Grilled Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad (A 30-Minute Spin on a Classic)

 

Grilled Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad is a fresh, satisfying 30-minute meal made with juicy chicken, creamy avocado, mozzarella, tomatoes, and balsamic dressing. Built using my simple 5-Step Healthy Salad Formula for flavor, balance, and staying power.

Grilled Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad (A 30-Minute Spin on a Classic)

Some of my favorite salads start out the same way: I'm busy but need to make dinner, I don’t want anything complicated, and I’m standing in front of the fridge hoping something clicks.

That’s exactly how this Grilled Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad came to be.

I had chicken breasts, a perfectly ripe avocado on the counter, and a container of mini mozzarella balls that needed to be used. Add in fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic, and suddenly this “quick dinner idea” turned into a fresh, satisfying meal that felt both light and comforting.

Even better? It fits perfectly into my 5-Step Healthy Salad Formula — the simple system I use to build great salads.  See below for a deeper dive on how this salad fits my formula.

And the best part?  The dinner comes together in about 30 minutes — making it perfect for busy weeknights, quick lunches, or anytime you want something fresh without sacrificing flavor.

If you’re looking for a tasty, no-fuss salad that feels restaurant-worthy but fits real life, this one deserves a spot in your rotation.

Enjoy!

-- Ingredients

You don’t need anything fancy here — just good-quality basics and a few fresh elements that bring everything to life.

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts - The chicken adds heartiness and turns this salad into a true meal.

• Italian seasoning - A simple blend that adds savory depth without overpowering the other ingredients.

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Balsamic dressing - This pulls double duty — it marinates the chicken and finishes the salad with tangy-sweet flavor.

• Romaine lettuce - romaine gives the salad structure and holds up well under dressing.

• Avocado

• Mini mozzarella balls

• Cherry or grape tomatoes

• Fresh basil - basil is what gives this salad its signature Caprese finish.

How This Salad Fits My 5-Part Formula

One of the reasons I love this Grilled Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad is that it naturally checks every box in my 5-step formula — without feeling forced or overcomplicated.

It starts with crisp romaine, which gives the salad a sturdy, refreshing base that can actually hold up to warm grilled chicken and juicy toppings. From there, the tomatoes, that also have a pop of crunch, and the basil bring in bright color and freshness, making every bite feel vibrant and balanced.

The grilled chicken adds the protein that turns this from “just a salad” into a real, satisfying meal. Pair that with creamy avocado and soft mozzarella, and you get a mix of textures that keeps things interesting from the first bite to the last.

Finally, the balsamic dressing pulls everything together. It adds just enough tang and sweetness to balance the richness of the chicken, cheese, and avocado without overpowering the fresh ingredients.

Once you understand this structure — greens, crunch, color, protein, and dressing — you can start building salads like this on repeat, using whatever you have on hand. This recipe is just one example of how simple, intentional choices can turn everyday ingredients into something crave-worthy.

-- Let’s Make It Together

1. Marinate the Chicken - Place chicken between plastic wrap and pound to about ½-inch thickness. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour balsamic dressing over chicken and let marinate for at least 15 minutes.

2. Grill the Chicken - Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken about 5 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board and rest briefly before slicing.

3. Prep the Salad Base - While the chicken cooks, slice romaine, tomatoes, avocado, mozzarella, and basil.

4. Assemble - Divide lettuce among bowls. Top with avocado, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Add sliced chicken.

5. Finish - Drizzle with remaining balsamic dressing and serve immediately.

-- Add Your Touch

This salad is easy to customize:

• No grill? Use a skillet or air fryer

• Extra crunch: Add toasted pine nuts or croutons

• More greens: Mix in spinach or arugula

• Dairy-free: Leave out cheese or use plant-based mozzarella

If you loved this Grilled Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad, you might also enjoy:

• How to Build a Healthy Salad Without a Recipe (My 5-Part Formula)

• Southwest Chicken Salad Bowls

• Easy Teriyaki Chicken Mandarin Orange Salad (5 Ingredients, 30 Minutes)

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Before You Start

Before you jump in, here are a few quick tips to help everything go smoothly:

• Can I prep this ahead? Yes — grill the chicken up to 2 days in advance and store it separately in an airtight container.

• How do I keep the avocado from browning? Toss slices lightly with lemon juice and add them right before serving.

• Can I use a regular pan instead of a grill pan? Absolutely — a cast iron or nonstick skillet works just as well.

• How long do leftovers keep? Fully assembled salads are best within 24 hours. If stored separately, the chicken and vegetables will keep for up to 3 days.

