Fresh and Delicious Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

Oh my goodness, have you ever had one of those meals that just makes you feel like you've got your life together? That's exactly what this chicken avocado caprese salad does for me! It's basically summer in a bowl – juicy chicken, creamy avocado, and those little bites of fresh mozzarella that make everything better.

I first made this salad after a particularly chaotic Monday when Emily was running late for school, I had a million deadlines, and somehow we had nothing planned for dinner. I threw together what I had in the fridge, and it turned out so amazing that I've been making it regularly ever since! This homemade cobb salad recipe was my inspiration, but I wanted something with those classic caprese flavors that my family loves so much.

This chicken avocado caprese salad combines protein-packed blackened chicken with all the traditional caprese ingredients (tomato, mozzarella, basil) plus creamy avocado and a homemade white wine vinaigrette that'll make you want to lick the bowl. Trust me, this is meal prep perfection!

Why You Will Like This Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

• Ready in just 25 minutes from start to finish
• Perfectly balanced meal with protein, healthy fats, and veggies
• The homemade vinaigrette stays fresh in your fridge for a week
• Meal prep friendly (just keep the avocado and dressing separate)
• Naturally gluten-free and low-carb
• Those little mozzarella balls make every bite amazing (Emily calls them "cheese treasures")
• The blackened seasoning on the chicken adds fantastic flavor without much effort

Ingredients for Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

White Wine or Champagne Vinaigrette:

• 1 garlic clove
• 2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
• ¼ cup champagne or white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

For the Salad:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 ½ teaspoons blackened seasoning
• 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
• 1 large head of romaine, washed and chopped
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¾ cup bocconcini mini mozzarella, halved
• ¼ cup basil shreds

Instructions for Making Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

Preparing the Dressing

1. Place all the vinaigrette ingredients (except the olive oil) inside a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. With the blender running, slowly pour the olive oil into the blender jar until it's emulsified and looks creamy.
3. Alternatively, you can finely chop the garlic clove and simply combine all the ingredients inside a mason jar and shake vigorously. (This is what I do when I don't want to clean the blender – who's with me?)
4. Transfer the salad dressing into a container or pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve. This dressing keeps for up to a week in the fridge!

Cooking the Perfect Chicken

1. On a flat surface, pat dry the chicken breasts. Distribute the blackened seasoning evenly on both sides of the chicken breasts.
2. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, melt the butter. Place the chicken breasts on the pan and cook the first side for 7 minutes.
3. Flip the chicken breasts over and cook for another 7 minutes on the other side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Cooking time on the second side will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breast.
4. Once cooked, transfer the chicken from the pan onto a board and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. (This helps retain the chicken juices and makes it super tender – a step worth waiting for!)

Assembling Your Caprese Salad

1. In a large salad bowl, make a base with the chopped romaine lettuce.
2. Top it with halved cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls, sliced avocados, and your perfectly cooked sliced chicken breasts.
3. Sprinkle the fresh basil shreds over everything.
4. Drizzle ½ cup of salad dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Add more salad dressing if desired. (I usually end up adding extra because this dressing is just that good!)

How to Meal Prep This Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

I've become a bit of a meal prep queen lately (mostly out of necessity!), and this salad works perfectly for busy weekday lunches. Here's how I do it:

1. Layer all the salad ingredients inside 4 meal prep containers except for the sliced avocado.
2. Pack about 2 tablespoons of salad dressing inside four small, lidded containers.
3. On the morning you plan to eat it, slice ¼ of an avocado and place it on top of the salad.
4. Drizzle salad dressing right before enjoying it for lunch.

The first time I brought this for lunch at work, I had three people ask me for the recipe! There's something about those fresh caprese flavors combined with creamy avocado that just looks and tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did. Win-win!

Helpful Equipment for Caprese Salad Success

• Glass Lunch Containers (I love these for meal prep)
• Mini Dip Containers (perfect for storing dressing separately)
• Dressing Bottle
• Salad Dressing Twist Jar
• Avocado keeper (this has saved me so many brown avocados!)
• Lettuce keeper

Storage & Reheating Tips

• The prepared components (except avocado) will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Store dressing separately from the salad to keep everything crisp.
• The cooked chicken can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature.
• Keep avocado separate until ready to eat to prevent browning.
• For maximum freshness, wash and prep romaine just before assembling meals.

Variations of Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

This salad is super versatile! Here are some of my favorite ways to mix it up:

• Grilled Chicken Version: Instead of pan-cooking, throw the chicken on the grill for some smoky flavor. This is amazing for summer cookouts!
• Balsamic Twist: Swap the white wine vinaigrette for a balsamic glaze if you prefer that classic caprese flavor pairing.
• Pasta Salad Conversion: Add 2 cups of cooked, cooled pasta to make this into a hearty pasta salad that's perfect for potlucks. (I brought this to a neighborhood picnic and came home with an empty bowl!)
• Vegetarian Option: Skip the chicken and add extra mozzarella or even some white beans for protein.
• Spicy Kick: Add some red pepper flakes to the dressing for a little heat. My husband loves it this way!

Have you ever tried adding different herbs to a caprese salad? I experimented with mint once and it was surprisingly refreshing!

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipes You May Like

• Homemade Grilled Chicken Salad - Another protein-packed salad that's perfect for meal prep!
• Simple Avocado Toast with Egg - If you love avocado as much as I do, this makes a great breakfast or lunch option.
• Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken - When you want something heartier but still with those Italian flavors.

Final Thoughts on Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

This salad has honestly become a staple in our house. It's one of those rare recipes that's impressive enough for guests but easy enough for busy weeknights. The combination of juicy blackened chicken, creamy avocado, fresh mozzarella, and that tangy homemade dressing just hits all the right notes.

What I love most is how customizable it is – you can adjust the protein, switch up the dressing, or add different veggies based on what you have on hand. It's really hard to go wrong with these ingredients!

If you try this chicken avocado caprese salad, I'd love to hear how it turned out! Don't forget to save this to Pinterest for later – your future hungry self will thank you!