Description
This Hot Honey Chicken Salad delivers a perfect mix of sweet, spicy, crunchy, and juicy ingredients, all tossed together in a fresh and flavorful dinner salad. Great for meal prep, post-workout meals, or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
For the Hot Honey Glaze:
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1½ tsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For the Salad Base:
- 5 oz mixed salad greens or romaine
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cucumber, diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 1 avocado, sliced
Optional Toppings:
- ¼ cup crumbled feta (omit for dairy-free)
- 2 tbsp roasted sunflower seeds or chopped pecans
- Fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro
For the Dressing:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Pat dry and season chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 6–7 minutes per side until fully cooked. Rest and slice.
- Make the Hot Honey Glaze: In a saucepan over low heat, warm honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes until slightly thickened. Brush over sliced chicken while warm.
- Build the Salad Base: In a large bowl, combine greens, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, and onions. Top with avocado and herbs.
- Mix the Dressing: Shake or whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble the Salad: Place sliced glazed chicken on salad. Drizzle with dressing and add optional toppings.
- Serve: Best served immediately while the chicken is warm.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken: Warm slightly and glaze for a quicker version.
- Make it vegetarian: Use crispy tofu or grilled halloumi instead of chicken.
- Storage: Store chicken and salad separately; assemble before serving.
- Spice level: Adjust hot sauce and pepper flakes to taste.
- Dressing swap: Use maple syrup instead of honey for a plant-based option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Hot Honey Chicken Salad, spicy chicken salad, sweet and spicy salad, healthy chicken salad recipe, hot honey glazed chicken