• Any shortcuts to save time? Use pre-washed romaine and mini mozzarella balls to cut down on prep.

• Can I swap the tomatoes? Yes — grape, cherry, or even diced Roma tomatoes all work well here.

 

 

 

How to Build a Healthy Salad Without a Recipe (My 5-Part Formula)

 

Learn how to build a healthy salad without a recipe using a simple 5-part formula. This flexible method makes everyday salads easy, balanced, and satisfying.

You Don’t Need a Recipe to Eat Well

For a long time, I treated salads like recipes I had to follow exactly. Specific ingredients. Exact measurements. The right combination of things.

And honestly? That mindset made salads feel way more complicated than they needed to be.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that the salads I made most often — the ones I actually enjoyed and came back to — weren’t really recipes at all. They were built from a simple structure. A rhythm. A way of putting things together that worked no matter what was in my fridge.

That’s when salads stopped feeling like a project and started feeling like an easy, everyday choice.

You don’t need a recipe to eat well. You just need a good formula.

What the Healthy Salad Formula Is (and What It Isn’t)

This healthy salad formula isn’t a diet. It’s not a set of rules. And it’s definitely not about perfection.

It’s a flexible framework you can lean on when you want something fresh, balanced, and satisfying — without overthinking it.

Think of it as a way to build salads that:

• Feel nourishing but not restrictive
• Use what you already have
• Actually keep you full
• Fit into real life

Once you understand the structure, the ingredients can change endlessly.

The 5-Part Everyday Healthy Salad Formula

This is the simple formula I use over and over again. Every good everyday salad I make fits into these five parts:

1. Greens     

This is your base. It can be leafy, hearty, or somewhere in between. Greens give the salad its foundation and volume.

2. Crunch 

Texture matters more than we give it credit for. A little crunch keeps salads interesting and satisfying instead of flat.

3. Color 

This is where variety comes in. Different colors usually mean different nutrients — but just as importantly, they make salads more inviting.

4. Protein    

Protein gives a salad staying power. It’s what turns a bowl of vegetables into something that actually feels like a meal.

5. Dressing    

Dressing is what ties everything together. It doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to bring balance and flavor.

That’s it. No measuring. No strict rules. Just a structure you can repeat.

Why This Formula Works (Balanced, Not Restrictive)

What I love about this formula is that it’s built around balance, not restriction.

Nothing is off-limits. There’s room to adjust based on the season, what you’re craving, or what you have on hand. Some days the salad is lighter. Some days it’s heartier. Both work.

Instead of starting over every time your eating habits shift, this formula gives you something steady to come back to.

How I Use This Formula in Real Life

This is the part that matters most to me.

I reach for salads like this on weeknights when we’ve eaten a little heavier earlier in the day and want something that feels fresh and balanced. I make them for weekend lunches when I want something simple but satisfying. I use them when the fridge is half-full and I don’t feel like following a recipe.

I don’t measure. I don’t stress about doing it “right.” I just build a salad that sounds good and trust the formula to do the rest.

That’s what makes it sustainable.

The Formula in Action: An Everyday Example

One of the easiest ways to see this formula at work is with a simple, everyday garden salad.

It’s nothing fancy — just fresh ingredients, good texture, and a simple dressing — but it hits all five parts of the formula beautifully.

👉 Everyday Garden Salad (Plus a Simple Healthy Salad Formula That Works Every Time)

That salad is a perfect example of how this framework comes together in real life.

How to Use This Formula for Any Salad

Once you start thinking in terms of the formula instead of a recipe, salads become incredibly flexible.

You can swap ingredients based on the season. Use leftovers. Lean into what you’re craving. Build lighter salads or more filling ones — all using the same structure.

The formula doesn’t limit you. It frees you.

Start Here: The Healthy Salad Formula Series

If you’re new here, this post is the starting point for my Healthy Salad Formula Series — a collection of simple, everyday salads built around the same flexible 5-part framework.. 

Right now, you can explore:

• Everyday Garden Salad (Plus a Simple Healthy Salad Formula That Works Every Time)

• Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad

• Grilled Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

Each recipe shows how this formula works with different flavors, ingredients, and levels of heartiness — and I’ll continue adding more as I go.

A Simple Way to Eat Well Without Overthinking It

Eating well doesn’t have to be complicated.

This healthy salad formula is something you can come back to again and again — not as a rulebook, but as a guide. A way to build meals that feel good, fit your life, and don’t require starting from scratch every time.

Once you have the formula, the rest is easy.

