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    Home » Al Fresco

    Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad

    Published: Aug 12, 2018 · Modified: Jan 11, 2023 by Philip + Mystique · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Our refreshing and hearty Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad with Basil is the ultimate kitchen sink salad perfect for summer lunches. The epitome combo of sweet and salty, using the little bits of leftovers found in your fridge and garden and tossed in a fresh balsamic, vinegar, dijon and honey dressing, it's the summer salad you'll be enjoying until the end of the season.

    Both Philip and my favourite summer treats is the juicy, sweet and irresistible, watermelon. Nature's OG candy, watermelon is hydrating and refreshing. And during the summer months our refrigerator is packed with bowls and bowls of this delicious fruit.

    Close up of chicken, watermelon and feta salad on a blue plate

    Inspired by the bounty of our balcony garden and the little bits of leftovers in our fridge, we combined roasted chicken, crumbled feta, and luscious watermelon to make the ultimate kitchen sink summer salad.

    Of course, you know we're all about the perfectly crafted salad, and in our article The Art of Building a Simple Salad, we share our favourite 6 ways to achieve this in our Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad. Here's a little recap:

    Tips for Creating a Beautiful Salad

    1. Start off Strong

    Choosing a strong leafy base that'll hold up to your toppings is essential. In our Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad we opted for fresh arugula. A favourite of Philip's, our balcony salad bar has started to bolt and grown over, making this spicy leaf a perfect addition to our kitchen sink salad.

    2. Insert the Crunch Factor: 

    We believe the key to an interesting salad is the crunch factor, and here we've opted for a subtle sound of whispy lettuce, crisp red onions, crunchy pistachios and the subtle sharp tones of biting into fresh watermelon. The crunch is the little bit of oomph that can turn a motionless salad into a soundtrack of bass and melody.

    3. Taste the Rainbow:

    What we love most about any salad is the array of colours and the natural artistic pairings of certain ingredients. Opting for red onions to compliment the feminine and fresh watermelon, the feta added pops of contrast and the greens adding a deeper balance to truly ground the salad. To add even more green to our palate, we added in basil to for additional punch.

    Watermelon cubes and basil leaves on a wooden cutting board

    4. Fuel your Fat:

    Pistachios, olive oil and feta and the fats needed to keep you full longer when opting for a summer salad.

    5. Protein, Protein, Protein:

    We mentioned about that this salad was inspired by the leftovers in our refrigerator, and leftover chicken was the star of this choice. While we would never think to combine chicken and watermelon, the watermelon and dressing added lightness with the chicken adding a heartier base, balanced with the salty and creaminess of the feta

    6. Dress for Success:

    Sweet, tangy and thick enough to coat all the ingredients, our simple dressing of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard and honey was a classic and safe choice to play off the juices of the watermelon, adding an even deeper level of flavour.

    Close up of Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad with basil and pistachios

    With all the right pieces in place, creating this Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad involves easy prep time and is a well balanced summer salad perfect for the backyard or on it's own as a summer lunch. Aside from amazing flavours, it's a successful nod to the leftover kitchen gods and a very thoughtful and mindful eating practice to reduce food waste and meal plan like a champ.

    Deconstructed Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad Ingredients

    How to Make Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad

    Make the Dressing

    Get a small bowl and add the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk the ingredients together until combined into a slightly thickened dressing.

    Dress the Arugula

    Place the arugula in a medium sized bowl. Make sure it is in bite sized pieces and tear into smaller bits if necessary. Drizzle half the dressing on top and toss with tongs or your hands.

    Assemble the Salad

    To assemble the salad in individual portions, place a handful of the dressed arugula on a plate. Top with shredded chicken, then place the cubed watermelon and a few onion rings on top. Drizzle with additional dressing then to finish the salad, sprinkle on some feta cheese, pistachios and a few leaves of basil. Season with a few twists of fresh ground black pepper.

    Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad on a blue plate

    Helpful Tools and Ingredients to Make Our Chicken and Watermelon Salad

    Below are affiliate links to products that will assist you in making our Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad. If you purchase an item through the links, Chef Sous Chef Inc. will receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you.

    • Chef's Knife
    • Whisk
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Salad Tongs
    • Salad Bowl

    Thank you for helping support us through these purchases. If you have made this recipe, please let us know in the comments below!

    Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad on a blue plate

    Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad

    Philip Lago & Mystique Mattai
    Our refreshing and hearty Chicken, Watermelon and Feta Salad with Basil is the ultimate kitchen sink salad perfect for summer lunches. The epitome combo of sweet and salty, using the little bits of leftovers found in your fridge and garden and tossed in a fresh balsamic, vinegar, dijon and honey dressing, it’s the summer salad you’ll be enjoying until the end of the season.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course food and drink, Main, Salad
    Cuisine Canadian, north american
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 350

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 4 cups cubed watermelon
    • 4 cups arugula
    • 2 cups shredded roast chicken
    • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
    • ½ small red onion thinly sliced rounds
    • 1 sprig basil torn or chopped
    • 2 tablespoon pistachios chopped

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper.
    • Toss the arugula with half the dressing in a large bowl. 
    • For serving, place a cup of the dressed arugula on a plate. Top with ½ cup roast chicken, then place 1 cup cubed watermelon and a few rings of red onion. Drizzle with additional dressing, then sprinkle with a couple tablespoons of feta cheese, pistachios,  and a few leaves of basil. Finish with a few twists of fresh ground black pepper.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 23gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 431mgPotassium: 489mgFiber: 2gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 1491IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 155mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword Easy Salad, Summer Salad, Watermelon Recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @chef.souschef or use the hashtag #chefsouschef and let us know how it was!
    Chicken, Feta and Watermelon Salad Close Up with Recipe Text
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melanie says

      December 06, 2018 at 3:04 pm

      A great summer salad. Even with the chicken it is very refreshing and light. Can't wait to make it again next summer.5 stars

      Reply
    2. LauraMitch says

      August 02, 2020 at 8:32 am

      This salad was simply amazing. The only thing I did differently was toss it all together in the dressing, and increased the pistachios to about a 1/4 cup. Otherwise it was perfect and the flavours were awesome and complimented each other.5 stars

      Reply
      • Chef Sous Chef says

        August 05, 2020 at 8:15 am

        Hi Laura,

        Thanks for the comment! We're so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Such a great summer salad 🙂

        Reply
    3. Elizabeth W says

      September 09, 2022 at 8:25 pm

      I made this for dinner before a trip, which was perfect because I ended up using a lot of odds and ends in my fridge - half a rotisserie chicken, cut watermelon, a few baby cucumbers, some Thai basil, and an opened package of feta. The salad was delicious. I’ll be making it again, even when I don’t need to clear out the fridge before traveling.5 stars

      Reply

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