Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple - Perfect For a Fall Lunch!

This recipe for Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple features juicy, flavorful grilled chicken that's marinated with apple juice, onion, fresh herbs, and spices. It's absolutely perfect in a fall-inspired salad with apple, pecans, and brie cheese.

I admit that my husband Mike is without a doubt the grillmaster in our house.

He’s very particular about the grilling process and basically has it down to a science. Which is why it was really strange when one day when I grilled (for like the second time, ever), he asked me how I made the chicken taste so good.

I had to laugh because I knew there was a compliment in there somewhere!

I told him that I marinated the chicken overnight. He said that was probably it.

Then I continued on to tell him that I followed his directions to the letter as far as grill technique, and he said that must be it.

And then I told him that I started with fresh chicken, and he said that answers his question.

(Who knew Mike was such a chicken connoisseur?! Kidding, honey...I knew all along. ;) )

Suffice to say, this chicken is pretty darn good. So good in fact, that it makes even an amateur griller like me look good.

The Best Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple

Ingredients for Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple

Apple, Onion, and Thyme Marinated Chicken:

• Fresh apple cider
• Apple cider vinegar
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Honey
• Fresh thyme
• Dijon mustard
• Coarse kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Onion
• Apple
• Garlic
• Boneless skinless chicken breasts

Salad:

• Mixed field greens, or any baby greens you like
• Brie log
• Pecans
• Apple chips

How to Make Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple

1. Combine all ingredients for the marinated chicken in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
2. Remove the chicken from the marinade, and grill until fully cooked.
3. To use the flavor-packed marinade as a dressing, add it to a medium saucepan; cover the saucepan leaving the lid ajar, bring it to a boil, and let it boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn the heat down as necessary so it doesn’t boil over. Turn off the heat and cool slightly, then process until completely pureed in a blender or food processor. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled as dressing for this salad.
4. To assemble the salads, divide the mixed field greens between 4 plates. Divide the chicken and brie on top, and sprinkle on the pecans and apple chips.

Variations on This Recipe

• Switch up the fruit. Use pear if that's your thing (instead of apple cider use pear juice, and instead of apple chips use dried pears). Or orange is a delicious choice!
• Change the cheese. If brie isn't your favorite, go with whatever you like. A couple of my other favorites are sharp white cheddar and blue cheese in this chicken salad with apple.
• Swap out the nuts. Instead of pecans, you can use walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or whatever your favorite is.

Tips for Making Chicken Salad with Apple

• Marinating Chicken. You only need to marinate the chicken for 4 hours, but if you have time I recommend marinating it overnight. That way you will end up with the most tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken!
• Grilling Chicken. To help avoid tearing the chicken when you grill it, don’t flip it over onto the second side until it’s done searing on the first side and is easy to flip. Cooking times will vary depending on your grill and the size of your chicken breasts, but as a general guideline, we like to use a charcoal grill and cook for about 7 to 10 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook for about 5 minutes on the second side. A great way to check if your chicken is fully cooked is to make sure that the juices run clear and there is no pink inside. Inside the thickest part should register 165F on an instant-read thermometer.
• Use the Marinade as Dressing. There's a ton of flavor and nutrition in the marinade, why not use it as dressing?! To do so, bring it to a boil, and then let it boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Puree it until smooth in a blender or food processor, and then serve it as salad dressing warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
• Make a Big Batch: Since the grill is already hot, it’s easy to double the chicken if you’re cooking for a crowd or if you want to have pre-made lunches for the entire week. The cooked chicken will stay good for about 3 days stored covered in the fridge.

More Fall Inspired Salad Recipes to Make

• Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Goat Cheese
• Warm Kale Salad Recipe with Roasted Potatoes and Warm Bacon Dressing
• Roasted Delicata Squash, Pardina Lentil, and Kale Salad with Maple-Pear Balsamic Vinaigrette

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Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple

By: Faith Gorsky

This recipe for Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple features juicy, flavorful grilled chicken that's marinated with apple juice, onion, fresh herbs, and spices. It's absolutely perfect in a fall-inspired salad with apple, pecans, and brie cheese.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Time for the Chicken to Marinate 4 hours hrs

Course Main Course, Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 482 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Apple, Onion, and Thyme Marinated Chicken:

• ▢ 1 cup fresh apple cider
• ▢ 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon honey
• ▢ 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ ½ small onion peeled and thinly sliced
• ▢ ½ small red apple washed, cored, and thinly sliced
• ▢ 1 clove garlic peeled and cracked
• ▢ 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts

Salad:

• ▢ 6 cups mixed field greens or any baby greens you like
• ▢ 4 ounces brie log sliced
• ▢ ½ cup pecans toasted and coarsely chopped
• ▢ 4 tablespoons unsweetened apple chips broken up a bit

Instructions

 

• Combine all ingredients for the marinated chicken in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade, and grill until fully cooked, about 12 to 15 minutes (there should be no pink in the center). Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes after grilling and then slice it cross-wise.
• Add the marinade to a medium saucepan (including the onion, apple, and garlic). Cover the saucepan (leaving the lid ajar), bring it to a boil, and let it boil for 5 to 10 minutes (turn the heat down as necessary so it doesn’t boil over).
• Turn off the heat and cool slightly, then process the boiled marinade until completely pureed in a blender or food processor. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled as dressing for this salad.
• To assemble the salads, divide the mixed field greens between 4 plates. Divide the chicken and brie on top, and sprinkle on the pecans and apple chips.
• Serve.

Faith's Tips

• Make a Big Batch: Since the grill is already hot, it’s easy to double the chicken if you’re cooking for a crowd or if you want to have pre-made lunches for the entire week. The cooked chicken will stay good for about 3 days stored covered in the fridge.
• Grilling Chicken: To help avoid tearing the chicken when you grill it, don’t flip it over onto the second side until it’s done searing on the first side and is easy to flip. Cooking times will vary depending on your grill and the size of your chicken breasts, but as a general guideline, we like to use a charcoal grill and cook for about 7 to 10 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook for about 5 minutes on the second side. A great way to check if your chicken is fully cooked is to make sure that the juices run clear and there is no pink inside. Inside the thickest part should register 165F on an instant-read thermometer.
• Tip When Making the Dressing: When you puree the marinade after boiling, leave the onions, apples, and garlic. They will add body and an almost creamy texture to the dressing!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Marinated Chicken Salad with Apple

Amount Per Serving

Calories 482 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 13g

Cholesterol 101mg34%

Sodium 793mg34%

Potassium 808mg23%

Carbohydrates 30g10%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 22g24%

Protein 32g64%

Vitamin A 953IU19%

Vitamin C 20mg24%

Calcium 93mg9%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword Chicken Salad with Apple, Marinated Chicken Salad

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on September 16, 2014. I updated it with more information on September 23, 2021.