Salad With Chicken: The Lazy Person’s Power Meal

You want a meal that’s healthy, filling, and doesn’t require a culinary degree. Enter: salad with chicken. It’s the MVP of lunches, the hero of meal prep, and the only reason you’ll feel slightly superior to your coworker eating a gas-station burrito.

This isn’t just leaves and sad protein—it’s flavor, texture, and efficiency in a bowl. And the best part? You can mess it up and it’ll still taste good.

Let’s get into it.

Why This Recipe Slaps

This salad isn’t just “healthy.” It’s balanced, flavor-packed, and stupidly easy. The chicken adds protein to keep you full, the veggies bring crunch, and the dressing ties it all together without drowning it in calories. Plus, it’s customizable—swap ingredients based on what’s in your fridge, and it’ll still work.

It’s the culinary equivalent of a multitool.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Chicken breast (1 lb, because thighs are a different recipe)
• Mixed greens (5 oz, or whatever’s on sale)
• Cherry tomatoes (1 cup, halved unless you like explosions)
• Cucumber (1, sliced, because hydration is trendy)
• Red onion (¼ cup, thinly sliced—unless you hate people)
• Avocado (1, diced, for that Instagram-worthy creaminess)
• Feta cheese (½ cup, crumbled, because salt is life)
• Olive oil (2 tbsp, the good stuff)
• Lemon juice (1 tbsp, for zing)
• Salt and pepper (to taste, or until your ancestors whisper “enough”)

How to Make It (Without Burning Down Your Kitchen)

1. Cook the chicken: Season it with salt and pepper, then pan-fry over medium heat for 6–7 minutes per side. Let it rest before slicing—unless you enjoy dry chicken.
2. Chop the veggies: Greens in the bowl, tomatoes and cucumber on top. Onion goes next unless you’re planning a solo night.
3. Add the extras: Toss in avocado and feta.

   Try not to eat all the feta while “prepping.”

4. Make the dressing: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Drizzle it like you’re Picasso.
5. Assemble: Slice the chicken, pile it on top, and toss gently. Or don’t.

   It’s your salad, rebel.

How to Store It (So It Doesn’t Turn to Mush)

Store the salad without dressing in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep the chicken separate if you’re meal-prepping like a pro. Avocado?

Add it fresh unless you enjoy brown slime. FYI, nobody enjoys brown slime.

Why This Salad Is Basically a Superfood

High protein, fiber, healthy fats—this salad checks all the boxes. The chicken keeps you full, the veggies give you nutrients without the guilt, and the avocado makes you feel fancy.

It’s a meal that fuels your body without putting you into a carb coma. IMO, it’s the ultimate lunch flex.

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

• Overcooking the chicken: Dry chicken is a crime. Use a meat thermometer (165°F) or slice it early and let residual heat do the work.
• Drowning it in dressing: You’re not making soup.

  Start light, then add more if needed.

• Using wilted greens: Nobody wants a sad salad. Fresh greens only, unless you’re into disappointment.

Alternatives for the Adventurous (or Lazy)

• No chicken? Use shrimp, steak, or tofu. Or just skip it and call it a “plant-based bowl.”
• Hate feta? Goat cheese, parmesan, or even blue cheese work.

  Live dangerously.

• No time to cook? Grab a rotisserie chicken. We won’t judge.

FAQs

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes, but keep the dressing and avocado separate until you’re ready to eat. Otherwise, you’ll have a soggy, brown mess—and not the fun kind.

What’s the best way to season the chicken?

Salt and pepper are the basics, but paprika, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning take it up a notch.

Experiment or stay boring—your call.

Can I use bottled dressing?

Sure, if you enjoy extra sugar and preservatives. Homemade is healthier and tastes better, but you do you.

How do I make this salad more filling?

Add quinoa, chickpeas, or nuts. Carbs and protein are your friends, especially if you’re not a rabbit.

Final Thoughts

This salad with chicken is the ultimate no-brainer meal.

It’s healthy, customizable, and almost impossible to ruin. Whether you’re meal-prepping or just need a quick dinner, it’s a winner. Now go forth and eat something that doesn’t come in a microwavable tray.