Mediterranean Chicken Salad with Dijon Lemon Dressing

This is the most spring-y spring salad that has ever sprung - my Mediterranean Chicken Salad with Dijon Lemon Dressing. Last week I was craving a raw kind of salad, something that gave me joy while it was down pouring in Boston. I looked into my pantry first and noticed I had hearts of palm. I immediately knew that I wanted it to be the star of the salad.

So, I created this delicious, yet satisfying salad that can also be thrown together in less than 15 minutes. I had some leftover rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods that I chopped up, added fresh vegetables like radish, cucumber, cherry tomato, arugula ,and arugula microgreens. Then, I added my flavors - the hearts of palm, feta, and olives.

The result? A gorgeous, Mediterranean-inspired salad that hits every note: salty, crunchy, creamy, juicy, and tangy. The Dijon lemon dressing ties it all together with a bright, zingy finish that’s totally crave-worthy.

Why You’ll Love This Mediterranean Chicken Salad with Dijon Lemon Dressing:

If you're tired of bland salads, this one is a total game-changer. Here's why you'll want it on repeat:
- Fresh and flavorful: Juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber and radish, briny olives, creamy feta, and peppery arugula come together in every bite.
- Protein-packed and satisfying: Thanks to lean chicken breast, healthy fats from olive oil and pumpkin seeds, and fiber from the radish, cucumber, and tomato, this salad keeps you satisfied for hours.
- Great for meal prep: You can make a big batch and enjoy it throughout the week! Just keep the dressing separate until ready to eat.
- Customizable: You can easily make it dairy-free without the addition of the feta or bulk it up with grains like quinoa or farro.

Yields: 1 serving

Portion: 1 bowl

Prep Time: - minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This recipe is gluten free.

Ingredients:

For the dijon lemon dressing:

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tbsp)

1 tsp honey or maple syrup

Salt to taste

For the salad:

2 cups arugula (Or your favorite leafy greens like baby spinach or mixed greens)

Juice of ½ lemon

1 tsp olive oil

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

½ cup cucumber, sliced thinly

1/2 cup radishes, sliced thinly

1/2 cup hearts of palm, sliced thinly

⅓ cup Castelvetrano olives, halved

¼ cup crumbled feta cheese

2 cups cooked chicken breast (grilled, roasted, or rotisserie all work great)

1 tbsp pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Optional garnish: arugula microgreens

Instructions:

1. Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey/maple syrup, and salt. Shake or whisk until fully emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.

2. Build the salad: In a large bowl or on a serving platter, layer the arugula. Massage arugula with lemon and olive oil. Add tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, hearts of palm, olives, and feta.

3. Add the chicken: Add the chicken on top of the veggies.

4. Dress and toss: Drizzle the salad with your homemade Dijon lemon dressing and toss gently to combine.

5. Serve: Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top. Top with microgreens if you have them. Serve and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this salad ahead of time?: Yes! Just keep the dressing separate until you're ready to eat. It stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
What’s a good substitute for hearts of palm?: If you don’t have hearts of palm, try artichoke hearts or even thinly sliced celery for crunch.
Can I use a different protein?: Yes! This salad also works beautifully with grilled shrimp, salmon, chickpeas, or tofu for a vegetarian twist.
How long does the dressing last?: The lemon Dijon dressing keeps for up to 1 week in the fridge in a sealed jar. Just shake before using.

Recipe Notes:

Dairy-Free Option: To make this salad completely dairy-free, simply skip the feta cheese or opt for a dairy free cheese. If you're worried about the lactose, go for a lactose free cheese or a low-in-lactose cheese such as parmesan or mozzarella.
Add more fiber: For a heartier meal, add some grains like quinoa or farro or more cooked vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower.

I hope you love this recipe as much as I did, so if you do, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I always read through my suggestions and comments, so please let me know your thoughts. If you have any questions you can feel free to DM me here or through Instagram. Speaking of Instagram - please tag me in all of your creations! I love seeing how the recipes come out and seeing how talented you all are. Sending my love.

xoxo,

Jasmin D the RD

The result? A gorgeous, Mediterranean-inspired salad that hits every note: salty, crunchy, creamy, juicy, and tangy. The Dijon lemon dressing ties it all together with a bright, zingy finish that’s totally crave-worthy.

Why You’ll Love This Mediterranean Chicken Salad with Dijon Lemon Dressing:

If you're tired of bland salads, this one is a total game-changer. Here's why you'll want it on repeat:

Fresh and flavorful: Juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber and radish, briny olives, creamy feta, and peppery arugula come together in every bite.

Protein-packed and satisfying: Thanks to lean chicken breast, healthy fats from olive oil and pumpkin seeds, and fiber from the radish, cucumber, and tomato, this salad keeps you satisfied for hours.

Great for meal prep: You can make a big batch and enjoy it throughout the week! Just keep the dressing separate until ready to eat.

Customizable: You can easily make it dairy-free without the addition of the feta or bulk it up with grains like quinoa or farro.

Yields: 1 serving

Portion: 1 bowl

Prep Time: - minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This recipe is gluten free.

Ingredients:

For the dijon lemon dressing:

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tbsp)

1 tsp honey or maple syrup

Salt to taste

For the salad:

2 cups arugula (Or your favorite leafy greens like baby spinach or mixed greens)

Juice of ½ lemon

1 tsp olive oil

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

½ cup cucumber, sliced thinly

1/2 cup radishes, sliced thinly

1/2 cup hearts of palm, sliced thinly

⅓ cup Castelvetrano olives, halved

¼ cup crumbled feta cheese

2 cups cooked chicken breast (grilled, roasted, or rotisserie all work great)

1 tbsp pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Optional garnish: arugula microgreens

Instructions:

1. Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey/maple syrup, and salt. Shake or whisk until fully emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.

2. Build the salad: In a large bowl or on a serving platter, layer the arugula. Massage arugula with lemon and olive oil. Add tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, hearts of palm, olives, and feta.

3. Add the chicken: Add the chicken on top of the veggies.

4. Dress and toss: Drizzle the salad with your homemade Dijon lemon dressing and toss gently to combine.

5. Serve: Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top. Top with microgreens if you have them. Serve and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this salad ahead of time?: Yes! Just keep the dressing separate until you're ready to eat. It stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

What’s a good substitute for hearts of palm?: If you don’t have hearts of palm, try artichoke hearts or even thinly sliced celery for crunch.

Can I use a different protein?: Yes! This salad also works beautifully with grilled shrimp, salmon, chickpeas, or tofu for a vegetarian twist.

How long does the dressing last?: The lemon Dijon dressing keeps for up to 1 week in the fridge in a sealed jar. Just shake before using.

Recipe Notes:

Dairy-Free Option: To make this salad completely dairy-free, simply skip the feta cheese or opt for a dairy free cheese. If you're worried about the lactose, go for a lactose free cheese or a low-in-lactose cheese such as parmesan or mozzarella.

Add more fiber: For a heartier meal, add some grains like quinoa or farro or more cooked vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower.

xoxo,

Jasmin D the RD

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