Description
A smoky, creamy, and spicy chicken salad featuring charred fresh corn, cotija cheese, and a tangy lime dressing. This protein-packed dish is perfect for meal prep and delivers restaurant-quality street corn flavor at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 ears fresh corn, husked and kernels cut off
- 1 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems, chopped
- 1/2 cup high-quality mayonnaise
- Juice of 3 fresh limes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
- 2 medium radishes, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cumin.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove and rest for 10 minutes.
- In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Char corn kernels in a single layer for 3-4 minutes until browned, then stir and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Set aside.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Dice red onion, mince jalapeño, chop cilantro, and slice radishes.
- In a large bowl, combine charred corn, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and radishes. Toss with half of the dressing.
- Shred the rested chicken and add it to the bowl.
- Pour remaining dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Fold in Cotija cheese last.
- Serve immediately or chill to let flavors meld. Garnish with extra cilantro and lime.
Notes
For best results, use fresh corn rather than canned or frozen. Let the chicken rest after cooking to retain juices. If meal prepping, store dressing separately to prevent sogginess. Cotija cheese can be substituted with feta if unavailable.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 30
Keywords: Mexican street corn, chicken salad, meal prep, creamy corn salad, healthy dinner, gluten-free, keto-friendly, cotija cheese, lime dressing