Summer Chicken Salad Recipes

SUMMER LAYERED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In deep 3-quart salad bowl, place half of the lettuce. Layer with chicken, cheese, pecan halves, remaining lettuce and strawberries.
• In small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix dressing ingredients with wire whisk until well blended. Just before serving, pour dressing over salad.

CONTEST-WINNING SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large skillet; add broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. Drain; cover and refrigerate. In a large bowl, combine greens and sliced strawberries; refrigerate., In a blender, combine the hulled strawberries, orange juice, oil, lemon juice and lemon zest, sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cover and process until smooth. Pour into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 5-6 minutes until slightly thickened. Cool slightly. , Drizzle half of the dressing over greens and berries; toss to coat. Divide among four plates. Cut chicken into 1/8-in. slices; arrange over salads. Drizzle remaining dressing over chicken; sprinkle with nuts.

SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the chicken, celery, grapes and raisins. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Add to chicken mixture; toss to coat. Stir in pecans. Serve on lettuce. Garnish with tomato if desired.

GRILLED CHICKEN MARBELLA PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Whisk the olives, olive brine, vinegar, apricot preserves, capers and brine, brown sugar, oregano, 1/3 cup of the olive oil, 1 tablespoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
• Combine 1/4 cup of the dressing with the fruit in another medium bowl, cover and marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature. Combine 1/4 cup of the remaining dressing with the chicken in a third medium bowl, cover and marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Reserve the remaining dressing.
• Preheat a large grill pan or a grill over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant and softened but not brown, about 1 minute. Add the wine, bring to a boil and cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the reserved dressing, bring to a boil and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
• Grill the chicken and fruit, flipping the chicken halfway through and turning the fruit frequently, until the chicken is cooked through and the fruit is caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest.
• Grill the bread, flipping occasionally, until toasted, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and tear into bite-size pieces when cool enough to handle. Right before serving, grill the lettuce, turning occasionally, until slightly wilted and charred in spots, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the serving platter and toss with the torn bread. Slice the chicken and arrange it, along with the fruit, over the bread and greens. Drizzle with the warm dressing and season with salt and pepper.

SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• For the salad: Put the chicken breasts into a large plastic storage bag. Pound with a mallet or rolling pin to flatten to 1/4-inch uniform thickness. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Heat a grill and drizzle with the olive oil. Grill the chicken on both sides until done, about 7 minutes per side. (Rotate halfway during grilling each side to ensure pretty grill marks.) Set aside to cool.
• Grill the corn for a few minutes, until still crunchy but colored. With a very sharp knife, shave the kernels off each corn cob. Combine with the dill, celery and onions in a large bowl. Set aside.
• For the dressing: Mix together the feta, half-and-half, mayonnaise and sour cream in a bowl. Stir in the sugar, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Stir, and then taste. Add more salt if necessary; do not undersalt!
• Slice the chicken on the bias to create flat, randomly shaped pieces. Throw into the bowl with the celery, onions and corn. Stir to combine. Pour half of the dressing over the ingredients and toss gently. Add more as desired, but don't overcoat the salad; it should be light! At the end, toss in the blueberries to lightly coat them in the dressing.
• Spoon the salad into butter lettuce cups and then sprinkle individual helpings with feta and extra dill.

CHICKEN SALAD SUMMER ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix chicken, red onion, celery, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and mayonnaise until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 30 minutes.
• Dip a rice paper into cold water and let soak just until it starts to become flexible. Shake off most of the excess water and lay on a work surface. Place 2 slices of avocado in the center of the wrapper, about 1 inch in from the edge closest to you. Layer with bell pepper, cucumber, and carrot, spread about 1/4 cup chicken salad over top, and cover with lettuce.
• Grab the end of the wrapper closest to you and roll it up, gently stretching the flexible rice paper while tucking in the sides. Wet a second wrapper and wrap it around the first. Wrap the summer roll in barely damp paper towels and cover with plastic while you make the remaining 5 rolls.
• Mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, tarragon, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper together for dipping sauce.
• Serve summer rolls with dipping sauce on the side.