• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Our Salty Kitchen
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Season
    • Fall Recipes
    • Spring Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • Winter Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
  • Diet
    • Gluten Free
    • Grain Free
    • Keto
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30 Recipes
  • Course
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments and Sauces
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
  • Method
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Slow Cooker
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Stir Fry
  • About
    • Let’s Collaborate!
    • Recipe Photography for Food Bloggers
    • Photography Portfolio
    • License Images
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Salads
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home » Dietary Restrictions » Gluten Free » Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Salad

    Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Salad

    July 5, 2018 By Danielle Esposti 2 Comments

    May contain affiliate links.See our Privacy Policy and disclosure.

    Go to Recipe
    A bowl of gluten free mediterranean grilled chicken salad with olives, artichokes, and oregano vinaigrette.

    Dinner salads are my summer food jam. They’re filling, healthy, and loaded with seasonal flavors. Today’s special is this Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Salad. It’s a bold combination of lemon-oregano brined chicken, olives, artichoke hearts, cucumbers, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella, topped with an oregano vinaigrette that will have you cravin’ more! 

    A salad platter filled with healthy mediterranean chicken salad with lemon herb oregano vinaigrette.
    Jump to:
    • How to Make Mediterranean Chicken Salad
    • Lemon Oregano Brined Chicken Breast
    • Oregano Vinaigrette
    • Mediterranean Chicken Salad Substitutions
    • Recipe

    Can we talk about summer dinners for a minute? They can be such a drag. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m a food blogger. I like to cook, like, a lot. And I love food, like, a lot. But cooking in the summer really cuts into my incredibly busy schedule of pool days, naps, reading, and Pinterest-ing tropical vacation destinations that my 2-year can’t go on. Also all of the food magazines and eating almond butter from the jar with a spoon.

    Oh, does that sound lazy? Welcome to the lazy mom’s club. I’m President. We welcome you with yoga pants, snacks, and easy nutritious dinners that require minimal effort. Like this mediterranean chicken salad.

    I super heart this salad for so many reasons, but I’ll name just a few:

    • Brine, baby! Brine does all of the work and you get all of the credit.
    • Easy and fast. Brine chicken. Wait a few hours. Grill chicken. Slap onto bed of vegetables.
    • Light and fresh, but filling. This salad’s got staying power.
    • Family friendly. I made this into a kid-approved situation by plating the chicken in one corner, some cucumbers in another, cheese in the third, and rounding it out with a container of yogurt. Not the most veggie dense meal, but “you get what you get and you don’t get upset” is how we roll.
    A serving of mediterranean chicken salad in a wood bowl on a marble table.

    Like most great salads, the magic here is the dressing. Also the brine, but we’ll get to that. Where was I? Dressing. Right.

    This beautiful, hot-and-cold mess is topped with an herby, sweet-and-savory oregano vinaigrette. It’s what takes this mediterranean chicken salad from “oh, yay! (/sarcasm) another grilled chicken salad!” to “OMG, please be the last dinner salad I ever eat because you’re so fine imma lose my mind”. 

    How to Make Mediterranean Chicken Salad

    This salad is packed with so much flavor, but it requires the least amount of effort possible. It’s that magical combination of brine + grill + veggies + dressing, and I repeat it often because it works every damn time.

    Lemon Oregano Brined Chicken Breast

    Grilled chicken breasts have a reputation for being dry, bland, and not so delicious. Nobody wants that kinda rep, and that’s why I’m a big, big fan of brining. Brining can be as simple as soaking your chicken in salted water and slapping it on the grill, but we’re gonna go the extra mile here.

    Raw chicken breast in a ziplock bag with lemon oregano brine.

    To our salty water, we’re gonna add big pops of flavor:

    • Lemon juice
    • Crushed oregano
    • Garlic
    • Bay leaf
    • Peppercorns

    The brine will keep the chicken moist, and just a touch of acid from the lemon juice will tenderize it and add flavor. The key here is not to overdo it on the acid – too much and it’ll actually make the chicken tough.

    You can brine for as little as two hours, but 4 is better. Don’t go longer than a work day.

    A detail image of grilled lemon oregano brined chicken atop a mediterranean chicken salad.

    Look at that fine grilled chicken. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and infused with flavor from the inside out. You get all of that by taking just 10 minutes to prepare a brine bath. You’re awesome – go you!

    Oregano Vinaigrette

    According to a very scientific google search experiment I just conducted, oregano vinaigrette isn’t super popular, but hot damn it should be.

    Two images showing how to make oregano vinaigrette dressing in a blender for a mediterranean chicken salad.

    Fresh oregano has a completely different flavor profile than dried. It’s pungent and a wee bit aggressive, but once you tame it with some honey and red wine vinegar, it’s got that umami punch that has your taste buds craving more.

    Because this salad celebrates the lazy that lives in all of us, we’re gonna make this dressing in a blender or food processor. No chopping required. Wheeee! Pulverizing the oregano also releases some it’s natural oils and helps tamp down its sharp edge.

    Mediterranean Chicken Salad Substitutions

    The salad base here is pretty easy and straightforward – mixed greens, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, persian cucumbers, and fresh mozzarella.

    Diced artichoke hearts, quartered cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and black olives on a wood cutting board.

