Get ready to embark on a culinary journey to the sun-drenched landscapes of Southern France with this mouthwatering Provencal Roasted Chicken Salad! Imagine tender, herb-infused chicken mingling with juicy cherry tomatoes and briny black olives, all dressed in a light and zesty vinaigrette that will make your taste buds dance. This isn't just a salad - it's a quick, elegant meal that brings the vibrant flavors of Provence right to your dinner table in just one hour!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 60 mins
Cuisine: Salad
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). If using raw chicken, season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and dried Herbes de Provence.
- Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for approximately 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Allow the chicken to cool completely before shredding.
- While the chicken is cooling, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes and slice the black olives.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced black olives.
- Chop the fresh basil leaves and add them to the chicken mixture.
- Create the dressing by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture, gently tossing to ensure even coating.
- Let the salad rest for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature, garnished with additional fresh basil if desired.
Tips
- For maximum flavor, use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts and season generously with Herbes de Provence before roasting.
- Let the chicken cool completely before shredding to ensure the meat remains tender and doesn't dry out.
- Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil and aged red wine vinegar for the most authentic Provencal taste.
- Allow the salad to rest for 10 minutes after dressing to let the flavors fully develop and meld together.
- For a gourmet touch, toast some pine nuts or add crumbled feta cheese as an optional garnish.
- This salad can be prepared ahead of time and tastes even better after chilling in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 250kcal
Carbohydrates: 4g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 70mg
