question about using chicken in salads

[shaynaatl]

I like ordering entree salads with chicken at restaurants.  I'd like to start making my own at home to take to work for lunch.

My first attempt wasn't great though. I bought a rotisserie chicken at Whole Foods and used the white meat to throw in the salad.  It ended up kind of flavorless. 

What things can I do to make it taste more like the flavorful chicken I taste in restaurant salads like Panera, etc?

[magdala]

This weekend I marinated boneless chicken breast and thighs in salad dressing then grill it. Because my parents like simple foods, I used bottled Italian dressing. Different flavored dressings will give you different results.

[dearprudence]

I season and grill chicken breasts for salads.

[jcbarbee]

I like to cook chicken ahead of time and use it through out the week. We grill sometimes, but during the winter I do it indoors.


Either one of these works inside.
1. Coat all over with olive oil, salt, and seasoned pepper bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes, until cooked through.
2. Pound chicken out to even thickness, put whatever seasonings on it. You can mix it up, taco, ranch, whatever. Heat a tablespoon or so of olive oil or butter in a skillet and sear on both sides until really golden brown, cook in the oven at 350 until done.

-Another way to add lots of flavor is dressing. I love mixing fat free ranch or greek yogurt ranch (ranch seasoning with greek yogurt instead of mayo or 1/2 and 1/2) with bbq sauce and making a southwestern salad, corn, black beans, tortilla strips, avocado, etc.

Or mix the same ranch with salsa and doing taco salad with lean ground beef or chicken from above, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocado, etc.

And for more inspiration, some salads I have blogged.

thebarbeehousewife.com/2014/06/04/grilled-chicken-salad-with-pineapple-blueberries/

thebarbeehousewife.com/2014/03/06/chopped-taco-salad/

thebarbeehousewife.com/2013/04/17/california-club-chopped-salad/

[dianeblack]

I don't like salads with chicken!

[candreco]

May 17, 2015 4:41:55 GMT -5 dianeblack said:

I don't like salads with chicken!

Well that is just super helpful!  :^)

[candreco]

Anyway, I had to run to a meeting, but I like citrus marinated chicken, grilled or broiled, on salads, particularly with balsamic vinaigrette.