Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken Salad (Printable)

Juicy lemon-herb grilled chicken with quinoa and fresh crisp vegetables in a wholesome bowl.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Juice and zest of 1 lemon
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Quinoa

10 - 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
11 - 2 cups water
12 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Salad Vegetables

13 - 2 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
15 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
16 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
17 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
18 - ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

→ Dressing

19 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
20 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
21 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
22 - 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
23 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add chicken breasts and turn to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor.
02 - Rinse quinoa under cold water. Combine quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes covered. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool slightly.
03 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill marinated chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
04 - In a small jar or bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey if using, and salt and pepper to taste until emulsified.
05 - In a large bowl, arrange spinach or mixed greens as the base. Add cooked quinoa, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, and feta cheese if using.
06 - Slice rested chicken and place on top of salad. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to combine, or serve as composed individual bowls.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon herb marinade makes chicken so tender and flavorful you'll never go back to plain grilled breasts.
  • Quinoa gives you that complete protein satisfaction without any heaviness, perfect if you're watching how you eat.
  • You can prep everything in stages, which means this works for busy weeknights and relaxed weekend entertaining.
  • It tastes even better on day two when all the flavors have gotten friendly with each other.
02 -
  • Don't skip the five-minute rest time for the chicken—it's the difference between juicy slices and dry, stringy meat that no dressing can rescue.
  • Always keep the dressing separate from the salad until you're ready to serve if you're making it ahead, otherwise the greens will wilt and the quinoa will absorb all the moisture and get gummy.
  • Rinsing quinoa genuinely matters; skipping this step leaves a weird chalky, bitter coating that no amount of seasoning can hide.
03 -
  • If your grill pan isn't hot enough, the chicken will steam instead of sear; wait until you can hold your hand above it for only three seconds before placing anything on it.
  • Make the dressing in a jar and shake it every few hours if you're prepping ahead—this keeps the oil and lemon juice from completely separating and reminds you it's there waiting to be used.
Go back