Description
A vibrant and bold chicken salad featuring bright flavors of lime, cilantro, and smoky corn, topped with salty cotija cheese and creamy avocado. It’s a quick, healthy meal perfect for weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound chicken breast, cooked and shredded or diced
- 4 cups shredded lettuce (romaine or iceberg)
- 1.5 cups corn kernels (fresh off the cob or frozen/thawed)
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 2 radishes, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and cumin. Grill or pan-sear over medium-high heat for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes before shredding or dicing.
- If using fresh corn, cut kernels off the cob. If using frozen, rinse under warm water to thaw.
- Dice red onion, mince cilantro and jalapeño, slice radishes, and dice avocado. Soak red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the bite.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine lettuce, corn, red onion, cilantro, radishes, and chicken.
- Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese on top and serve immediately.
Notes
For meal prep, store the dressing separately and add just before eating to keep the lettuce crisp. If using rotisserie chicken, skip the cooking step. Canned corn is not recommended as it lacks texture; use fresh or frozen corn instead. Soak red onion in ice water to reduce sharpness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 30
Keywords: Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad, elote salad, healthy chicken salad, quick dinner, meal prep, gluten-free, lime cilantro dressing, cotija cheese