A refreshing chopped chicken salad recipe using grilled chicken breasts and lots of your favorite healthy vegetables. A Sweet Chili Mustard dressing is bold and refreshing. Healthy doesn’t get any better than this.
Even though we’ve had Spring weather for about the past two weeks, much of the time the wind has been howling, gusting, tossing patio furniture about the yard and in general just being pesky enough that grilling hasn’t seemed a fun option.
A window of opportunity this past weekend found me cleaning out the drip pan and scraping those grates clear and sizzling up a chicken breast for this Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad.
Ingredients For This Chopped Chicken Salad
All things fresh and healthy:
- Mixed baby greens
- Diced tomatoes
- Toasted slivered almonds
- Diced cucumberr
- Grilled chicken breast seasoned with marjoram and cut into bite sized pieces.
Sounds pretty predictable for a basic chicken salad recipe.
Sweet and Bold Dressing Ingredients
So what’s there to talk about? It’s all about the dressing.
- Pineapple juice
- Maggi bottled sweet chili sauce and
- Dijon mustard
These simple ingredients join forces to bring you a unique and irresistible dressing. One that you’ll want to make over and over again.
Marjoram Seasoned Chicken = yum
Seasoning the chicken with marjoram before cooking brings a unique flavor profile to this dish.
So what does marjoram taste like?
Marjoram is a member of the mint and oregano family and is known for its aroma and delicate flavor. Marjoram’s flavor is similar to oregano; however a bit more complicated.
It’s often described as sweeter and more delicate. In addition Marjoram lacks oregano’s spicy undertones. I try and use it as often as I can, as it seems this spice gets forgotten amongst it’s more popular cousins.
Riffs On Sweet Chili Mustard Chopped Chicken Salad
- Substitute grilled shrimp for the chicken. The marjoram would be a lovely seasoning for shrimp
- Forget the salad, use this glaze type dressing as a sauce for grilled chicken wings
- Mix it up. You’re not limited to cucumbers and tomatoes. Add thawed green peas, celery, roasted red bell peppers, or fresh yellow bell peppers. It’s your salad. Use your favorite ingredients. Just make sure to keep it colorful.
- Substitute the chicken for grilled flank steak that’s been simply seasoned garlic salt. Then replace the almonds with a sprinkle of canned onion rings. You know the ones … like you buy for that green bean casserole at Thanksgiving.
- Need to make this one vegetarian? Simply replace the grilled chicken with grilled portabello mushrooms. Don’t forget that marjoram.
- Want to turn this into a super easy weeknight chicken salad dinner? Use a rotisserie chicken. Just pull the meat off the bones, chop, and toss with salt and pepper and a little marjoram before arranging the meat on salad.
Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe with Sweet Chili Mustard Dressing
I hope you give this chopped salad recipe and try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating, and leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.
And if you have a favorite Grilled Chicken Salad, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
More Chicken Salad Recipes
And don’t miss our favorite chicken pasta salad for Chicken Macaroni Salad. It’s a main course pasta recipe that will wow your crowd.
And if you’re looking for more healthy salad recipes, don’t miss my Salad Category. You’ll find lots of tasty recipes for dressings, vinaigrettes, side salads and main course salads. Including the most popular salad recipe on my site for Old Fashioned Taco Salad. And you’ll find my in-depth tutorial on how to make The Most Remarkable Tossed Salad – 9 Secrets.
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.
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Sweet Chili-Mustard Grilled Chopped Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- Dressing:
- 3/4 Cup pineapple juice
- 2 Tablespoon bottled sweet chili sauce
- 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
- 1/2 Cup slivered almonds toasted
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Canola oil
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh marjoram
- salt and pepper
- 4 Cups mixed baby greens
- 2 tomatoes diced
- 1 cucumber diced
Instructions
- To make the dressing: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the pineapple juice, chili sauce, vinegar and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until 1/2 cup remains, 15 – 20 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and whisk in mustard and sesame oil and allow to cool to room temperature.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the almonds until lightly toasted, stirring or shaking the pan occasionally.
- Brush chicken breasts with oil, season with marjoram and salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat until meat is firm to the touch and no longer pink. Approximately 10 minutes. Tent until you can handle and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the greens, chicken, almonds and tomatoes. Drizzle the dressing over the top (you may not need all of it) and toss to evenly coat. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Sweet Chili-Mustard Chopped Chicken Salad …It’s What’s for Dinner
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Vianney Rodriguez says
Sorry to hear about the deaths. The photo looks pretty scary.
We have enjoyed grilling all winter , of course our winters are pretty tame and in the summer the humidity makes grilling some days unbearable. The dresssing is something I know I would enjoy, thank you for sharing!
Lea Ann says
I’m not a fan of heat and humidity, so would be a cranky griller around your area. As always, thanks for stopping by Vianney.
Nancy/SpicieFoodie says
This salad looks and sounds incredible. The fire photo is so striking, I hope no one was hurt.
Lea Ann says
Actually three people were killed. :/
Lisa @ Snappy Gourmet says
I love chicken salads like this with fruit flavors and nuts! I just pinned it so that I won’t forget about it! Looks great!
Lea Ann says
Thanks so much for the pin Lisa and for stopping by my blog. Heading over to your place to look around.
Chris says
And now you are under snow this week, right? Crazy!
Lea Ann says
Spring time in the Rockies. 🙂
Barbara says
Really a frightening photo of the fire, Lea Ann! Must scare you to pieces. Pleased you escaped, but I sure feel sorry for those who were in the path.
Love the dressing on this salad. The pineapple juice paired with vinegar and mustard sounds delicious!
Lea Ann says
Thanks so much Barbara.
Greg says
I hope you guys are safe and breathing easy. I remember how ashy the air gets in wildfires. This looks like a great way to serve chicken. I haven’t used pineapple juice in ages.
Lea Ann says
It was definitely raining ash that day. And then there was the Hayman fire years ago. Good grief!
Larry says
As a meat on greens person, this sounds like a salad Bev would really like. Sure hope they get the fires put out soon.
Lea Ann says
They’re pretty much under control …. but we’ve got a high wind warning again tomorrow. :/
Care's Kitchen says
I just LOVE the flavors in this salad! I am a sucker for anything with sweet chili sauce! I’m sorry about the fire…we watch it on the news and it is so very sad. Take care…. xo
Lea Ann says
I’m with you! That chili sauce is really good. I need to start collecting recipes to use with it. It breaks my heart about that older couple that were found dead. Their car was packed, they didn’t get out in time.
Susan says
I’m so glad to read in your comments that the fire is under control. The food seems so incidental in light of that!
A delicious-sounding recipe that will be enjoyed under better conditions, I’m sure!
Lea Ann says
I couldn’t agree more … seemed odd to talk about it in a food blog, but thought people might be interested to know how close it was.
Jenn's Food Journey says
I love this dressing… but I’m a sucker for anything with sweet chili sauce in it!! This would also make a great marinade for the chicken! Will be trying this soon.
Lea Ann says
I agree Jenn! I love that sauce.
Jill Mant~a SaucyCook says
This salad dressing sounds amazing Lea Ann; I’ll have to try it. The fire is so scary and the smell was so pervasive; it’s scary to think what the repercussions of such a mild winter may lead to. We missed seeing you at Barb’s last Saturday and hope to see you soon. Cheers!
Lea Ann says
Darnit, I couldn’t make it last Saturday! I do hope to make the next brunch. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Lynda says
This looks so light and delicious. I’ve bookmarked this to try soon.
Hope the fire is under control quickly; so scary to be so close. I’ve seen coverage on the news too.
Lea Ann says
So sad that lives were lost. Seems to be under control now. Thanks Lynda
Rhonda says
My grill is a mess, I think this year I’ll just ditch it instead of cleaning it and buy a new one…not really but it’s a nice thought. I’ve been reading about your fires, I was wondering how close you were. We are having issues up here also…scary!
Lea Ann says
Too funny Rhonda. I vote for getting a new one. I agree, these fires are very scary. Even though we’re close to the foothills, I’ve never wanted to live “in” them.
Jane says
It is definitely going to be a long fire season… my hubby has been out at that fire all week. Chicken salad looks good!
Lea Ann says
Your husband is a firefighter????? Please thank him for all his hard work.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I can’t wait to make your delicious sounding dressing. My grilling days are still a way off…very windy, cold, rainy, etc. Looking forward to summer so that I can made the salad.
Lea Ann says
It’s been so warm here, It’s hard to think of somewhere that’s still having cold weather.
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
This looks like a delicious salad, Lea Ann. Love all the yummy ingredients in the dressing. I’m looking forward to nice days when we can fire up the barbecue. Don’t think it will be any time soon.
Lea Ann says
Still cool in the NW???? One day Cathy.
Joanne says
Oh wow that salad dressing sounds amazing! I love the sweet spicy mustard combo of flavors in it!
Lea Ann says
Thanks Joanne! Those flavors were indeed amazing.
Vickie says
That photo is gorgeous! Makes me want to pour up a glass of wine and dive right in. Those fires are too close for comfort. I really hate fire season. 🙁 Take good care.
Lea Ann says
Even though it was 20 miles away, it seemed like it was going to sweep right over us. yikes.
Karen says
Hate fire season. I bet this would really be good on wings… will look forward to the post!
Lea Ann says
Wings is the next place it will slathered upon. 🙂
Cooking with Michele says
I’m worried it’s going to be a long and rough fire season this year – let’s hope for some rain!