Description
A quick and easy crispy chicken and feta salad with mixed greens, fresh vegetables, and a zesty lemon dressing. Perfect for lunch or dinner, this salad is hearty, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 medium chicken breasts (or thighs)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Olive oil (for frying)
For the Salad:
- 6 cups mixed salad greens
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
For the Dressing:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Slice chicken breasts or thighs into evenly sized strips.
- Set up a breading station:
- Bowl 1: Flour
- Bowl 2: Beaten egg
- Bowl 3: Panko breadcrumbs seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Dredge each chicken strip in flour, dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumbs.
2. Cook the Chicken
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Fry chicken strips in batches, 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
3. Prepare the Salad Base
- In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
4. Make the Dressing
- Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar.
5. Assemble the Salad
- Arrange crispy chicken strips over the salad.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top.
- Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad just before serving.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Prepare the chicken, salad, and dressing separately. Assemble right before serving to keep the salad fresh.
- Low-Carb Option: Use almond flour or crushed pork rinds instead of panko breadcrumbs.
- Dairy-Free Alternative: Replace feta cheese with avocado slices.
- Storage: Keep leftover chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in an air fryer or oven to retain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: salad
- Method: pan-fried
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Crispy chicken salad Feta salad recipe Easy chicken salad Mediterranean salad with chicken Quick weeknight dinner