Roasted Chicken Salad Recipe (Easy Lemon Mustard Chicken in 35 Minutes)

You know those meals that look almost too plain, then you take a bite and go, okay wait.

That’s this plate right here.

The chicken gets a quick lemon-mustard coating, the salad stays bright and crunchy, and the whole thing feels neat without tasting stiff.

I love that nothing here fights for attention because the roast on the chicken and the juicy tomatoes do plenty already.

It reads light, but it still eats like a real lunch, which matters on days when I’m not trying to snack an hour later.

And the corn tucked into the tomatoes is such a tiny thing, but it makes the plate feel happy.

Watch This Plate Come Together

Watch the video above if you wanna catch the whole plate from the first spoon of marinade to the last toss of salad.

Ingredients You Need

Ingredient collage for roasted chicken salad.
  • 1 tsp lemon juice.
  • 1/2 tsp mustard.
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano.
  • 1 tbsp water.
  • 3.5 oz chicken breast.
  • 1 cup lettuce.
  • 1/2 cup tomatoes.
  • 1 tbsp corn.
  • 1 tsp lemon juice.
  • 1 tsp olive oil.
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper.
  • 1/8 tsp salt.

How To Make Roasted Chicken Salad

1. Stir together the quick chicken coating.

Mixing lemon mustard oregano marinade for roasted chicken salad.

In a bowl, add the lemon juice, mustard, dried oregano, and water.

Mix it until the mustard loosens up and the bowl looks lightly speckled all over.

Its a tiny marinade, but it clings to the chicken real well.

2. Coat the chicken breast all over.

Coating chicken breast in lemon mustard marinade.

Add the chicken breast to the bowl and turn it until the coating covers the whole piece.

Make sure both sides get a little of everything so the oregano and mustard arent just sitting at the bottom doing nothing.

3. Move the chicken to a lined tray.

Transferring coated chicken to a parchment-lined tray.

Set the coated chicken on a parchment-lined baking tray.

Keep it centered on the pan so it roasts evenly and gets a nice little color on top.

4. Roast until the chicken is golden and cooked through.

Bake the chicken at 180 C for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the middle is cooked through and the outside looks lightly golden.

Let it rest for a minute so the juices settle instead of running all over the plate.

5. Build the salad with lettuce and tomatoes.

Adding tomatoes to lettuce for roasted chicken salad.

Add the lettuce to a bowl, then tip in the tomatoes.

The tomatoes keep this from feeling dry, which matters since the plate stays pretty simple on purpose.

6. Add the corn for a little sweetness.

Adding corn to roasted chicken salad.

Spoon the corn over the lettuce and tomatoes.

Its just a small amount, but it softens the sharp edge of the lemon and makes the salad taste rounder.

7. Finish the salad with lemon, olive oil, pepper, and salt.

Finishing roasted chicken salad with lemon juice and olive oil.

Drizzle in the lemon juice and olive oil, then season with black pepper and salt.

That little bit of oil gives the tomatoes a shine and helps the seasoning travel through the bowl better.

8. Toss the salad just enough.

Tossing roasted chicken salad.

Toss everything until the lettuce looks lightly coated and the tomatoes and corn are spread through the bowl.

You dont need a hard toss here because the lettuce bruises fast.

9. Plate the salad with the roasted chicken.

Plated roasted chicken salad with baked chicken breast.

Spoon the salad onto a plate and set the roasted chicken right beside it.

It looks clean, tastes fresh, and honestly makes meal prep brain feel a little less messy.

Why This One Works

The chicken gets seasoned before it ever hits the oven, so it has flavor all the way through instead of just on the outside.

The salad stays very light, which gives the roasted chicken room to be the filling part of the plate.

Lemon juice and olive oil do enough here, and thats why the whole thing still feels bright instead of weighed down.

Stuff Id Keep Exactly Like This

Keep the mustard in the chicken coating because it helps the oregano stick and gives the roast a little edge.

Dont overdo the corn because the small amount is what keeps it from turning into a different salad.

Let the chicken rest a minute after baking so it stays juicy when you cut into it.

Toss the salad last because the lettuce looks happiest that way.

What To Put Next To It

This works as a stand-alone lunch, especially if you like meals that feel clean and simple.

If youre in the mood for another chicken bowl later in the week, the Keto Cucumber Radish Chicken Salad has that same cold fresh bite.

If you want something with more smoke and sauce, the Keto BBQ Chicken Salad takes the mood in a different direction real fast.

How Long It Keeps

The roasted chicken will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 days.

The salad is nicest the day you toss it because the tomatoes and lettuce start softening once they sit together.

If youre packing it ahead, store the chicken and salad separately, then plate them together later.

Questions That Usually Come Up

Is 180 C enough for the chicken?

Yes, for a small breast like this it gives you enough time to cook the middle through without drying the outside out too hard.

Does the salad need a heavier dressing?

Nope, the lemon and olive oil are enough because the chicken already brings the richer part of the plate.

Can I slice the chicken over the salad instead of serving it beside it?

You can, but I like it on the side because the lettuce stays crisp longer and the plate looks cleaner.

Will the tomatoes make it watery?

Not if you toss right before serving, which is why I wouldnt dress this one too far ahead.

More Wellness Warrior Chicken Salads

If you want a lunch that feels a bit heartier the next day, this healthy chicken pasta salad with avocado tomato is a good one to keep in rotation.

Print

Roasted Chicken Salad Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This roasted chicken salad keeps lunch easy with a quick lemon mustard chicken breast and a fresh lettuce, tomato, and corn salad on the side.

  • Author: Jane Summerfield
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 1 plate
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp mustard
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 3.5 oz chicken breast
  • 1 cup lettuce
  • 1/2 cup tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp corn
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon lemon juice, mustard, dried oregano, and water.
  2. Add the chicken breast and turn to coat.
  3. Transfer the chicken to a parchment-lined baking tray.
  4. Bake at 180 C for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly golden.
  5. Add the lettuce, tomatoes, and corn to a bowl.
  6. Drizzle in the remaining lemon juice and the olive oil.
  7. Season with black pepper and salt.
  8. Toss the salad and plate it with the roasted chicken.

Notes

  • Let the chicken rest briefly after baking so the juices stay in the meat.
  • Toss the salad right before serving so the lettuce stays crisp.
  • A small amount of corn is enough to sweeten the plate without taking over.

 

Nutrition Information (Per Serving, Estimated)

  • Calories: 260
  • Total Fat: 8g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 70mg
  • Sodium: 90mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 17g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2g
  • Total Sugars: 3g
  • Added Sugars: 0g
  • Protein: 29g
  • Vitamin D: 0mcg
  • Calcium: 42mg
  • Iron: 1.5mg
  • Potassium: 640mg

% Daily Value based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary.