High Protein Chicken Street Corn Salad (Printable)
Grilled chicken meets charred corn in this creamy, protein-packed salad with zesty lime dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 ounces)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
05 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Corn & Vegetables
07 - 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, grilled, or thawed from frozen)
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - ½ cup red onion, finely diced
10 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
11 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
12 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Creamy Dressing
13 - 7 ounces plain nonfat Greek yogurt (approximately ¾ cup)
14 - 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
16 - 1 teaspoon honey
17 - ½ teaspoon chili powder
18 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
19 - ¼ teaspoon salt
→ Garnish (optional)
20 - ¼ cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese
21 - Lime wedges
# Directions:
01 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season both sides with smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 5–7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes, then dice into bite-sized pieces.
04 - If using fresh corn, grill the cobs for 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred. Cut kernels from the cob. If using frozen corn, sauté in a dry skillet over high heat until lightly charred.
05 - In a large bowl, combine corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, black beans, and cilantro.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, honey, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt until smooth.
07 - Add diced chicken and creamy dressing to the salad. Toss gently to combine.
08 - Top with crumbled cheese and serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Thirty three grams of protein per serving without that heavy post meal feeling that usually comes with high protein meals
- The charred corn and creamy Greek yogurt dressing create this ridiculous smoky tangy situation that keeps you going back for seconds
- Everything comes together in thirty five minutes flat, leaving plenty of time for whatever else needs your attention
02 -
- I learned the hard way that the chicken needs those five minutes of resting time, otherwise all those juices end up on your cutting board instead of in the salad
- The dressing tastes better after it sits for ten minutes, so make it first and let it hang out while you prep everything else
03 -
- A tiny pinch of cayenne in the dressing adds this incredible background heat that keeps people guessing what makes it so good
- Leftover grilled chicken from yesterday is absolutely perfect here, so feel free to use what you have on hand