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You are here: Home » Gluten Free

Spiciness: Mild

Grilled Chicken and Basil Vinaigrette

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This easy grilled chicken recipe is elevated by a tangy basil & pine nut vinaigrette and served over an arugula salad with cherry tomatoes and diced avocado.

2 grilled chicken thighs over a bed of arugula salad w/ halved cherry tomatoes and diced avocado. On a white plate. Another plate in background with same thing. this …

Throw some grilled chicken on some greens for an easy, light, and tasty summer recipe. The basil and pine nut vinaigrette elevates the level of the dish while still keeping it an easy recipe.

Don't want to make the basil vinaigrette? Cool, pick your favorite store bought dressing and make this grilled chicken and salad recipe even easier.

Don't want the extra work or the extra dishes to clean?  Forego toasting the pine nuts and sautéing the garlic and throw them into the food processor as is.

Freeze any extra basil vinaigrette in an ice cube tray or small ziploc snack bag for another day.  Stays good in freezer 3 months.

2 grilled chicken thighs over a bed of arugula salad w/ halved cherry tomatoes and diced avocado. On a white plate.

Serving Suggestion

Serve this Grilled Chicken Salad with a fruit based summer side recipe like:

  • White shallow bowl filled with raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Garnished with orange zest and sliced mint.
    Fresh Mixed Berry Dessert "Gazpacho"
  • 2 halves of a peach with dark grill marks sitting inside a wooden bowl.
    Easy Grilled Peaches
  • 3 Grilled Banana Halves and One Whole, still in skin & grilled. Set on a white plate and has a honey butter glaze.
    Easy Grilled Bananas
  • 6 slices of cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto. On a live edge wood cutting board.
    Prosciutto Wrapped Melon

You May Also Like

Like light chicken recipes? Check out these dishes:

  • Flattened and seared chicken breast topped with Arugula salad w/ cherry tomatoes & onions on a white plate. Side view.
    Chicken Paillard ("Pie Yard") - Pounded Chicken Breast
  • Wood oval plate with crispy romaine lettuce with cooked chicken, sliced almonds, diced carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and ginger.
    Chinese Chopped Chicken Salad
  • 2 white plates with salad with a grilled chicken breast on top with blueberry chutney on top of chicken. Whole Cherry Tomatoes on plates.
    Chicken with Blueberry Chutney
  • 2 Chicken cutlets with a herb butter sauce on top of mixed greens and halved cherry tomatoes with a parmesan garnish. 2 plates.
    Easy Chicken Tenders with Lemon Butter

Things In My Kitchen:

  • Weber Grill – I love this grill.  Small but still plenty big enough for 12 chicken thighs and 6-8 steaks.  Plus it’s easy to clean the grates.  You’ll want to grab the stand below probably as well.
  • Weber Grill Portable Stand – Rollable and compacts.

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Grilled Chicken And Basil Dressing

2 grilled chicken thighs over a bed of arugula salad w/ halved cherry tomatoes and diced avocado. On a white plate.
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EatSimpleFood.com

This easy and basic grilled chicken recipe is elevated by a tangy basil & pine nut vinaigrette and served over a salad with cherry tomatoes and avocado.

  • Author: beckie
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Main Dish / Salad
  • Method: Grill
  • Cuisine: International
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Ingredient List Salad:

  • 2 lb (8) boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 cups (~½ lb) arugula
  • 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large avocado, pitted, peeled, diced
  • desired amount of vinaigrette
  • salt
  • black pepper

Ingredient List Dressing:

  • ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1 cup (~ 1 oz) basil
  • 2 teaspoon garlic, minced & sautéed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup e.v. olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • pinch black pepper

Instructions

  • Bring a grill to medium heat (~400F).
  • Bring a small pan to medium high heat and add the pine nuts.  Cook and stir until starting to brown and fragrant (optional step).  Throw directly into food processor and blend it.
  • Bring a small pan to medium high heat and add garlic.  Cook 1-2 minutes or until fragrant (optional step).   Throw into food processor.  Add all remaining ingredients to food processor and whiz it up until smooth.
  • Lightly oil, salt, and pepper chicken.  Grill covered for ~ 6-7 minutes per side or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165F and juices run clear.
  • In a large bowl combine all salad ingredients except chicken and dressing.  Add desired amount of dressing and mix.  Plate salad and add chicken on top.  Add sea salt to taste.  Happy Eating!  Beckie

Notes

  • Don't want the extra work or the extra dishes to clean?  Forego toasting the pine nuts and sauteing the garlic and throw them into the food processor as is.

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Hey y'all!

I’m Beckie Hemmerling. I love food and I think of it on a basic level of providing strength & nourishment. Cooking has helped me *try* to figure out life, not just my own, but also other people's. I have cooked through many joys / sorrows and cooking has always been a meditative place through these highs & lows. More background info →

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