Grilled Polynesian Chicken Salad

The flavors in this fresh Grilled Polynesian Chicken Salad are beautifully balanced between the marinated grilled chicken, sweet chunks of fresh pineapple and sharp blue cheese. The pineapple vinaigrette is light and refreshing, just as a summer salad dressing should be.

Easy Grilled Polynesian Chicken Salad with a Pineapple Vinaigrette Recipe

Warmer months means grilling nationwide. While grilling is a year-round sport at our house, in particular we tend to grill most often during warmer weather. Dining al fresco and turning a meal into an event is what grilling is all about. How to Make Grilled Polynesian Chicken Salad: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Marinade – Whisk the marinade ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Place into the refrigerator to chill and marinate overnight.
• Grill Chicken – Preheat the grill to medium-high and oil the grates. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and discard marinade. Grill chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces. Grill until the juices run clear. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
• Vinaigrette – Whisk together the pineapple juice, white balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and red pepper flakes. Slowly drizzle the oil into the mixture, whisking vigorously while you pour. The vinaigrette should slightly thicken. Chill until serving. Shake well before serving.
• Assemble the Salads – Arrange salad greens on a plate or platter. Dress with julienned cucumber and carrot. Add thinly sliced strips of red onion and red bell pepper. Top with fresh pineapple chunks and a sprinkle of bleu cheese. Slice the chicken and arrange on top. Serve drizzled with the pineapple vinaigrette.

How to Make the BEST Grilled Polynesian Chicken

I have a long standing love relationship with pineapple in both sweet and savory dishes. Fresh summer salads are a staple on our kitchen table the only challenge I find, is coming up with a flavor combination that appeals to everyone. This salad fits the bill filled with salty sweet and fresh flavors.

• Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Grilled Polynesian Chicken Salad: 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts. (6 pieces)
• Marinade: Pineapple juice, teriyaki sauce, olive oil, brown sugar, salt and black pepper, garlic.
• Vinaigrette: Pineapple juice, white balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, granulated garlic or garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, olive oil.
• Salad Fixins: Mixed salad greens, English cucumber, carrot, red onion, large red bell pepper, fresh pineapple chunks and crumbled gorgonzola or bleu cheese.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need: Sharp knife and cutting board, shallow dish, whisk, measuring cups and spoons and large bowl.
• Don’t be intimidated by the ingredient list. Keep in mind, the marinade and vinaigrette are both homemade. Should you prefer, you can take shortcuts depending on available prep time.
• You can use a ;purchased marinade to save time. Choose one that has similar flavors for the best end result.
• There’s plenty of room to personalize the ingredients for the salad fixins’ to your personal taste.
• Marinating the chicken overnight, will give the flavors time to permeate the chicken breasts.
• If you prefer to take a shortcut utilizing a prepared bottled marinade, choose one that has pineapple included to complement the fresh pineapple topping and vinaigrette.
• After grilling the chicken, allow a few minutes of rest time before carving.
• If you’re a fan of pineapple checkout my recipe for Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Chicken Kabobs.
• Other warm weather grilling recipes are this Grilled Vegetable Salad and Grilled Vegetable Kabobs.
• You may also enjoy these Hawaiian Meatballs from Lemon Tree Dwelling.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mixing Bowls
• Knife and Chopping Board
• Measuring Set
• Colander