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A Grilled Chicken Salad that’s anything but boring! Juicy, perfectly seasoned Cajun chicken meets crisp lettuce, sweet tomatoes, creamy avocado, and a tangy homemade dressing that cools everything down just right.
If you’re craving something fresh yet full of flavor, this Grilled Chicken Salad recipe is the one to make tonight. It’s bold, colorful, and so satisfying you’ll forget it’s technically a salad. It might just be the Salad with Grilled Chicken that wins everyone over at your dinner table.
What Makes This Recipe Work
What makes this Grilled Chicken Salad so good is the balance of smoky, spicy, and creamy flavors in every bite. The homemade Cajun seasoning brings just the right amount of heat, while the juicy grilled chicken adds that irresistible charred flavor you only get from the grill. Toss it all together with crisp greens and a creamy Cajun dressing, and you’ve got a fresh, filling meal that feels restaurant-quality at home.
This Grilled Chicken Salad recipe also comes together quickly, making it perfect for weeknights when you want something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re making it for lunch, dinner, or meal prep, this Salad with Grilled Chicken delivers on both flavor and freshness every single time.
What Goes Into Grilled Chicken Salad
This Grilled Chicken Salad is all about fresh textures and bold Cajun flavors. Every component works together, with juicy spiced chicken, creamy avocado, crisp greens, and a cooling dressing that ties it all together.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Tender and juicy, these soak up all the Cajun seasoning and stay moist even after grilling. You can also use chicken breasts if you prefer a leaner option.
- Cajun Seasoning: A fiery mix of paprika, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and cayenne that gives the chicken its smoky kick and signature spice.
- Romaine Lettuce: Crisp and refreshing, it provides the perfect base for the warm grilled chicken and creamy toppings.
- Creamy Cajun Dressing: Made with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and a touch of Cajun spice, this dressing cools down the heat while keeping every bite rich and flavorful.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Grilled Chicken Salad
- Make the Cajun Seasoning: Combine all the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Reserve one teaspoon of the mixture to use later in the dressing.
- Grill the Chicken: Coat each fillet with Cajun seasoning on both sides. Heat oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken until golden, crispy, and cooked through. Set aside to rest.
- Assemble the Salad: Arrange the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, and red onion on a serving plate. Slice the grilled chicken into strips and place them neatly on top of the salad.
- Prepare the Dressing: Stir the reserved Cajun seasoning into the mayonnaise and Greek yogurt until smooth. Taste and adjust with extra mayo, yogurt, salt, or pepper before drizzling over the salad.
This Grilled Chicken Salad pairs beautifully with rich, hearty mains if you’re craving something more filling. Serve it alongside Slow Cooker Steak and Gravy Pies for a cozy, satisfying combination of crisp freshness and tender, savory comfort.
For a restaurant-style dinner, try it with Steaks With Mushroom Gravy or Balsamic Chicken With Mozzarella Cheese. Each one adds deep, comforting flavors that balance perfectly with the light, zesty freshness of the salad.
Tips For Making Grilled Chicken Salad
- Don’t rush the seasoning. Let the chicken sit with the Cajun spice blend for at least 10 minutes before grilling so the flavors really soak in.
- Use a hot grill or pan to get that beautiful char without drying out the meat. I love watching those golden grill marks form because they add so much flavor.
- Keep the veggies cold and crisp. I usually chop them right before serving so every bite stays fresh against the warm, smoky chicken.
- Taste your dressing before drizzling. A small tweak of mayo, yogurt, or salt can make it perfectly creamy and balanced for your salad.
Recipe FAQ’s
Romaine lettuce gives the best crunch, but you can also use mixed greens, baby spinach, or even kale for a heartier texture.
It has a little heat, but you can easily adjust it by adding less cayenne pepper. The creamy dressing also helps mellow out the spice.
Keep the dressing separate until just before serving. Toss the salad lightly to coat instead of pouring all the dressing at once.
Grilled Cajun Chicken Salad with Creamy Cajun Dressing
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Cajun Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper adjust to your taste
- 1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper adjust to your taste
Salad:
- 4 cups romaine lettuce cos lettuce
- 1 lebanese cucumber quartered
- 2 cups Heirloom tomatoes halved
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/4 red onion sliced thinly
For Dressing:
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons whole egg mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons non fat plain greek yogurt or sour cream
Instructions
- Combine Cajun seasoning ingredients together in a shallow bowl, and mix well to combine. Reserve 1 teaspoon of seasoning to use in the dressing, and set aside.
- Lightly coat each chicken fillet in the seasoning on both sides. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a grill pan (or on a grill or skillet) over medium-high heat until hot (not smoking). Sear / grill chicken fillets on each side until golden, crispy and cooked through. (Grill in batches to prevent excess water being released.) Once chicken is cooked, set aside and allow to rest.
- Prepare salad with the lettuce leaves, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado slices and onion slices. Slice chicken into strips and arrange on top of the salad.
- Mix the reserved cajun seasoning with the mayonnaise and yogurt (or sour cream). At the point, you can add extra mayo or yogurt (sour cream), salt or pepper, adjusting to your tastes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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10/10 would recommend I’m in Ireland and in home ech I am doing my practical for my junior cert soon and I chose ur recipe and it’s so nice and easy took me less than a hour to make from scratch I’m hopeful I’ll get full marks whit it
I have made this a few times and it is excellent. I don’t change a thing. It is full of flavour and is very filling, and is excellent for dinner.
I ordered a delicious cajun chicken Cesar salad but to my surprise it was $20 for a salad! I did not believe it’d cost that much for such a simple salad and I was right. Did some research and came upon this recipe and it is delicious! Ingredients were simple and easy to make. Now I can enjoy this salad daily without going broke.
I’ve made this salad many times and always extra dressing for hot before topper, et .. I added chick peas and sprinkled toasted pine nuts on top . Delish!!!
Who said you can’t have just a salad for dinner?…Okay, it was me…I said that. But that was before I made this!
This salad is amazing. We were trying to eat a bit lighter for dinner and this is was it. All the salads we have tried have been great. Eating healthy can taste good. Three salad nights a week now. This is my favorite salad so far. Thank you for making eating healthy easier.
This is the first time I commented, but this is the 4th recipe I tried… and your recipes have not disappointed! Every recipe I tried is full of flavor… so amazing!
I have a question about the dressing. I used this vegan mayonnaise instead of the whole egg mayonnaise as listed and my dressing turns out to be more like a dipping sauce texture than a dressing. Do you know what happened?
You used vegan mayonnaise….
My family has loved every salad we have made from your site. I would love to make this one however we can not have dairy. Is there anyway to make the dressing dairy free that would maintain the taste? Coconut cream instead of yogurt?
thank you!
That sounds great! I have not made it that way but that sounds delicious! Hope you enjoy more salads!!
Can you purchase the egg mayonnaise at the store?
Yes, I usually get it at the local grocery store near the mayonnaise or in a refrigerator section by the dairy. Hope that helps!