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+ servings

Hot Honey Chicken Salad

A spicy and sweet chicken salad featuring crispy chicken, fresh greens, and a drizzle of hot honey for an extra kick.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup buttermilk for marinating
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour for coating
  • 1 teaspoon paprika for seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder for seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper to taste
  • ½ cup vegetable oil for frying
For the Salad
  • 4 cups mixed salad greens such as arugula, spinach, and romaine
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup cucumber sliced
  • ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup feta cheese crumbled
For the Hot Honey Dressing
  • ¼ cup honey preferably local
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar for acidity
  • ½ teaspoon salt to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste

Method
 

Prepare the Chicken
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken pieces and marinate for at least 15 minutes. This helps tenderize the chicken and infuse it with flavor.
  2. While the chicken is marinating, preheat your frying pan over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. You want enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan.
  3. After marinating, remove the chicken from the buttermilk and dredge each piece in the flour, ensuring an even coating. This will create a crispy crust when fried.
  4. Once the oil is hot (you can test it by dropping a small piece of flour into the oil; it should sizzle), carefully add the chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
  5. Remove the chicken from the pan and place it on a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Make the Hot Honey Dressing
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper until well combined. This dressing adds a sweet and spicy kick to the salad.
Assemble the Salad
  1. In a large serving bowl or platter, layer the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta cheese.
  2. Top the salad with the crispy chicken pieces.
  3. Drizzle the hot honey dressing over the salad just before serving to keep the greens crisp.
  4. Toss gently to combine, ensuring the dressing coats all ingredients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 30gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1500IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Feel free to adjust the level of heat in the dressing by adding more or less hot sauce. You can also substitute the chicken with grilled tofu for a vegetarian option.

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