Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Salad
This Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Salad is tender marinated chicken that’s grilled to perfection then served over baby spinach with cherry tomatoes, corn, and avocado. A hearty salad that’s packed with flavor and also happens to be full of nutrition.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts
Marinade and dressing:
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 4 garlic cloves peeled
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 jalapeño or red chili seeded and coarsely chopped
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Salad:
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup corn kernels
- 1 large avocado diced
Instructions
- To a small food processor add all the marinade/dressing ingredients and pulse until almost smooth.
- In a bowl place the chicken breast and add 2 tablespoons of the marinade. Transfer the remaining marinade (without touching the raw meat) in a small jar and refrigerate.
- Refrigerate the chicken for 1 hour to overnight. Just before cooking it, remove from the fridge and allow it to sit over the counter for 20 minutes to reach room temp.
- Preheat an outdoor grill or a grill pan over medium heat. Grill the chicken breast until nicely charred and cooked through, for around 12-14 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large salad bowl add all the salad ingredients.
- Once the chicken is done cooking, place it on a chopping board and allow it to sit until ready to handle. Slice and add it to the salad bowl.
- Drizzle the salad with the remaining marinade from the jar. Toss to combine and serve.
Notes
- Protein: Instead of chicken, try grilled steak, salmon, or shrimp.
- Greens: Swap out the baby spinach for romaine or a mixed greens blend. Kale or arugula will also work just fine.
- Vegetables: You can add other vegetables to the mix, some suggestions include grilled veggies such as asparagus, zucchini, or bell peppers. Marinated artichoke hearts or black olives are also a nice addition.
- Cheese: A sprinkle of cheese on top is so tasty. I recommend shredded Mexican cheese or cheddar.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 789mg | Potassium: 1022mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3193IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg