Green Goddess Chicken Salad (Printable View)

Herb-and-yogurt dressed chicken chunks over crisp greens with fresh vegetables. Light, refreshing, and packed with protein.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Green Goddess Dressing

05 - 2/3 cup Greek yogurt
06 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
08 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 clove garlic, minced
10 - 2 anchovy fillets, optional, finely chopped
11 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
12 - 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
13 - 1/4 cup fresh tarragon or basil, chopped
14 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Salad

15 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, spinach)
16 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
17 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
18 - 1 small avocado, sliced

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on prepared tray and bake for 15 minutes until cooked through. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then cut into 3/4-inch chunks.
03 - In a blender or food processor, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, anchovies if using, parsley, chives, and tarragon or basil. Blend until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, toss chicken chunks with half of the Green Goddess dressing until evenly coated.
05 - Arrange mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and avocado on a serving platter or individual plates. Top with dressed chicken.
06 - Drizzle remaining dressing over the salad as desired and serve immediately.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • It turns leftover cooked chicken or a quick bake into something that feels special enough for guests.
  • The dressing is so packed with fresh herbs that even picky eaters ask for seconds.
  • You can prep the components ahead and toss everything together when hunger strikes.
  • It's light but satisfying, leaving you energized instead of weighed down.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting step for the chicken, cutting it too soon releases all the juices onto the cutting board instead of keeping them inside the meat.
  • Taste the dressing before you toss it with the chicken, you might want more lemon or salt depending on your herbs and yogurt brand.
  • If your dressing feels too thick, thin it with a teaspoon of water or extra lemon juice until it's pourable but still clings to the chicken.
03 -
  • Use the freshest herbs you can find, wilted or old herbs make the dressing taste flat and muddy instead of vibrant.
  • If you're nervous about raw garlic, roast the clove for 10 minutes first to mellow its bite.
  • Don't overdress the salad, you want the greens lightly coated so they stay crisp and don't wilt into a soggy mess.
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