Chicken Caprese Salad with Avocado

This Chicken Caprese Salad recipe is loaded with everything you crave for a healthy and filling meal.

It’s easy to assemble and prep ahead for a few days, and all it requires are some of your favorite salad staple ingredients.

Best Chicken Caprese Salad With Lettuce

Originally, Caprese salad is composed of sliced whole milk Mozzarella, summer tomatoes (usually heirlooms), basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil- the good stuff.

It’s simple, no-frills, and SO GOOD on a hot summer day. This salad has all of that and more! Add cooked chicken, black olives, avocado, crispy Romaine lettuce, and you’ve got yourself a super filling meal.

Today’s Chicken Caprese Salad is perfect for a light lunch, and it’s easy to meal prep and make it ahead. You can see how this recipe comes together quickly in the video below:

Chicken Caprese Salad Ingredients

This chicken Caprese salad is made with simple and fresh ingredients you already add to your shopping list on a regular.

Here’s what you need to prep this delicious salad:

• Romaine lettuce: a fresh and crispy base for this salad.
• Cooked chicken: whether you cook chicken pieces in a pan, use leftover baked chicken breasts from dinner, or buy a rotisserie chicken at the store, it all works!
• Grape tomatoes: or cherry tomatoes, both are super juicy! You can also use Roma or other tomatoes and cut them into smaller pieces.
• Mozzarella balls: mozzarella cubes or any other cheese also work!
• Fresh basil: what’s a Caprese salad without basil? I recommend fresh leaves since it adds more flavor than dried basil.
• Black olives: a great salad addition for more nutrition and flavor! Make sure to use pitted olives.
• Avocado: add it at the very last minute, especially if you’re making this ahead of time. You can also use homemade guacamole instead.
• Balsamic vinaigrette: an epic dressing to drizzle over the salad. Make your own (linked in the recipe card) or purchase your favorite brand.

You’ll find the ingredient measurements right below in the recipe card.

How to Make Chicken Caprese Salad

Like most of my meal prep recipes, this one comes together quickly with basic ingredients- I guess that’s why they’re apart of my meal plan. I do encourage using leftover grilled or baked chicken from a previous dinner and making the dressing ahead of time; that way, this comes together in a matter of minutes.

1. Chop some lettuce
   Romaine, Iceberg, or if you want greens, arugula would make a killer base. Toss them into a bowl or your favorite meal prep container.
2. Top
   Top the lettuce with chicken, tomatoes, cheese, black olives, avocado, and chopped basil. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and toss to combine.
3. Grab a fork
   You know what comes next- dig in!

If you do plan to pack this for lunch, don’t toss the salad with the dressing just yet! Instead, pack it into a sauce container and drizzle over the salad just before eating.

Make next: Caprese Sandwich

Best Tomatoes for Chicken Caprese Salad

Okay, this is the part where I make an Italian grandmother mad…

A major component of Caprese Salad is the tomatoes. Most people (Italian grandmothers and Caprese Salad connoisseurs) swear by seasonal varieties such as heirlooms and Romas, but I find cherry tomatoes are a great swap. 

So, unless you have a garden full of tomato plants, cherry tomatoes are easy to find and compared to the grocery store tomatoes, much tastier.

What Dressing to Use

This homemade balsamic vinaigrette is THE BEST way to enjoy this Chicken Caprese Salad. It’s tangy, slightly acidic, and brings out all the best flavors of the basil, tomatoes, and cheese.

I love packing hearty salads like this for my work lunches! If you find yourself spending too much on lunches out or you simply want to break yourself out of a lunch rut, then grab a copy of my 101 Packed Lunches book, below. You’ll never have to eat a boring lunch ever again.

Healthy Salad Lunch Recipes

If you’re here, then you’re most likely on the lookout for some healthy and fresh lunch options you can pack to work or prep ahead. I got you fam! Below are some more delicious and crave-able salad and power bowl recipes that won’t sabotage your wallet or health goals.

• Farro Chicken Bowls
• Buffalo Chicken Salad
• Salmon Nicoise Salad
• Salsa Chicken Burrito Bowls
• Santa Fe Chicken Salad
• Thai Chicken Lettuce Cups
• More Lunch Salads

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