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Grilled Chicken with Strawberry and Arugula Salad!

A fresh, light, beautiful spring/summer salad with a choice of white balsamic vinaigrette or traditional balsamic vinaigrette. Paleo and Whole 30!

Course dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, BBQ, grilling
Keyword #bbq, #easy dinner, Paleo, whole30
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Author Linda Spiker

Ingredients

For Chicken:

  • 4 smallish boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded and brined
  • 6 cups water
  • 1/3 cup sea salt, I use Himalayan sea salt, but you can use Kosher too
  • sea salt, pepper, olive oil

For Salad:

  • 4 cups organic baby arugula
  • 2 cups sliced organic strawberries
  • 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts

For White Balsamic dressing:

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
  • 3 tablespoons white balsamic
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • pinch sea salt and black pepper

If using traditional balsamic

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • pinch sea salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Place water and salt in a large bowl and stir

  2. Place chicken breasts between folded parchment paper and pound with a rolling pin until uniformly thick (about 3/4" thick is best)

  3. Place breasts in salt water for 30 minutes

While breasts brine, prepare salad and dressing, preheat grill:

  1. After breasts have brined for 20 minutes, place lettuce and sliced berries on platter, sprinkle with pine nuts and  whisk together dressing ingredients

  2. Preheat grill on high, about  425 degrees

  3. After breasts have brined for 30 minutes, remove breasts from water, pat dry with paper towels

  4. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste

  5. Place breasts on preheated grill, close lid and cook until nice golden grill marks are established (3-4 minutes), then turn the meat a quarter turn (don’t flip, just rotate the same side a 1/4 turn) and cook until new criss-cross marks appear.  (3-4 minutes)

  6. Turn breasts over, lower heat to med/low (about 350 degrees) close lid and cook for five more minutes until just cooked through. Don't over cook! Remove from grill

  7. Whisk dressing again and dress salad

  8. Leave whole or if desired, cut breasts on the diagonal and serve topped with salad