    I always have all of these things available in the summer, so while I’d love to say that my choices were meticulously paired, they were simply what I had and what I knew would work flavor-wise. The good news here? You can do the same because this salad is really versatile:

    • Use feta instead of mozzarella
    • Skip the cheese altogether and use avocado for a paleo or dairy-free salad
    • Add or swap in roasted red peppers or grilled eggplant or zucchini

    This is YOUR lazy summer salad. Go wild!

    Now, go brine some chicken, pat yourself on the back for thinking ahead and gettin’ the job done, and then go take a nap – you deserve it!

    Need more easy, delicious dinner salad recipes? All wishes are promptly granted in the lazy mom’s club (except laundry): 

    • Basil Chicken Salad with Peaches and Corn
    • Steak Fajita Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette
    • Chicken Shawarma Salad
    • Roasted Veggie Salad with Green Tahini
    • Avocado Strawberry Chicken Salad
    A wood bowl with a serving of mediterranean chicken salad with grilled herb lemon chicken, artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh mozzarella, and oregano vinaigrette.

    Did you make this Mediterranean Chicken Salad? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

    While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for the latest and greatest.

    Recipe

    A salad platter filled with healthy mediterranean chicken salad with lemon herb oregano vinaigrette.

    Mediterranean Chicken Salad

    No ratings yet
    Author: Danielle Esposti
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    This mediterranean chicken salad is the perfect summer meal for busy families! It’s an easy gluten free dinner salad that’s packed with bold flavor. 
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Resting Time: 5 mins
    Total Time: 35 mins
    Servings : 4
    Calories: 502

    Recommended Equipment

    • Resealable gallon bag
    • Instant Read Thermometer
    • Blender

    Ingredients

    Grilled Lemon Oregano Chicken

    • 4 c water
    • 2 tbsp lemon juice
    • 2 tbsp kosher salt
    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 tsp whole peppercorns
    • 1 clove garlic, smashed
    • 1 whole bay leaf
    • 1 sprig fresh oregano, lightly crushed
    • 2 tbsp olive or avocado oil

    Salad Base

    • 4 c romaine lettuce , or mixed greens
    • 1 c canned artichoke hearts, halved
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
    • ½ c kalamata olives
    • 2 persian cucumbers, diced
    • 8 oz fresh mozzarella

    Oregano Vinaigrette

    • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
    • 2 tbsp fresh oregano leaves
    • 2 tsp honey
    • 1 clove garlic
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp cracked black pepper
    • ½ c extra virgin olive oil

    Instructions

    • Whisk the water with the lemon juice and salt until the salt dissolves. Place the chicken breasts into a resealable gallon sized bag, then pour the brine over the chicken. Add the peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaf to the bag. Lightly twist the oregano spring between your palms to release the oils, then add to the bag. Press out the air, and place in the fridge to brine for at least 2 hours and up to 8.
    • When you’re ready to eat, heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.
    • Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. Brush both sides of the chicken with the olive oil, then place on the grill. Grill the chicken 6-7 minutes, then flip. Grill on the other side an additional 6-7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165* with an instant read thermometer. Remove from heat and set aside to rest for at least 5 minutes. 
    • Place the mixed greens onto a platter or into a large salad bowl. Top the greens with the artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, persian cucumbers, and fresh mozzarella. 
    • Place all of the vinaigrette ingredients into a blender. Blend until the oregano is completely pulverized the the vinaigrette is smooth.
    • Slice the chicken against the grain into ½″ slices, and place over the salad base. Drizzle with oregano vinaigrette and sprinkle with a tablespoon of fresh oregano if desired. Serve immediately. This salad keeps in the fridge, undressed, for up to three days. 

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 502kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 17g (6%), Protein: 36g (72%), Fat: 33g (51%), Saturated Fat: 10g (50%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 98mg (33%), Sodium: 1077mg (45%), Potassium: 597mg (17%), Fiber: 5g (20%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 2850% (2850%), Vitamin C: 25.6% (26%), Calcium: 50% (50%), Iron: 2.3% (2%)
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @oursaltykitchen or tag #oursaltykitchen!

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links. Rest assured, we only endorse products we own and truly love! 

    « Gluten Free Blueberry Cobbler
    Stone Fruit Salad with Tomato and Burrata »

    Disclaimer: This post and the recipe card may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission (at no cost to you!) if you make a purchase using these links. Rest assured, we only endorse products we own and truly love!

    2 Comments
    Filed Under: 45 Minutes or Less, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Grilled Chicken, Grilling Recipes, Main Dishes, Salads, Summer Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. BLT Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      June 25, 2019 at 2:11 pm

      […] Mediterranean Chicken Salad […]

      Reply
    2. BLT Chicken Salad (Whole30, Gluten Free, Low Carb) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      December 9, 2019 at 1:34 pm

      […] Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Salad […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Our Salty Kitchen! We create real food for real people. Our whole foods recipes are seasonal, locally sourced, and simply prepared. Learn More! 

    Footer

    ABOUT US      CONTACT US      PRIVACY POLICY 

    A collage of publication logos that have featured recipes and photography from Our Salty Kitchen.

    Footer

    Privacy

    Privacy Policy

    Let's ConnecT

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    About Us

    Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Our Salty Kitchen

    877 shares