Baja Chicken Salad

Baja Chicken Salad  It is April, the weather is getting warm and that means it is traditionally time for salads!  When you have a food blog, the types of food that you prepare are definitely seasonal, so typically salads for for spring and summer.   The thing is, many of us like to eat salads all year round, and want them to be as fresh and delicious as they are in spring and summer.

So, although maybe you can’t fire up the grill during the winter or cold months, you can still have a flavorful Baja Chicken Salad by cooking your chicken in the Instant Pot.  I can’t say it enough–I love the Instant Pot, and the way that it cooks and marinates food to enhance the flavor.  The chicken for this salad can be cooked on the grill or the oven if you prefer, or if not, in the Instant Pot.  This recipe is gluten free and dairy free, and you can make your Baja Salad vegetarian or vegan by omitting the chicken.

Ingredients For Baja Chicken Salad

Here is the shopping list for Baja Chicken Salad

Marinade:

lemon/lime juice
olive oil
white wine vinegar
hot sauce
green onions
granulated garlic
sea salt
black sesame seeds

Salad:

chicken breasts
arugula lettuce
black beans
ears corn
cherry tomatoes
avocado
green onions
fresh cilantro

Instructions For Baja Chicken Salad

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5 from 1 vote

Baja Chicken Salad

Baja Chicken Salad is fresh, light and healthy and the perfect salad for lunch or dinner. The super yummy dressing brings just the right amount of zing to enhance the other ingredients. This will be a favorite!

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword bajachicken, chickensalad, freshingredients, healthychickensalad

Diet Category Healthy, gluten free

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 2 people

Calories 326kcal

Author greenschemetv

Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients

Baja Marinade

• 1/4 cup lemon/lime juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp black sesame seeds
• 2 green onions, chopped

Chicken

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Salad

• 4 cups arugula lettuce
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 4 ears of corn
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 large or 2 small avocados, sliced
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• 3 tbsp fresh cilantro

Instructions

Baja Marinade

• Mix all ingredients except green onions in jar and shake well.  Add half of marinade to small bowl with 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.  Top with chopped green onions. Let marinade for 30 minutes, turning at 15 minutes.
  

Chicken

• Instant Pot: Add 1 cup of water to inner pot of Instant Pot.  Place bowl on Instant Pot trivet and place into inner pot of Instant Pot.  Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes; let steam NR, release naturally.  After pressure is released, remove chicken and slice.

  Oven: Bake chicken at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, turning at 20 minutes.

  Grill: Grill chicken on medium heat for 15 minutes each side until cooked.
  

Salad

• Cook corn for 2 minutes in microwave, and cut corn off of cob.  Add arugula lettuce, corn, cherry tomatoes, green onions and black beans to large salad bowl or salad tray.  Slice avocado and add to salad.  Add sliced chicken. 
  
• Top with cilantro and add additional dressing from marinade as desired.  Toss salad and serve.
  

Notes

Oven:  If not cooking with an Instant Pot, bake chicken in oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.  Baste with marinade and turn chicken at 20 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 326kcal

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