Everyday Garden Salad (Plus a Simple Healthy Salad Formula That Works Every Time)

 

Fresh, simple, and satisfying, this Everyday Garden Salad is perfect for healthy starts to the new year. Plus, learn a flexible salad formula you can use again and again.

Everyday Garden Salad (Plus a Simple Healthy Salad Formula That Works Every Time)

The start of a new year makes me crave food that feels fresh and balanced — not fussy, not complicated, just good. This Everyday Garden Salad is exactly the kind of meal I make when we’ve eaten a little heavier earlier in the day and I want dinner to feel lighter without feeling like I’m missing out.

I especially love salads like this on busy weeknights, when I want something quick and nourishing, and at lunch on the weekends, when I’m craving something crisp, colorful, and satisfying. It’s simple, flexible, and endlessly adaptable — the kind of salad you can throw together without a recipe, once you know the formula.

That’s why I’m sharing not just this Everyday Garden Salad, but my simple, healthy salad formula that works every time. Think of it as a mix-and-match guide you can use all year long, whether you’re starting fresh in January or just trying to get a wholesome meal on the table any day of the week.

Enjoy!

My Simple Healthy Salad Formula

Over the years, I’ve learned that the salads I make most often aren’t strict recipes — they’re built on a formula. Once you understand the balance, you can mix and match ingredients based on what you have, what’s in season, or what you’re craving.  This will give you a balanced salad that satisfies, fuels, and actually keeps you full.

The 5-Part Everyday Healthy Salad Formula

1. Greens (The Base)
Start with tender greens like green leaf lettuce, romaine, mixed greens, or arugula.

2. Crunchy Veggies (Texture)
Think cucumbers, carrots, radishes, bell peppers, or celery.

3. Color Boost (Nutrients + Appeal)
Add color with tomatoes, roasted veggies, beets, or fruit.

4. Protein or Power Add-In (Staying Power)
Garbanzo beans, lentils, grilled chicken, tuna, eggs, or tofu all work beautifully.

5. Simple Dressing (Flavor + Healthy Fats)
Keep it easy: olive oil + vinegar, lemon juice, or balsamic.

This balance is what makes a salad feel satisfying instead of like an afterthought.

Why I Reach for Salads Like This So Often

This salad has become my go-to for everyday life because it’s versatile, satisfying, and completely hassle-free. On busy weeknights, it comes together in minutes and feels light without skimping on flavor or satisfaction. On weekends, it’s my favorite quick lunch — crisp, colorful, and nourishing — and it always feels like a fresh, intentional choice rather than a last-minute fix. The combination of crunchy veggies, bright colors, protein, and a simple dressing makes it the kind of meal I want to return to again and again, no matter the season.

Ingredients for This Everyday Garden Salad

Salad:

• 1 head green leaf lettuce, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup sliced cucumbers
• 1 cup heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved (mix of 3 colors)
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup garbanzo beans (cooked or canned, drained and rinsed)

Simple Red Wine Vinaigrette:

• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

How to Make It

Ready in minutes:

1. Wash and prepare all the salad ingredients.
2. Combine lettuce, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and garbanzo beans in a large bowl.
3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
4. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy a fresh, balanced meal.

Let's Apply the Formula to This Salad

1. Greens

• Green leaf lettuce
• Light, tender, and perfect for everyday eating.

2. Crunchy Veggies

• Sliced cucumbers
• Shredded carrots
• Fresh crunch without overpowering the salad.

3. Color Boost

• Tri-color heirloom cherry tomatoes
  Color = nutrients and visual appeal. This is what makes it feel crave-worthy.

4. Protein / Power Add-In

• Garbanzo beans
  Plant-based protein + fiber to keep you satisfied.

5. Simple Dressing

• Red wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Clean, classic, and lets the vegetables shine.

How to Use This Formula for Other Salads

Once you know the formula, the possibilities are endless:

• Swap green leaf lettuce for mixed greens or arugula

• Replace garbanzo beans with grilled chicken, tuna, or lentils

• Use lemon juice or balsamic instead of red wine vinegar

• Add seeds, nuts, or cheese if that’s what you’re craving

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s creating a salad you actually want to eat.

More Everyday Salads You’ll Love

If you love simple, balanced salads like this one, you might also enjoy a few other favorites from my kitchen. Try my Country Chophouse Chicken Salad for something hearty, Bright & Fresh Winter Salad with Bulgur, Delicata Squash, and Pomegranate  when you want something bright and fresh, or Teriyaki Chicken Mandarin Orange Salad for an easy, make-ahead option.

A Fresh Start You Can Stick With

Healthy eating doesn’t have to mean overhauling everything at once. Sometimes, it’s as simple as having a reliable, everyday salad you can come back to again and again.

