Chipotle Chicken Salad is a flavorful and satisfying dish that combines tender grilled chicken with crisp vegetables, creamy avocado, and a zesty chipotle dressing.
Packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, this salad is a delicious and nutritious option for a light lunch or dinner. Let’s explore how to make this tasty and wholesome salad!
How Long Will It Take To Prepare?
The preparation time for Chipotle Chicken Salad can vary depending on factors such as marinating the chicken and assembling the salad. Here’s an estimated breakdown:
- Marinating the chicken: This step will take approximately 30 minutes to marinate the chicken, but for more flavor, you can marinate it overnight.
- Cooking the chicken: Grilling the chicken breasts typically takes about 12-16 minutes in total, including preheating the grill and resting the chicken after cooking.
- Preparing the salad ingredients: Chopping and preparing the vegetables and other salad ingredients can take around 10-15 minutes.
- Making the dressing: Whisking together the dressing ingredients usually takes about 5 minutes.
- Assembling the salad: Once all the components are ready, making the salad should take around 5-10 minutes.
- Total Time: 60-75 minutes
- Serving: 4 People
![Chipotle Chicken Salad](https://megachickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chipotle-Chicken-Salad.jpg)
How Do You Make Chipotle Chicken Salad?
Chipotle Chicken Salad is a flavorful and satisfying dish with a hint of smokiness and spice from chipotle peppers. Here’s a simple recipe to guide you through making it:
Essential Ingredients For Chipotle Chicken Salad:
For the Chipotle Chicken
- Two boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Two chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
- Two tablespoons adobo sauce (from the can of chipotle peppers)
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- One teaspoon of ground cumin
- One teaspoon of smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Salad
- 4 cups mixed salad greens (such as lettuce, spinach, or arugula)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed if frozen)
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- One avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese or shredded Mexican cheese blend (optional)
- Lime wedges for serving
For the Dressing
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- Two tablespoons of lime juice
- One tablespoon of honey or maple syrup
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- One chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Essential Instructions For The Chipotle Chicken Salad:
Step 1
Marinate the Chicken
In a bowl, combine the minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, olive oil, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step 2
Add the chicken breasts to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator for more flavor.
Step 3
Cook the Chicken
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard any excess marinade.
Step 4
Grill the chicken breasts for about 6-8 minutes per side or until cooked through and no longer pink in the center. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes before slicing.
Step 5
Prepare the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lime juice, honey or maple syrup, olive oil, minced chipotle pepper, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
Step 6
Assemble the Salad
In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, cherry tomatoes, corn kernels, diced red onion, chopped cilantro, diced avocado, and crumbled feta cheese or shredded cheese (if using).
Add the sliced chipotle chicken on top of the salad.
Step 7
Serve
Drizzle the chipotle dressing over the salad or serve it on the side. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately and enjoy this flavorful Chipotle Chicken Salad!
![Chipotle Chicken Salad](https://megachickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chipotle-Chicken-Salad-3.webp)
Additional Tips For Chipotle Chicken Salad:
- Adjust the amount of chipotle peppers to control the level of spiciness in the marinade and dressing.
- Feel free to customize the salad with additional toppings such as black beans, sliced bell peppers, or diced jalapenos.
- Leftover chipotle chicken salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts Of Chipotle Chicken Salad
Here’s an approximate breakdown of the nutrition facts for Chipotle Chicken Salad per serving, based on the ingredients and quantities provided in the recipe:
Nutrition | Amount |
---|---|
Calories | 350 calories |
Total Fat | 20 grams |
Saturated Fat | 5 grams |
Cholesterol | 80 milligrams |
Sodium | 700 milligrams |
Total Carbohydrates | 25 grams |
Dietary Fiber | 7 grams |
Sugars | 10 grams |
Protein | 30 grams |
Conclusion
Chipotle Chicken Salad offers a delicious blend of flavors and textures, making it a perfect choice for a nutritious and satisfying meal.
With its smoky chipotle-marinated chicken, vibrant vegetables, creamy avocado, and zesty dressing, this salad is sure to please your taste buds. Enjoy it as a refreshing and flavorful option for any occasion!