Blackened Chicken Salad with Raspberry Chipotle Vinaigrette
This Blackened Chicken Salad is loaded with smoky, spicy chicken, fresh veggies, creamy feta, and drizzled with a sweet-spicy raspberry chipotle vinaigrette. A quick, healthy meal packed with bold flavors—perfect for lunch or dinner!
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 3 thin-sliced chicken breasts
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
- Kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Salad:
- 1 small head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup baby cucumbers chopped
- 1 avocado diced
- ½ red onion finely diced
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
For the Raspberry Chipotle Vinaigrette:
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp raspberry jam or preserves
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken:
- In a small bowl, mix paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. Rub the spice mix evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
Cook the Chicken:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 3-5 minutes per side, until blackened and cooked through (165°F). Let rest for 5-10 minutes, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
Make the Vinaigrette:
- In a bowl, whisk together lime juice, raspberry jam, minced garlic, chipotle chili powder, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until smooth and emulsified.
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, red onion, and feta. Toss gently.
Add Chicken & Dress:
- Top the salad with chopped blackened chicken. Drizzle with raspberry chipotle vinaigrette just before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the chipotle chili powder in the vinaigrette for more or less heat.
- Store vinaigrette in the fridge for up to 1 week—great for other salads too!
- Swap feta with goat cheese or blue cheese for a different flavor profile.
- Chicken can be grilled or air-fried for variation.
- For meal prep, keep dressing separate until ready to eat.