Crispy Chicken Salad with Blueberries and Pine Nuts

Juicy, Crispy pieces of chicken on top of a bed of mixed greens, sprinkled with blueberries and pine nuts and topped with a refreshing blue cheese dressing. A fast, easy salad that contains only 5 ingredients and is packed full of vitamins.

Sometimes I’m in a hurry and want something quick. When I don’t have time to make my crispy air fryer chicken recipe, I swing by the grocery store and get a couple crispy chicken tenders or breasts (found near or in the deli department) and add these to this salad. When I buy them ahead of time and they sit in my refrigerator a few days in advance, it’s nice to know I can fall back on this recipe and pull it out of my hat when I need it most.

Blueberries and pine nuts add a perfect touch. They give us a nice departure from all the typical salads that sometimes even the best of us can get bored with. I like to load this salad with these two power foods.

I’ve even enjoyed this salad without the chicken as a vegetarian dish. It’s just that good, trust me!

Crispy Chicken Salad with Blueberries and Pine Nuts Ingredients

• Greens: Since I eat a lot of salad, I like to mix the greens up quiet a bit. I love the mixed greens in this one but I have also made it with straight up baby spinach.
• Chicken: Store bought chicken tender or chicken breasts are convenient. But you can use a healthier choice like my Tender Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Bites.
• Blueberries: I use fresh blueberries in this salad. Sometimes I add so many I’m not sure if I’m making a blueberry salad with chicken instead.
• Pine Nuts: Pine nuts can be bought in a container or a bag and are usually found in your specialty aisel at the grocery store.
• Blu Cheese Dressing: There are several options for blu cheese dressing. Chunky, creamy or somewhere in between.

What are Pine Nuts?

Let’s explore the wonderful option of pine nuts and all they have to offer.

What exactly is a pine nut, you ask? Pine nuts are the small, edible seeds of pines trees and are found in the pine cones. So technically the are pine seeds rather than nuts.

What do pine nuts taste like? Pine nuts are small, soft nuts with a nutty flavor. What makes them so yummy is they also taste a little like cashews as well, with a slight undertone of sweetness. This perfect nut go accompany a fruit salad quite well!

Are pine nuts healthy? Yes! The are full of vitamin E which can help your skin look young and healthy. They also contain protein, magnesium and iron which can help increase your energy level.

How to Make Crispy Chicken Salad with Blueberries and Pine Nuts

1. Wash lettuce and set in bowls.
2. Cut up crispy chicken and add to bowl.
3. Sprinkle a healthy amount of blueberries to taste.
4. Top with pine nuts.
5. Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.

Tasty Variations for Crispy Chicken Salad

Chicken: Rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, pan seared chicken, air fryer chicken. Chicken tenders, breasts or meat from legs or wings. This doesn’t have to be in big neat slices which makes the method of cooking and the white or dark meat choice so versatile.
Other Meats: I’ve made this salad with cut up beef like a tenderloin or flank steak. Also ham would work but I would probably add some pieces of pineapple to tie it in better with that meat.
Meatless: Of course! Turn this into a vegetarian delight!
Fruit: grapes, pears, mangos, figs, strawberries, peaches, pineapple, or blackberries.
Dressings: Blueberry /strawberry/raspberry vinaigrette, ranch, poppy seed, catalina.
Greens: Iceberg, arugula, boston, romaine, red leaf, butter, spinach.