23 Hearty Salads With Chicken
If you’re looking for classic mayo-based chicken salad (the kind you spread on a sandwich or spoon into a lettuce cup), this isn’t quite that. Instead, these salads with chicken pair juicy roasted, grilled, or store-bought rotisserie chicken with crisp greens, noodles, grains, and bright dressings, turning what might be a side dish into a satisfying meal. Panko-crusted cutlets? Sure, those are here too.
Some of our favorite chicken dinner salads are classic American fare, like a chicken Caesar or a Cobb salad. Others are comfort food disguised as salad, like a cold noodle salad and a warm piccata-inspired one. And many invite you to embrace the leftovers from last night’s roast chicken, cutting down on prep—and that makes dinner closer than you think.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Emily Eisen1/23Chicken Cobb Salad
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou2/23Caesar Salad Roast Chicken
Caesar salad topped with shrimp, salmon, or chicken may be everywhere these days, but a really good one is hard to come by. Here, we brush the chicken with anchovy mayo for umami punch, then double down on schmaltz by tossing the croutons in the leftover fat.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Gerri Williams3/23Halal Cart Chicken Salad
Inspired by a street food staple, this recipe might be one of our favorite ways to use a rotisserie chicken. Iceberg lettuce and cherry tomatoes are crunchy and bright against warm, spiced rotisserie chicken, topped with lots of tangy yogurt dressing.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley4/23Lemon Pepper Chicken Salad
For a weeknight-friendly riff on lemon-pepper wings, rub boneless, skinless chicken thighs generously with lemon-pepper seasoning, then broil until crispy. Served with a simple green salad and a creamy dressing.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman5/23Som-Tam-Style Chicken Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kaitlin Wayne, prop styling by Stephanie De Luca6/23Chicken Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce
Transform leftovers into an easy chicken dinner with this medley of ramen noodles, romaine lettuce, and cucumber, dressed with a fiery chile-peanut sauce.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams7/23Grilled Buttermilk Chicken With Summer Salad
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.8/23Summer Goddess Chicken Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen9/23Smoky Chicken and Avocado Kale Salad
Remember in 2018 when we were all massaging kale? Well, we’re still doing it, but this time with smashed avocado and lime juice. This not-to-be-missed step softens tough leaves, making a nice bed of greens to snuggle your chicken slices into. Pile leftovers on sliced focaccia for an upgraded chicken salad sandwich.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni10/23Warm Chicken Piccata Salad
Think: Classic chicken piccata, but make it salad. A warm lemon-caper vinaigrette brightens pleasantly bitter radicchio, and a shower of toasted panko adds crunch to every bite. Oh, and let’s not forget about the juicy seared chicken breasts.
Photography by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jamie11/23Chicken Salad With Citrus and Chile Oil
A dynamic duo of bitter lettuces and sweet satsumas makes a dramatic backdrop for seared-then-roasted chicken breasts. Boneless breasts cook faster, but are prone to drying out, which is why we prefer juicier bone-in breasts here.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Plates by Meilen Ceramics12/23Healthyish Chicken Salad
Instead of mayonnaise, toss poached chicken breasts and cucumbers in a savory tahini dressing, then mix with your favorite salad greens. The result tastes like a lazy lunch in the sunshine but packs up well enough for a desk-side meal between meetings.
13/23Spring Chicken Salad With Smashed Green Beans
This Niçoise-ish salad artfully arranges poached chicken with colorful spring veggies, chive matchsticks, and a drizzle of tangy Dijon mustard dressing. Smashing the green beans opens up their pores so they can better soak in all the flavors.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski14/23Grilled Chicken and Quinoa With Matcha Dressing
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni15/23Laotian-Style Chicken and Rice Salad
Toss crispy, golden rice and ground chicken with lots of fresh herbs and a nuoc cham-style dressing for this savory bright dinner salad recipe. We encourage you to eat it with your hands.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Sean Dooley17/23Bob’s Chicken and Cabbage Salad
Danny Kim22/23Cabbage Slaw With Chicken, Peanuts, and Kimchi
For a ridiculously easy salad, toss leftover chicken, mushrooms, and kimchi onto a bed of cabbage, tie it all together with a homemade salad dressing, and call it lunch.
