Spicy Grilled Chicken Salad

This spin on a Grilled Chicken Salad with a spicy honey buffalo grilled chicken and a creamy yogurt dressing tastes like an indulgent restaurant salad but can be made at home in just a few steps.  

As the weather gets warmer, I am craving more salads and more grilled dishes. Today's recipe is the perfect combination of both of those things. The chicken is marinated in the most delicious combination of buffalo sauce, honey, and lime juice and then tossed with lots of veggies and a creamy yogurt dressing that has just enough heat to keep things exciting. 

Truth be told, this recipe started with some leftover grilled buffalo chicken I had made for sandwiches a few nights before. Since I didn't have all the normal ingredients, I switched up the marinade a bit adding honey and lime juice, and my whole family loved the results. The grilled chicken has the perfect balance of mild spice from the buffalo sauce combined with just a hint of sweetness from the honey. 

The next day when I used the leftover chicken to make a quick salad, I knew I had to share the whole recipe. The combination of the spicy yogurt dressing with the grilled chicken and fresh veggies is just so good. It's refreshing, packed with flavor, and just what I want to be eating as the weather warms up.

Looking for more main dish salads? Don't miss this delicious Turkey Taco Salad recipe.

Ways to Personalize This Spicy Grilled Chicken Salad

There are so many ways to customize and personalize this Spicy Grilled Chicken Salad based on what you have at home. Here are some options that should be at the top of the list. 

• Make a heartier salad by adding canned black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas to the salad. 
• Grab some grilled, canned, or frozen corn for some sweetness and crunch. 
• To cool off the heat of the chicken and dressing, add a chopped avocado to the salad. 
• Finish the salad with some fresh cilantro or parsley to add brightness.
• Turn this into a pasta salad by using less spinach and swapping in some cooked pasta.
• Use any veggies you like and swap in different types of lettuce to create slightly different flavor combinations.
• Top the salad with crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese.
• Switch up the dressing and use something lighter and less spicy like this Lemon Dijon dressing.
• Since you are already making grilled chicken, make some grilled vegetables to serve on the side as well.
• Switch up the chicken and add some smoky flavor by serving this salad with this delicious smoked chicken breast.

How to Make Spicy Buffalo Salad Dressing

This is one of my favorite quick and easy healthy dressings so I normally make a double or triple batch to have in the fridge for salads and as a dipping sauce with raw veggies and pretzels. Here's how to make it. 

• 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt (any type of yogurt will work)
• 4 tbsp buffalo sauce (adjust to preference)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried dill
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• Salt and pepper
• Directions: Mix everything together and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving for flavor to deepen and combine. If desired, you could swap in ranch seasoning for the spices to make a buffalo ranch salad dressing.

Tips for Perfectly Grilled Chicken

One of the keys to this salad is making juicy, tender grilled chicken to serve on top. To ensure you get perfectly grilled chicken every time, the best thing to do is invest in a meat thermometer so you can remove the chicken as soon as it reaches 165 degrees. 

However, even without a meat thermometer, there are a few simple steps to help make sure the chicken comes out tender and juicy. Always start by trimming the chicken and slightly pounding it if needed so that is has a uniform thickness and will cook evenly.  Marinating the chicken also helps to make it tender. Then when grilling, don't flip the chicken too early. If it is stuck to the grill, it probably isn't ready to be flipped yet. Lastly, always let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes for the juices to redistribute. 

Meal Prep and Storage

If you want to make this salad ahead of time for quick meals and lunches during the week, make sure to pack the dressing separately. Also, since this salad uses spinach, I usually pack the chicken separately as well since I find the chicken sometimes wilts the spinach. Always let the chicken fully cool before storing it. 

The salad will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge. The chicken is good for 3-4 days and the salad dressing will last up to one week in the fridge. 

More Healthy Salads

• Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
• Healthy Kale Caesar Salad
• Chinese Chicken Salad
• Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad
• Southwest Quinoa Salad with Black Beans, Corn, and Avocado