Description
Honey Hot Chicken Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish combining tender cooked chicken with fresh greens and a spicy-sweet honey hot dressing. This nutritious and easy-to-make salad is perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner, offering a balance of protein, crisp vegetables, and bold flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or chopped)
- 4 cups mixed greens or chopped romaine
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 cup cucumber (sliced)
- 1/4 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta or blue cheese (optional)
Dressing
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped nuts
- Croutons
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until well combined to create a spicy-sweet honey hot dressing.
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl or on a platter, layer the mixed greens or chopped romaine with halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, shredded carrots, and crumbled feta or blue cheese if using. This creates a colorful and textured base for the salad.
- Add the Chicken: Top the salad vegetables with the cooked chicken, shredded or chopped as preferred, distributing it evenly to ensure every bite has protein.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle the honey hot dressing over the assembled salad just before serving to keep the greens fresh and crisp.
- Toss or Layer: Gently toss all ingredients together to mix flavors or leave layered for a more elegant presentation according to your preference.
- Add Optional Toppings: Garnish with sliced avocado, chopped nuts, or croutons if desired to add extra texture and flavor.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the salad fresh to enjoy the perfect combination of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors with crisp textures.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce to suit your preferred spice level.
- Both grilled or crispy cooked chicken work equally well for this salad.
- Using leftover rotisserie chicken is a convenient and flavorful time-saver.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
