great creamy flavor and a dose of hearty healthy fat!
- Parmesan: we don’t add a ton of cheese to this recipe, but a nice touch of good-quality parmesan goes a long way!
Green Goddess Dressing Ingredients
A green Goddess Dressing gets it’s signature green flavor from fresh herbs! The ultra-creamy texture comes from full-fat Greek yogurt that is loaded with calcium and protein. To make this dressing you will need Greek yogurt, cilantro, basil, dill, chives, lemon juice, good-quality olive oil, garlic, and of course a pinch of salt.
How to Make Green Goddess Salad
This salad is comprised of three parts: grilled chicken, salad, and salad dressing. Don’t worry, this really is super easy! I’ve documented the entire process so I can walk you through the process.
Make the Dressing
In a food processor, combine all dressing ingredients until smooth. Do a taste test. Does it need salt or pepper? Does it have enough lemon for your liking? Adjust if needed and when the dressing is done, set it aside.
Season the Chicken
In a large bowl, toss the chicken in garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoning salt and set aside while you prepare the grill or grill pan.
Grill the Chicken
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and the chicken reaches 165 degrees. Set aside on a plate and allow to cool. Once cooled enough to handle, slice the chicken.
Assemble the Salad
Assemble your salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, avocado, and any other veggies you might want to throw in! Add the grilled, sliced chicken right on top. Drizzle the dressing over everything, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese shavings.
Serve
Serve the salad right away for the best results, though you can meal prep this salad if you need to. Just scroll down for that information. This salad is truly a complete meal, but if you would like to serve it alongside bread or rolls that is a great idea too!
Can I make this vegetarian?
Sure, just skip the chicken! You can easily add drained and rinsed chickpeas to add extra protein if desired!
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. As a whole, you can make the chicken and dressing ahead of time. If you are wanting to meal prep this completely for grab-and-go lunches I suggest going one step further. Make the salad as directed and put the salad in a jar or container, along with the chicken. And store the dressing separately. When ready to serve add the dressing to the salad.
Tips & Tricks
- The dressing is really creamy, herby and zesty. You can add fresh mint or parsley if desired!
- Vegetable toppings are pretty much endless for this salad!
- The green goddess dressing can be stored for 4-5 days in the fridge in an airtight container! It can also be easily doubled!
- Make the chicken and dressing ahead of time for easy meal prep!
Healthy Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Noodle Soup: a generous serving of this soup is under 400 calories and has 30 grams of protein!
- Greek Chicken Power Bowls: grilled chicken, tons of fresh vegetables, hummus, olives, and feta make this bowl an unbeatable meal!
- Caprese Chicken: this one pan recipe contains Balsamic chicken with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella.
- Chicken Stir Fry: a healthy, one pan recipe that features loads of vegetables and a sesame sauce!
Chicken Salad Recipes
- Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad: fresh cabbage, carrots and edamame are paired with a perfect Asian inspired dressing!
- Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad: everything you love about a classic Cobb salad, but with a spicy spin!
- Keto Salad Bowl: this keto-friendly dish features a chicken bacon ranch salad in a crispy chaffle bowl!
- Greek Cucumber Salad: a simple salad that requires no cooking.
Green Goddess Salad
Ingredients
Dressing:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt full fat
- ¾ cup cilantro loosely packed
- ¾ cup fresh basil leaves loosely packed
- ¼ cup fresh dill
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh chives
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp EVOO
- 3 garlic cloves
- ½ tsp salt
Salad:
- 6 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- 1 cucumber sliced
- 1 bell pepper sliced
- 1 large avocado sliced
- 1 cup shaved parmesan cheese
- Optional: broccoli artichoke hearts, cooked green beans, red onion, cauliflower, snap peas, shredded carrots
Chicken:
- 2 chicken breasts butterflied if large
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp seasoning salt
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine all dressing ingredients until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken in garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoning salt and set aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and the chicken reaches 165 degrees. Set aside on a plate and allow to cool. Once cooled, slice the chicken.
- Assemble your salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, avocado, any other veggies, and chicken. Drizzle the dressing over everything, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese shavings. Serve!
Notes
- The dressing is really creamy, herby and zesty. You can add fresh mint or parsley if desired!
- Vegetable toppings are pretty much endless for this salad!
- The green goddess dressing can be stored for 4-5 days in the fridge in an airtight container! It can also be easily doubled!
- Make the chicken and dressing ahead of time for easy meal prep!
