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!

Table of Contents

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

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!

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

Chipotle Chicken Salad

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!