Peach Salad with Feta | An Easy Summer Dinner Salad
This peach salad with feta is fresh, flavorful, and perfect for summer. Juicy peaches, grilled chicken, feta, greens, and homemade honey Dijon dressing.
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Servings: 8 people
Calories: 269kcal
Cost: Varies
Equipment
- Bowls three total
- Whisk
- Grill optional
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloin or thigh
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- 1 Tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- salt & pepper to taste
For the Salad
- 8 cups lettuce torn
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- 2 large peaches sliced, or three small peaches
- ½ cup walnuts chopped
- ½ red onion sliced thinly
- 1 cup feta crumbled
- 4 pieces bacon crumbled
For the Dressing
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken
- In a large bowl, whisk together olive or avocado oil, fresh basil and rosemary, garlic, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the chicken to the marinade; marinate for 2-5 hours.
Cook the Chicken
- Preheat the grill to medium heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Add chicken to the grill and cook, turning occasionally, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Time will vary based on the thickness of the chicken. (5-8 min per side is typical.) Allow chicken to rest before slicing.
Assemble the Salad
- Mix greens and chopped basil in a large bowl. Top with bacon, peaches, nuts, onion, and cheese. Slice chicken into strips and place on top of salad.
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, honey, Dijon, and basil, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Dress the Salad
- Drizzle dressing over individual salads or serve dressing alongside plates. Serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe Tips and Troubleshooting:
Even simple recipes have a few tricks that can make all the difference. These are some of my favorite tips for making the best peach salad with feta every time.
Serving Peach and Feta Salad:
One of the reasons I love this peach salad with feta is that it's hearty enough to be a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with some of our favorite summer dishes.
Serve it alongside a loaf of homemade sourdough bread, fresh focaccia, or warm, buttery dinner rolls to round out the meal. If you're firing up the grill, roasted baby potatoes or grilled corn on the cob are delicious additions, and a simple chilled pasta salad makes it an easy choice for potlucks or family gatherings.
To drink, I love serving this salad with a glass of sparkling lemonade or iced herbal tea on a warm afternoon.
For dessert, keep things light and seasonal with homemade strawberry sorbet, a bowl of fresh berries topped with whipped cream, or grilled peaches served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Storage Instructions:
Like many fresh salads, this recipe is best enjoyed immediately after it's assembled.
If you anticipate leftovers, store each component separately.
Refrigerator
- Use Ripe, But Firm Peaches - Perfect peaches should smell wonderfully sweet and give just slightly when pressed. If they're too firm, they won't have much flavor. If they're overly ripe, they'll become mushy once sliced.
- Don't Skip Resting the Chicken - Allowing the chicken to rest for a few minutes keeps it tender and juicy. This small step is worth the extra patience.
- Toast the Nuts - Lightly toasting pecans, walnuts, or almonds for a few minutes in a dry skillet adds incredible flavor and crunch. It's a simple step that makes the entire salad taste even better.
- Dress the Salad Just Before Serving - Greens begin to wilt once they're dressed. If you're serving guests or planning leftovers, keep the dressing separate until you're ready to eat.
- Make It Ahead - This recipe works wonderfully for meal prep. Prepare the grilled chicken, dressing, bacon, and chopped nuts. Store everything separately and assemble the salad just before serving.
| Troubleshooting | Solution |
| My peaches aren't sweet enough. | A drizzle of extra honey in the dressing helps balance less-than-perfect peaches. |
| My dressing separated. | This is normal. Simply whisk or shake it again before serving, or swap the honey for molasses. Molasses works as a natural emulsifier so your dressing won’t separate. |
| My greens became soggy. | Wait until the very last minute to add the dressing. |
- Salad greens: Up to 2 days.
- Grilled chicken: Up to 4 days.
- Dressing: Up to 1 week.
- Cooked bacon: Up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 673IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 1mg
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