This Everyday Garden Salad — and the simple formula behind it — is one of those meals for me. I hope it becomes one for you too.

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Greek Meatball Bowls with Tzatziki & Greek Salad

 

Greek meatball bowls made with juicy turkey meatballs, creamy tzatziki, and a bright Greek salad. A fresh, satisfying dinner perfect for a New Year reset.

Greek Meatball Bowls with Tzatziki & Greek Salad

The time between Christmas and New Year always feels a little blurry to me — we have leftover sweets on the counter, and the cozy days seem to run together.   By the time January 1st rolls around, I’m not looking for diet resolutions, I just want a meal that feels fresh, a little lighter, and satisfying — something that helps me ease into the new year instead of rushing it.

These Greek Meatball Bowls do exactly that. The turkey meatballs are tender and full of flavor, the tzatziki adds that cool, creamy contrast, and the bright Greek salad brings everything back to life with lemon, dill, and crisp vegetables. It’s the kind of meal that feels satisfying without being heavy, balanced without being boring — real food that actually makes you want to sit down and enjoy it.

I love starting the year with meals like this because they set the tone for what I want more of: simple dinners, fresh flavors, and recipes that fit easily into real life. Whether you’re cooking for a quiet New Year’s Day at home or planning ahead for busy weeknights, this Greek Meatball Bowl with Tzatziki & Greek Salad is a gentle reminder that a fresh start doesn’t have to be too restricting — sometimes it comes in the form of a really good meal.

Wishing everyone a Happy 2026!

What Ingredients Do I Need?

• Ground Turkey - Lean and flavorful, ground turkey keeps the meatballs light while still tender and satisfying. It absorbs the herbs and spices beautifully, making every bite feel well-seasoned and comforting.

• Fresh Dill - Dill is the backbone of Greek flavor here. It adds a fresh, slightly grassy note that brightens the meatballs and ties them perfectly to the salad.

• Panko Breadcrumbs - Panko keeps the meatballs soft and juicy rather than dense. It helps bind everything together without weighing the mixture down.

• Egg - The egg acts as a binder, giving the meatballs structure while keeping them tender.

• Red Onion - Finely diced red onion adds gentle sweetness and depth to the meatballs, and a little extra bite in the salad.

• Garlic - Garlic brings warmth and savory flavor to the meatballs without overpowering the other ingredients.

• Lemon Juice - Fresh lemon juice brightens both the meatballs and the salad, adding that clean, fresh flavor that makes this dish feel balanced.

• Dried Oregano, Paprika & Basil - This simple spice blend adds warmth and classic Mediterranean flavor without being too heavy or spicy.

• Cucumber - Crisp cucumber adds freshness and crunch to the salad, keeping the bowls light and refreshing.

• Cherry Tomatoes - Juicy cherry tomatoes bring a pop of sweetness and color that balances the savory meatballs.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil - A good olive oil ties the salad together and adds richness without heaviness.

• Feta Cheese - Salty, creamy feta adds contrast and that unmistakable Greek flavor to every bite.

• Tzatziki Sauce - Cool and creamy, tzatziki balances the warm meatballs and adds a refreshing finish to the bowl.

• Pita Bread - Soft pita makes this feel like a complete, comforting meal — perfect for scooping and soaking up every bit of sauce.

Substitutions and Variations

Substitutions

• Ground chicken can be used instead of turkey with great results.

• Dried dill works in a pinch — use less since it’s more concentrated.

• Breadcrumbs or crushed crackers can replace panko if that’s what you have on hand.

• Persian cucumbers are a great swap for English cucumber.

Simple Variations to Try

• Grain Bowl Style: Serve everything over rice, orzo, or quinoa for a heartier bowl.

• Lettuce Bowl: Skip the pita and serve over chopped romaine or mixed greens for a lighter option.

• Spicy Twist: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatballs or drizzle with chili oil before serving.

• Sauce Swap: Hummus or garlic yogurt sauce can be used in place of tzatziki for a different flavor profile.

Kitchen Tips & Notes

• Don’t overmix the meatball mixture. Gently combining the ingredients keeps the meatballs tender.

• Searing first adds flavor. A quick browning in the skillet creates a better texture and deeper flavor before baking.

• Use a thermometer if you have one. It’s the easiest way to ensure perfectly cooked meatballs without drying them out.

• Prep components ahead. The meatballs and salad can be made in advance and assembled when ready to eat.

• Store everything separately. This keeps leftovers fresh and prevents sogginess.

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    RECIPE IS DOWN BELOW👇